Farmers and the general population, both urban and rural, are equally worried about climate change and willing to take action to help stop it, new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found.
No overall difference in knowledge about the broad causes and effects of climate change were found between farmers and non-farmers, nor between rural and urban residents.
But it did identify major knowledge gaps. More than one-third of all respondents — both farmers and the public — failed to identify agriculture as one of the three highest greenhouse gas emitting sectors of the Irish economy (out of a list of six), even though agriculture is the highest emitting sector by a significant margin.
Understanding of which everyday behaviours generate the most emissions was also generally poor, but lower among farmers.
The link between diet and climate change was poorly understood. People in all groups incorrectly thought switching to a hybrid car reduces personal emissions more than adopting a plant-based diet.
Incorrect responses to this question were significantly higher among farmers (80% compared to 60–63% of the urban and rural public, respectively) and among beef and dairy farmers in particular.
Climate change was selected by 43% of farmers as one of the three most important issues they face out of a list of eight.
It ranked similarly to negative perceptions of farming (45%), above high workload (29%) but below financial challenges (73%) and excessive regulation (58%).
Farmers, rural residents, and urban residents all reported high levels of general worry about climate change.
Non-farmers underestimated how worried farmers were about climate change.
People generally assumed their peers were less worried than they themselves are.
The majority of farmers, urban and rural residents expressed willingness to make lifestyle changes, such as flying less, improving home energy efficiency, eating less meat or going car-free.
Most farmers said they consider the climate in their farming decisions. Two-thirds reported being more likely than not to change how they farm in the future to help the climate.
Farmers, rural and urban residents all broadly support pro-climate policies, based on average support for 12 policies. Policies based on subsidies, such as home retrofit grants and assistance for farmers taking up green technologies, are more popular than those based on restrictions, such as taxing flights or reducing the national herd size. Very few people in all groups strongly oppose all pro-climate policies.
The study surveyed 1,667 adults in Ireland, consisting of 467 farmers from diverse locations and farm types and 1,200 members of the general public, split evenly between rural and urban participants.
Dr Lucie Martin, lead author of the ESRI report, said: "Most people — farmers, urban, and rural residents alike — are worried about the climate and willing to take action, but misperceive others' worry and willingness. We need to recognise that pro-climate views are held by the large majority.
Prof Pete Lunn, head of the ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit, said: "Knowledge about climate change really could improve, especially knowledge of the link between what we eat and greenhouse gas emissions."
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