Majority do not believe Ireland will be carbon neutral by 2050

The poll for the Just Transition Commission by Ipsos B&A also found that less than half believe the country’s role in helping the EU achieve its Green Deal goal of being the first continent to remove as many CO2 emissions as it produces by 2050, will be handled fairly or justly. File photo: David Davies/PA

Less than a third of the public believe Ireland will be carbon neutral by 2050, new poll has found.

The poll for the Just Transition Commission by Ipsos B&A also found that less than half believe the country’s role in helping the EU achieve its Green Deal goal of being the first continent to remove as many CO2 emissions as it produces by 2050, will be handled fairly or justly.

A total of 1,046 respondents participated in the online self-completion survey carried out between March 11 and 24 this year.

The survey ended the day after the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned there were going to be “long-lasting consequences for humanity” from the all-time high greenhouse gas concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere that were continuing to drive record-breaking temperatures.

The poll found:

• 64% see climate change as an immediate and urgent problem, while 77% are at least somewhat worried about climate change.
• 41% agree that Ireland’s climate transition can be managed in a just and fair way, while 35% are optimistic that, by acting together, Ireland can transition to climate neutrality by 2050.
• While only 27% had previously heard the term “just transition”, 59% say they understand the concept once it is explained.
• 81% believe climate actions are unfair to at least some groups, with those on lower incomes (68%), rural residents (51%) and the farming sector (50%) seen as most affected.
• 42% identify affordability as the most important factor in making climate action fair.

Almost 80% who think they will be personally impacted by climate in the future said they expect to make changes to adjust to this future impact and 52% of those said they will need Government supports (advice, grants and other supports) to make these changes.

The survey also found 57% feel they are not well informed about Ireland's climate transition and 56% said access to information on climate action is insufficient, highlighting the need for clearer and more accessible information about the transition and the supports available.

The research is the latest in a series of reports published by the Just Transition Commission, an independent body set up 18 months ago to help advise government on how to ensure a “fair and equitable transition” to climate neutrality for those most affected by change.

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According to the commission, the forthcoming Climate Action Plan and development of Ireland’s National Just Transition Strategy provide important opportunities to take account of these findings, particularly on affordability, fairness, access to supports and information, and ensuring people and communities have a meaningful voice in the transition.

Just Transition Commission chair Ali Sheridan said: “The findings of this research send a clear, and in many respects, encouraging message. People recognise the need for climate action and want Ireland to succeed in the transition to a climate-neutral future. This is a strong foundation on which to build.

“At the same time, people are very clear that how we make this transition matters. The success of this transition will not be measured by emissions reductions alone. It will also be measured by whether people experience the transition as fair and affordable, and whether they have a meaningful voice in shaping it.”

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