Climate Change in the Irish Mind, 2023

The Irish Environmental Protection Agency commissioned the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication to help them conduct a nationally representative survey of public climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, policy preferences, and behavior in Ireland. The research insights will be used to inform national policymaking and the Irish National Dialogue on Climate Action. A few highlights: 95% of the Irish people think climate change is happening. By contrast, our latest national survey in the U.S. found that 72% of Americans think global warming is happening. (Note: The term “climate change” was used in Ireland, while “global warming” was used in the U.S.); 80% of the Irish public says that “most scientists think climate change is happening.” By contrast, 53% of Americans say the same; 81% of the Irish public is worried about climate change. In the U.S., 65% of Americans are worried; 78% of the Irish public says they discuss climate change occasionally or often with their families and friends. In the U.S., only 35% of Americans do; 74% of the Irish public says they hear about climate change in the media “at least once a week.” By contrast, in the U.S., only 28% do; and 79% of the Irish public says climate change should be a very high or high priority for the national government. In the U.S., 56% of registered voters say the same.