There has been a weakening of support for some climate change policies, according to the findings of a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) survey.
It found support for banning peat, oil, or fuel for home heating fell to 59% - down 9% since a previous survey in 2021.
Support for increasing motor tax on petrol or diesel cars has also decreased to 51% - down from 64% three years ago.
Majority support
EPA spokesperson Desmond O’Mahony said overall support for these measures is still in the majority.
“You are of course going to see a level of pushback when an imagined reality of how climate change will work starts hitting the road,” he told Newstalk.
“So, we are seeing a weakening of support towards the way you heat your home or how you fuel your car.”
The survey still found that 81% of people in Ireland are worried about climate change, while 75% think extreme weather poses a risk to their community over the next ten years.
'Very encouraging'
Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said he found the report “very encouraging”.
“It confirms that Irish people have a good understanding of the complex issues of climate change,” he said.
“They are concerned about its effects on their lives, but importantly that they believe that taking climate action can make our country more resilient, creating jobs and improving our quality of life.”
The survey also found that 79% of Irish people believe climate change should be of high, or very high priority for Government.
Main image: Wind turbines alongside a smoke stack. Picture by: Felix Busse / Alamy Stock Photo
