Public Support For Climate Action Remains High Across Ireland.
New EPA Climate Opinion Maps show that, similar to previous findings in 2022, there remains a high level of consistency across Ireland in terms of climate change attitudes, policy preferences, and behaviours.
People across Ireland continue to be in almost full agreement that climate change is happening, and large proportions of the population are worried about it.
On most topics, there remains no discernible difference between urban and rural areas, and there is majority support for all surveyed policies nationally.
An emerging divergence was noted between Dublin and other counties regarding support for taxing fossil fuel-powered cars, and a slight fall in support for banning fossil fuels for home heating in the northwest.
People in counties with a history of environmental risks such as flooding, water shortages or wildfire, show an increased awareness of the potential impacts of these risks resulting from climate change.
Check out the EPA Climate Opinion Maps to see where your County stands on Climate Action.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today released updated interactive maps of Ireland that show national, regional, and county-level data about people’s climate change beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences and behaviours. This is the third output from Wave 2 of the Climate Change in the Irish Mind study, undertaken in 2023 by the EPA and the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication in support of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.
Speaking about the new climate change opinion maps, Dr Eimear Cotter, (Director of the Office of Evidence & Assessment) said: “The interactive climate opinion maps make the EPA’s Climate Change in the Irish Mind data accessible to a wide audience across Ireland. These maps show nationwide acceptance of the scientific consensus on climate change, and strong support for most climate action policies, with minimal variation based on where people live, and that most climate attitudes were resilient in the face of cost-of-living increases. However, we also see that public understanding of the causes of climate change is limited and varies between counties. In some counties, less than half of the population understands that climate change is human caused, compared to about six in ten in other areas.”
While the overall picture of support for climate action is high and largely consistent across the country, there are slight regional variations in the level of support for some policies such as the banning of peat, coal, and oil for home heating. Support is highest in urban areas, and weakest in the North-West and border regions. A similar pattern is evident for policies to increase taxes on cars that use petrol and diesel.
People tend to be worried about known region-specific risks from climate change. For instance, a higher percentage of people are worried about water shortages in Dublin and the Mid-East region than the rest of the country. However, water pollution remains a widespread worry for eight in ten people across all counties.
Speaking about the maps, Dr Tara Higgins, (Programme Manager, EPA Evidence Programme) said: “It is encouraging to see that most people across all parts of Ireland believe we have a collective responsibility to act on climate change. It will be important to understand and address people’s concerns about some climate action policies – such as moving away from fossil fuelled transport and home heating. These latest climate opinion maps are a valuable resource for climate policy decision-makers, researchers, the media, non-governmental organizations, and students. We encourage people to use these maps to explore opinions on climate change and worries about climate risks in their own county and region.”
Pre-deceased by her parents Catherine (Kay) and Tom Tully and sister Katrina (Ryan); Ms Tully, sadly, passed away unexpectedly at her place of ordinary residence.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; brother Frank, cherished sisters Clare (Molony), Dolores (Hogan) and Rosalie, brothers-in-law, cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nephew and grand-niece, extended relatives, health-care providers, neighbours and a wide circle of friends and former colleagues at Bank of Ireland, Thurles, .
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Ms Tully, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Tully family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Pre-deceased by his grandfather Pat Grant and nephew baby David O’Connell; Mr O’Connell passed away unexpectedly.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; parents David and Bridget, brothers Andrew, Dean and Davie, sisters Sarah and Katie, partner Lauren, children Summer-Mai, Aaliyah and Kaylum, grandmothers Noreen Grant and Kathleen O’Connell, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, godson, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mr O’Connell, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended O’Connell family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: House strictly private. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Picture Top:Looking West, unto Slievenamon Road, Thurles. Picture Centre:Looking East, unto Emmett Street, Thurles. Picture Bottom:Looking North from rear of Bank of Ireland, facing unto Liberty Square, Thurles.
So, where are those promised extra Thurles car parking spaces that were promised behind Bank Of Ireland, latter facing unto Liberty Square in Thurles?
One is reminded of a remark once used by American showman, businessman (Barnum & Bailey Circus), Mayor (Bridgeport Connecticut), author and anti-slavery Republican politician, Mr Phineas Taylor Barnum. the remark, demonstrates the deep understanding of scepticism, human nature, and the limitations of deceit, including that expended by our local Thurles councillors and politicians. The remark attributed to Mr Barnum states, quote; “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” The adage “There’s a sucker born every minute”, is also frequently attributed to the aforementioned Mr Barnum; latter remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes.
Truth was that customers drove into the Bank of Ireland (BOI) car park, parked their vehicles, dealt with their banking business, and then walked out to Liberty Square or back unto Emmett Street, entering into the rear of the multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer Tesco, leaving their car free of street parking charges.
Now, with a new wall backing unto BOI, latter moved further northwards, and a second gap opened from what was known as the Slievenamon Road car park (or Checkpoint Charlie) we have actually, once again, lost at least 6 car parking spaces, hitherto available to the town centre. [I base this assumption, noting that the new gaps created, (one leading east unto Emmett Street and the other leading north unto the rear of Bank of Ireland), will no longer offer parking spaces.]
Quote: “Ireland’s towns and villages are an important resource to protect and nurture. We want to ensure that they remain resilient locations with vibrant inclusive communities and a strong cultural and social fabric that deliver a good quality of life for future generations. We (the government) will support them through a strong commitment to ‘place-making’ so that any town centre environment is one in which people want to live, do business, visit and is ultimately successful”.
Why does ‘The Source’ Car Park remain closed.
A 2024 General Election date is to be announced on Thursday November 7th next. The previous disastrous decisions forced on our town centre businesses, (first begun on August 17th, 2020), now leaves our medieval streetscapes fully choked with HGV’s and other traffic; and will not easily be corrected even when, (if ever), a bypass is eventually constructed.
To those canvassing for votes on our doorsteps, the question which should be on the lips of every Thurles resident and remaining, business owner in our town is; “When will ‘The Source’ car park be open again, in an effort to support town centre businesses?
With just 7 weeks until Christmas, why was this presently closed parking benefit, situated under ‘The Source’ library building, not taken in hand, as a greater parking priority, rather than the opening of a new gap in a partially land locked car park, latter which will now lead to even greater frustration, with motorists forced to emerge onto Barry’s Bridge, from this new Emmett Street gap, to take their chances manoeuvering around a totally ‘castle blind’ corner, unto Cathedral Street.
Songwriters: American contemporary Christian Music-folk singer and songwriter, Ellie Holcomb(Elizabeth Asher Holcomb) and American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter, Lauren Ashley Daigle. Vocals: American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter, Lauren Daigle.
Be Okay.
You’re gonna be okay. You’re, you’re gonna be okay. Oh, the sun will keep on risin’ in that old familiar way, And every little thing is gonna be okay. You’re gonna be alright, Darling, you’re, you’re gonna be alright, ‘Cause the stars will keep on shinin’ through the darkest night, And you can know you’re gonna be alright. Lift your eyes to the hills, Remember where your help comes from. Lift your eyes to the hills, You’ll never face a valley alone. ‘Cause even when your heart is breakin’, And you’ve gone and lost your way, Oh Lord you’re, you’re gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay. I know that you’re, you’re gonna be okay. Not a care in this whole world that can take that truth away, You’re, you’re gonna be okay. You’re gonna be alright, My darlin’, you’re, you’re gonna be alright, At the end of all our breath, when we’re beckoned on to the light, Love’ll meet you there, you’re gonna be alright. Oh, the end of all our breath is the beginning of new life, Lord, you’re gonna be alright.
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