- The rising cost of living, access to healthcare, together with climate and environmental concerns top the list of challenges Irish respondents see for their country.
- Nearly two-thirds believe the shift to a climate neutral economy can only happen if inequalities are addressed at the same time.
- Over three-quarters favour eliminating subsidies and tax breaks for the aviation sector and all companies that rely heavily on fossil fuels.
- Two-thirds say they would accept an income-tax increase to help people with the lowest incomes adapt to climate-related policies.
- Nearly two-thirds believe the government should provide financial compensation to affected countries for climate change they did not contribute to.
The EIB Climate Survey, running since 2018, offers insights into climate change related views of people in major economies around the world, with more than 30 000 respondents in the European Union, the United States, China, India, Japan, the UK, UAE, Canada, and South Korea. The EIB is the lending arm of the European Union and the world’s largest multilateral lender for climate action projects.
After another challenging year, marked not only by inflation but also by record heatwaves and droughts across the globe, the Irish people have become more acutely aware of the profound impact of climate change and the need for immediate action both in Ireland and around the world, according to the results of the EIB Climate Survey. While the rising cost of living is by far considered the number one challenge[1] for the Irish people (84% of respondents place it in the top three concerns for their country, 16 points above the EU average) followed by access to healthcare (50%), climate change impacts and environmental degradation come third, with 37% considering them a major concern (13 points below the EU average).
Desire for a just transition at home and in affected countries
The financial cost and implications of the green transition is likely to affect personal budgets, which will be hardest on lower-income households.
With economic disparities ranked in the top five major challenges by respondents, most Irish respondents are calling for fair policies to address the climate emergency. Nearly two-thirds (65%, 3 points below the average in the European Union) say the transition to a low-carbon economy can only happen if social and economic inequalities are addressed at the same time.
On the question of compensation to affected countries for climate-related loss and damages, which is expected to be a central issue at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28), the Irish people, with their history of generosity and humanitarianism, are in favour of extending aid beyond their borders to support countries most vulnerable to climate change and ensure a global just transition to a climate neutral and resilient future.
Indeed, nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%, 13 points above the EU average) agree that the country should financially compensate affected countries to help them fight climate change.
Taxes to support a just transition
Survey results show that two-thirds of the Irish (66%, 7 points above the EU average of 59%) would be willing to pay more income tax to help lower-income households cope with the costs of a green transition. 51% would agree to pay an extra 1-2% of their income and 15% would agree to an extra 5-10%.
A high majority of Irish respondents said they would also be in favour of other kinds of climate-related taxes. For example, more than eight respondents in ten (81%) said they would favour a fossil fuel tax reform to eliminate subsidies and tax breaks for the aviation sector and other industries that rely heavily on fossil fuels.
“This 6th edition of the EIB Climate Survey highlights the deep appreciation that the Irish people have of the challenges Ireland and the greater world face with climate change" said the Head of the EIB Group Office in Ireland, Kevin McKeon. “The EIB, as the EU climate bank, is listening to people’s concerns around the climate crisis and working with policymakers and industry partners to address them. The Irish people want a just transition where no one is left behind and the EIB stands ready to play an important role here, in close co-operation with governmental departments, state and semi-state bodies and private actors. In this respect, since taking office, I have been greatly heartened by the steadfast commitment to tackling the climate crisis and achieving Ireland’s ambitious climate targets that I have witnessed in my dealings with not only governmental departments such as the Department of Environment, Communication and Climate but also with industry leaders in a variety of fields.”
[1] Respondents had to select the three challenges they consider the biggest for their country from a shuffled list of ten challenges: Increased cost of living, unemployment, climate change, environmental degradation, political instability, income inequalities, access to healthcare, large-scale migrations, cyberattacks, and terrorism.
Background information
About the EIB Climate Survey
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has now completed the sixth annual EIB Climate Survey, a thorough assessment of how people feel about climate change. Conducted in partnership with the market research firm BVA, the sixth edition of the EIB Climate Survey aims to inform the broader debate on attitudes and expectations in terms of climate action. More than 30 000 respondents participated in the survey from 7 August to 4 September 2023, with a representative panel of people aged 15 and above for each of the 35 countries polled (EU 27, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Korea, Canada and UAE).
About the European Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.
- In 2019, the EIB adopted an updated energy lending policy ending financing to any unabated fossil fuel energy projects, including natural gas. The EIB was the first multilateral development bank to do this.
- In 2021, the EIB also became the first multilateral development bank to align its financial activities with the Paris Agreement.
- Through its Climate Bank Roadmap, the EIB Group aims to support €1 trillion of investment in climate action and environmental sustainability through the critical decade 2021-2030.
- It also made a commitment to increase investment in climate action and environmental sustainability to more than 50% of its annual lending by 2025 (last year that goal was exceeded with a figure of 58%).
EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm dedicated to operations outside the European Union and is a key partner of the EU Global Gateway strategy. It aims to support at least €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027, around one-third of the overall target of the Global Gateway. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local communities, companies and institutions through its offices across the world.
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