factsheet

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Co-funded by the European Union

Financed by Country partners Research and editorial production

IRELAND

Three in four Irish young people consider climate change a priority.

But does that mean that they have the right tools to address the issue?

climate change

there isno planet B

nowact

European Youth

and Climate Change

A Community Baseline

(2)

Individual action

The project People and Planet: A Common Destiny aims to mobilise youth citizens and glocal (global + local)

authorities in the fight against climate change in 8 EU Member States (Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain) and Cape Verde between 2020 and 2024.

This factsheet represents the key findings drawn from a baseline survey answered by Irish Young Citizens in 2021.

Background

The most common pro-environmental day-to-day action among Irish young people relates to water saving, with 89% of the participants saying that they always take showers instead of baths and 76% turn off the tap while brushing their teeth.

Additionally, 81% report that they always recycle their waste. The sustainable practices that fewer people adopt regularly are participation in environmental campaigns, as 44% admit never having taken part in such initiatives – this is slightly higher than the European average, standing at 42%. The use of sustainable transportation is also not a common practice among Irish youth, with around 2/5ths of the people stating they never walk or cycle to work, and almost one-fourth admitting they never use public transportation. This may also be due to inadequate public transportation services in Ireland.

Regarding public activities related to climate issues, the most favoured actions are the ones related to digital participation, like signing online petitions or sharing political or civic posts on their social media profiles. The least common is signing in-person petitions. It is also interesting to note that almost half of the participants (44%) stated that they currently participate in voluntary activities – which is higher than the European average (38%).

Buy energy efficient devices

57% 23%

Participate in environmental campaigns

49% 50%

Buy bottled water

35% 52% 13%

Buy fair trade products

74% 22%

Buy local products

80% 19%

Take a shower instead of a bath 89%

10%

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth

76%

15%

Buy organic food

67% 17%

Recycle waste

18% 81%

Use less electricity 58%

17% 25%

Base: All respondents (N= 105)

44% 20%

Walk or cycle to work/ school/ university

23%

39% 38%

Use public transport 69%

23% 69%

23%

16%

never sometimes always Chart 2.1. Baseline survey results.Individual action.

Daily activities. Average

Chart 2.2. Baseline survey results.

Individual action. Actions in the last 3 years Base: All respondents (N= 496)

5% other

31% voted in polit ical elect

ion(s)

47% signed an online pet

ition

45% shared political and civic posts in my social media 35% participat

ed in a st

rike, public e

vent or protest for a public issue

44% participat

ed in voluntary activities

41% donated for a non-pr

ofit or a social campaign

15% signed an in-per

son petition

Individual action. Actions in the last 3 years Base: All respondents (N= 496)

5%

15%

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We can further confirm this trend when looking at the Irish youth advocacy interests, as ¾ state climate change as a topic of interest, while only around 1/2 do so with pollution, and 1/3 with water resources. Discrimination ranks second among topics of interest to participants.

37%

Irish young people are divided about whether climate action is talked about in their general conversation. Global warming and water scarcity are topics that are more frequently talked about (71%), followed by water as a human right (69%), while water privatisation (42%) and invisible water (44%) are the topics least frequently mentioned. Across the board, Irish Youth are less likely to discuss climate action and its link with water (about 10% less) when compared to their European counterparts. This is indicative of how Irish youth are aware of global warming, but less of its impact and consequences on water scarcity.

Individual action. Discussing climate change with those closest to you

Base: All respondents (N= 421) Very unlikely

Unlikely Likely Very Likely 22%

36%

30%

11%

eratw

priva tisation

26%

30%

38%

6%

invisible water

20%

29%

37%

14%

ran wate eq d ualo

pportunities

47%

25%

global warmy cit inar scgeranatwd 16%

12%

36%

10% re tu ul ric wagdateran 35%

20%

41%

20%

wate

r ineveryday life 20%

19%

47%

15%16%

22%

w ater asa hum an

righ

t

water resources. Discrimination ranks second among topics of

Climate 74%

change

Discrimi-65%

nation

48% Pollution

Access 54%

educationto

42% Lack of freedom

of speech

35%Water resources

30%More conflicts

and war

Unemployment28%

Political33%

instability

Other 9%

29% Decreasing quality of life and purchasing power

53%Access to healthcare

and welfare services

Individual action. Advocacy interests Base: All respondents (N= 338)

Large-scale23%

migration

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Knowledge and perception about climate change

true false don’t know

Base: All respondents (N= 117) Chart 3.1. Baseline survey results. Perceptions about Climate

Change. Statements concerning climate change. Average

slncaeW

ow

andlimitclimate change by changinghabits, production and transpo rtatio

n mod els

ni Eve re fg ho en

usegasemissions cease, their consequences willco

ntinue

tobefelt

cen for turie s ate Clim

an ch ha ge

shad

animpactoneveryocean and every continent ove r the

pastfew decades

an Hum nd sa

humanactivityare the main cause ofclim

atech

e ang ter Wa

arsc

cityisa source of co nflic

tand

rati mig on

Base: All respondents (N= 116) Chart 3.2.1. Baseline survey results. Perceptions about climate change. Climate change impact in your own life and the people closest to you

Chart 3.2.2. Baseline survey results. Perceptions about climate change. Climate change impact in your country

no, no impact yes, a minor impact

yes, a major impact

Chart 3.2.3. Baseline survey results.Perceptions about climate change. Global climate change impact

More storms Declining bee population More forest fires More floods Fewer food resources Drought Soil degradation

Water scarcity Rising sea levels

Loss of biodiversity

Air pollution

Rising temperatures

Melting of glaciers

Irish youth have significant knowledge about the impact of climate change on the planet and society. 93% believe that we can mitigate climate change effects by changing our lifestyle. Less well-known is that water scarcity is a trigger for regional conflicts and migrations (57%), in addition to the long-term consequences of the current greenhouse gas emissions.

At a personal level, participants indicated several climate change impacts as having a major impact in their lives, such as air pollution (55%), water scarcity (54%) and fewer food resources (53%). At a national level, both soil degradation (67%) and more floods (64%) are the topics that are of more importance. Young people from Ireland realise that climate change has a major impact at the global level – the lowest recognised effects are soil degradation and increased temperatures.

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Irish youth believe that international and European organisations are the ones most equipped to fight climate change, followed by national governments. On the other hand, 41% declare that individuals and families are not equipped at all to do it. Local organisations have less support , with 67% saying they are somewhat equipped.

Policy awareness and action

Irish youth seem to be more familiar with international climate agreements than with national measures to address environmental degradation. This may be indicative of the active targeting of children and younger citizens by the UN Sustainable Development Goals or of the fact that national programmes are not being properly communicated to this target group. Still, they demonstrate a higher knowledge on both cases when compared to the European average

(around 10% more). Chart 4.1. Baseline survey results.

Policy Awareness and Action.

Participants' knowledge

about global policies or initiatives to reduce climate change

Participants' knowledge about environmental policies in your country

81% YES

18% NO

68% YES

32% NO

Local/ regional authorities

8%

49% 43%

International organisations

15%

80%

organisations Local

associations

67%

20%

13%

Local associations Business and industries

17%

40% 43%

Business and industries

Country's government

75%

9% 17%

Country's government

9%

41% 49%

12%

Individuals and families

12%

European Institutions

4% 17%

78%

European Institutions

2%

33%

63%

Environmental organisations organisations

Not equipped at all More or less equipped Best equipped

Policy Awareness and Action. Who is best equipped for fighting climate change Base: All respondents (N= 115)

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What can be done?

To mobilize people to act regarding climate change, the most common tool revolves around fines and penalties (60%). Education and scholarly curricula follow closely in the second spot (55%). Irish youth believe, on the other hand, that street actions are the least effective in mobilising their peers for action (31%).

Irish participants also identify ways for local authorities to support young people's activities on sustainability, with higher priority given to participatory or community-based funding projects and financial support.

Survey respondents also provided advocacy suggestions.

Most highlighted the need for effective communication, for example, clear, relatable and straightforward transmission of information that can be understood by anyone, regardless of their experiences. Furthermore, quality education was the second most mentioned suggestion, with the need for people to understand the information that they have access to.

How can local authorities support young people's sustainability campaigns and other sustainable activities

Multiple answers possible 61%

Participatory or community-based funding projects

28%

Capacity building and networking events

6%

53%

Participation in decision and policy-making through special youth committees 59%

Financial support

42%Participation in decision and policy-making through general committees

9%

Young people are not interested in these means of support 56%

Facilities for meetings and activities

More scientific information

sources 43%

Large-scale campaigns

36%

Street actions such as strikes and Fridays for Future

31%

Through education and school curricula

55%

Other 9%

Fines and penalties

60%

What would motivate people to act on climate change Multiple answers possible

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Most of the survey participants were female (62%), 29% were male, and 9%

were non-binary, genderfluid or unlabelled.

Two thirds of the participants were students, and one quarter were workers, with 16% overlapping as student-workers.

The remaining 8% were divided among unemployed, doing an internship, volunteering or actively looking for a job.

Most of the sample (86,9%) were under 35-years-old. Among them, there was a prevalence of people aged below 18 (76,5%).

Demographic characteristics

of survey participants

Demographic characteristics of survey participants. Gender Base: All respondents (N= 145) non-binary

female male

self-describe

Demographic characteristics of survey participants. Age Base: All respondents (N= 145)

+35

6% 13%

-18

77%

6%

25

34 24

18

6% 4% 4% 4%

6% 4% 4%

6% 4%

6%

6% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4%

Demographic characteristics of survey participants. Main occupation

full time student

67%

student + part-time job

11%

1%

looking

forfirst job

unemployed

1%

5%

work + part-time student

10%

work full or part time

1%

volunteering

2%

other

internship

1%

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Mapa das Ideias www.mapadasideias.pt

Research and project supervision Inês Bettencourt da Câmara Editor Maria João Nunes

Content Inês Bettencourt da Câmara, Sara Nasi Pereira e Maria João Nunes Editorial support Michele Soares Design Joana Cavadas

Useful resources for individual action

Useful resources

Useful resources for community action

National Youth Assembly on Climate https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/departme nt-of-children-equality-disability-integration-an d-youth/

Citizen's Assembly Support the recommendations made by the Assembly to the Government on Climate Change

https://citizensassembly.ie/en/

Public Participation Network,

Environmental Pillar work to address climate issues at the local level

https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation-informatio n/a58b8-community-groups-public-participati on-networks/

Climate Action Plan, Annex of Actions 2021 https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/ie/pd f/2022/10/ie-irelands-climate-action-plan.pdf Comhairle na nÓg

Youth Councils for Leadership https://www.comhairlenanog.ie/

STAND: Organisation for University and College Students to take action on climate

https://stand.ie/

Eco-UNESCO: Ireland's Environmental Education and Youth Organisation

https://ecounesco.ie/