Vast majority of Cavan public ‘worried’ about climate change

EPA review shows impact of environmental challenges

An overwhelming majority of the Irish public are either alarmed or concerned by climate change, and want to see real change, that’s according to the recently published EPA research.

The ‘Climate Opinion Maps’ report indicates that almost four out of five (79%) adults living in Cavan are “worried about climate change”, and 91% think Ireland “has a responsibility” to act.

Drilling into the response deeper, only half agree that climate change “is personally important” (51%).

A total of 59% respondents from Cavan believe climate change “will harm me personally”. The longterm view is much more pessimistic with 95% believing that climate change “will harm future generations”.

Meanwhile two thirds (67%) say that climate change is already harming people in Ireland, or will within 10 years.

Finally 88% of respondents in Cavan believe that climate change is currently affecting weather in Ireland.

The EPA maps was produced in partnership with the Yale Programme on Climate Communication. The maps are based on the Climate Change in the Irish Mind study (CCIM), a nationally representative survey collected from May through July of 2021.

Whilst the level of concern expressed over the climate emergency in the Border region is high, relative to other parts of the Republic, it is low. The level of concern along the Border is six per cent below the national average. The figures exceed 80%, across the rest of the Republic with Dublin and its surrounding counties registering in the high 80s, along with Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork.

“The EPA’s vision is that we live sustainably in a healthy environment that is valued and protected by all,” says EPA Director General, Laura Burke.

“There is good evidence that people in Ireland place a particularly high value on having a clean, healthy environment. But the EPA Review of 2022 shows that we must do more than express our convictions and aspirations. We must quickly back our values up with actions.”

The EPA also monitors air quality across 100 urban areas, including at a site located behind the courthouse in Cavan Town.

They warn that particulate matter from solid fuel combustion and nitrogen dioxide from traffic emissions are causing poor air quality, and urge the public to examine changes in how to heat homes and alternative ways to travel.