Over half pessimistic on climate crisis while majority try to take action on environment

In findings from the past two months, some 55% of more than 9,300 people surveyed spent more time outdoors than they did before the pandemic, while of those who spent time in natural spaces over the past six months, 97% felt healthier and 93% felt happier afterwards.

CSO statistician Sylvie Clappe said: “We found that more than half of respondents (55%) reported spending more time outdoors than they did before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold in March 2020, and one in three took up new outdoor activities. The most popular activities taken up were hill walking (26%), hiking (24%), running (24%), cycling (22%), and sea swimming (21%)."

Gardening has also become a favoured pastime since the pandemic, the survey found. More than 90% had access to a garden and 34% had started at least one new gardening activity since the start of the pandemic, the CSO said.

More than half of respondents (55%) spent more time outdoors than they did before the pandemichttps://t.co/q93siQfLM2 #CSOIreland #Ireland #CSOTakePart #PULSESurvey #TellUsIreland pic.twitter.com/qet3LnAY4J

— Central Statistics Office Ireland (@CSOIreland) May 30, 2022

Despite a newfound enthusiasm for the outdoors, and a keen awareness of the dangers of climate change, the majority of people believe we have left it too late to act.

Ms Clappe said: "Almost 60% of the participants were concerned about climate change (58%) or pollution of freshwaters and marine waters (57%). When asked if there is still time to act on the environmental issues that preoccupied them the most, more than half of the participants (52%) thought that, while there is still time to act, it is unlikely to happen."

However, a majority are taking action in their own lives to play their part, and want more nature-based solutions, the survey shows.

"To protect the environment, more than 60% of respondents reported they had reduced the heating of their home in the winter, and more than half (53%) had reduced their use of water. In this section of the survey, almost 80% of participants answered ‘no’ when asked if there are enough green spaces and biodiversity in urban areas," Ms Clappe said.

In further findings, 51% of the respondents thought that they could do more to protect the environment, almost 40% of participants reported that they do as much as they can, while a minority (7%) stated that they already do a lot.

There is enthusiasm among people if they feel their actions are tangible in helping the environment, the CSO found.

"Almost half of the participants (49%) stated that they would do more to protect the environment if they felt like their actions really made a difference. Acquiring more knowledge (36%), having more clarity on what environmentally-friendly actions are (33%), or having more time available (27%) would also play an important role in increasing their personal involvement in the protection of the environment," it said.