TWENTY PERCENT OF people in Ireland said they do not support the climate strikes held recently by students around the country. 

According to a survey carried out by Amarach Research for RTÉ’s Claire Byrne Live/TheJournal.ie, 70% of people in Ireland said they did support the climate strikes, while 10% of respondents said they were unsure. 

The poll comes after thousands of people from around the country took part in strikes last Friday to demand more action from the government on climate change.

Inspired by activist Greta Thunberg, students from schools and colleges across Ireland took to the streets to demand action on climate change – the third climate strike in several months, after similar action in March and May.

The poll found that older people were among the least likely to support the strikes.

Figures show that 82% of 18 to 24-year-olds supported the strikes, compared to 71% support among 25 to 34-year-olds, 70% among 35 to 44-year-olds and 66% among 45 to 54-year-olds. 

Among people aged over 55, support was at 67%.

There was no significant difference based on social background. Those from well-off backgrounds backed the strikes with support at 71%. People from lower-income backgrounds also supported climate strikes – 70% backed the strikes. 

People in Dublin overwhelmingly supported the strikes, with 75% in support. However, support was also high in the rest of Leinster (66%), as well as Munster (73%) and Connaught and Ulster (64%). 

Ireland’s strikes are part of a global movement calling for urgent action to address climate change and given the scale of the demonstrations, activists are hopeful governments will listen.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged at least €100 billion by 2030 to tackle emissions in the energy and industrial sectors, boost zero-emission electric vehicles, and get passengers out of planes and onto trains.

The latest report from the United Nations warned that global warming is devastating oceans and Earth’s frozen spaces in ways that directly threaten a large slice of humanity

The Claire Byrne Live / Amarách Research Panel consists of over 1,000 Irish adults, all aged 18+. The poll was conducted earlier this week.

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More