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Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
59% in the North believe human activity is primary cause of climate change — poll
Less than 60% of people in the North believe human activity is the primary cause of climate change, an opinion poll has suggested. The Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey found that respondents have lower levels of trust in scientific expertise on climate change than those in similar surveys in Britain, Ireland, or elsewhere in Europe. According to the poll, 59% of respondents believe human activity is the primary cause. It shows that 86% believe human activity plays at least some role. This is one of the lowest levels of belief in Europe, placing the North just above Slovakia and Lithuania — and below the British average of 90% and 88% in Ireland. Despite this, the poll suggests that public concern remains high, with 80% of respondents viewing climate change as a serious threat to human civilisation. The majority of respondents support stronger international co-operation and political action to address it, with three-quarters wanting to see local politicians elected in their constituency do more to tackle climate change. The survey from ARK, a social policy hub, is a joint Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University initiative. The NILT survey is an annual survey recording public attitudes to social issues. In 2024, 1,199 adults gave their opinion on issues including criminal justice system, integrated education, adult safeguarding, skills and training needs, relationships with different communities living in the North, and gender-based violence. The latest research on climate change was carried out by Katy Hayward and Jonny Hanson from Queen's. Other findings included: Men are less likely than women to feel personally responsible or support political action to address climate change; Younger people (18-34) are less likely to feel a sense of personal responsibility to address climate change; Across the Brexit divide, Leave voters are more likely to be sceptical and less concerned than Remain voters; There are no major differences between rural and urban dwellers on the topic of climate change, although the former are less likely to trust scientific experts on the topic. Prof Hayward said: 'The Climate Change Act (2022) marked a significant step for the Northern Ireland Assembly but whether it actually leads to the necessary political action depends in part on public demand to see politicians uphold their commitments. 'This NILT data shows us that not only are most people in Northern Ireland (82%) concerned that climate change poses a serious threat to nothing less than the future of human civilisation, they actively want to see local politicians do more to tackle it.' Dr Hanson said: 'This data is a reminder that tackling climate change is as much a societal endeavour as a technical one.
Belfast Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
59% in NI believe human activity is primary cause of climate change
The Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey found that respondents have lower levels of trust in scientific expertise on climate change than those in similar surveys in the rest of the UK, Ireland or elsewhere in Europe. According to the poll, 59% of respondents believe that human activity is the primary cause. It also shows that 86% of respondents believe human activity plays at least some role. This is one of the lowest levels of belief in Europe, placing Northern Ireland just above Slovakia and Lithuania – and below the UK average of 90% and 88% in Ireland. Despite this, the poll suggests that public concern remains high, with eight out of 10 respondents viewing climate change as a serious threat to human civilisation. The majority of respondents support stronger international cooperation and political action to address it, with three quarters wanting to see local politicians elected in their constituency do more to tackle climate change. The survey from ARK, a social policy hub, is a joint Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University initiative. The NILT survey is an annual survey recording public attitudes to social issues. In 2024, 1,199 adults gave their opinion on issues including criminal justice system, integrated education, adult safeguarding, skills and training needs, relationships with different communities living here and gender-based violence. The latest research on climate change was carried out by Professor Katy Hayward and Dr Jonny Hanson from Queen's University. Other findings included: – Men are less likely than women to feel personally responsible or support political action to address climate change. – Younger people (18 to 34 years) are less likely to feel a sense of personal responsibility to address climate change. – Leave voters are more likely to be sceptical and less concerned than Remain voters. – There are no major differences between rural and urban dwellers on the topic of climate change, although the former are less likely to trust scientific experts on the topic. Professor Hayward said: 'The Climate Change Act (2022) marked a significant step for the Northern Ireland Assembly but whether it actually leads to the necessary political action depends in part on public demand to see politicians uphold their commitments. 'This NILT data shows us that not only are most people in Northern Ireland (82%) concerned that climate change poses a serious threat to nothing less than the future of human civilisation, they actively want to see local politicians do more to tackle it.' Dr Hanson said: 'This data is a reminder that tackling climate change is as much a societal endeavour as a technical one. 'Our attitudes to climate change in Northern Ireland will shape how we address it.' Dr Paula Devine from Queen's University Belfast and Director of the NILT survey said: 'For over 25 years, the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey has been recording public attitudes to key social issues affecting our lives. Understanding what people think is vital to addressing the climate crisis now and in the future.' The Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) Survey on attitudes to climate change is available at
Belfast Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Unionists becoming more sceptical about Windsor Framework, report says
The report from Queen's University Belfast, based on an opinion poll carried out by LucidTalk, indicated that support for the Windsor Framework deal remains fragile in Northern Ireland. The framework, agreed between the UK and the EU in 2023, amended the Northern Ireland Protocol and governs post-Brexit trading arrangements in the region. The Safeguarding the Union deal was reached between the Government and the DUP the following year to further reduce some checks and paperwork on goods moving from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland. The deal led to the restoration of the Stormont powersharing arrangements following a two-year boycott by the unionist party in protest at the protocol. The report said that half of poll respondents view the Windsor Framework as 'appropriate' and 'overall a good thing', compared to just over a third (37%) against. That number against has grown over the past year due to declining support for the Windsor Framework among those identifying as 'slightly unionist'. In February 2024, 51% said it was a 'good thing', falling to 26% in April 2025. The Queen's report is the 13th in the 'Testing the Temperature' series on Northern Ireland voters' views on Brexit and the Protocol/Windsor Framework. Ahead of a UK-EU summit next week, two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they generally approve of the current Government's policy of pursuing closer relations with the EU. This includes 66% of 'slight unionists', 88% of 'neutrals' and 96% of nationalists. In contrast, 74% of 'strong unionists' oppose this policy. There are also differences between political communities in what they want to see from any UK-EU reset, with unionist respondents who support closer ties prioritising GB-NI movement of goods and 'strong nationalists' wanting to see increased UK-EU trade. Professor David Phinnemore from the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen's, said: 'The UK government will no doubt welcome evidence of majority support in Northern Ireland for its pursuit of closer relations with the EU. 'It cannot ignore, however, the evident drop we are seeing in the limited unionist support that exists for the Windsor Framework. 'If that trend is to be reversed, a closer UK-EU relationship needs to deliver on reducing obstacles to the GB-NI movement of goods.' Professor Katy Hayward, from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen's, said: 'There have been several notable events relating to the Windsor Framework since our last poll, including those in which MLAs took centre stage. 'The effect seems largely to have widened the gap between unionists and nationalists/others in opinion on the topic. 'And so the Windsor Framework continues to be a political and cultural issue as much as a practical concern.' The report also found that unionists have differing views to nationalists and others regarding some of the activity of MLAs in the Assembly on the Windsor Framework. Almost half of respondents (47%) disagree that unionist MLAs were right to vote, in December 2024, against democratic consent for the full application of the Windsor Framework. However, the poll suggested that 92% of TUV, 94% of DUP and 67% of UUP supporters think it was the right decision. Other findings include: – 58% think the Windsor Framework offers unique economic opportunities for Northern Ireland, down from 68% in June 2024. The drop in support from 'slightly unionist' is down to 47% from 73% in June 2024, though still higher than 'strong unionists' (10%). – Trust in the UK Government has improved, however it remains the most distrusted (68%) and least trusted (11%) of all actors. Views on the European Commission/EU are almost evenly split, with 44% expressing trust and 42% distrust. – Northern Ireland business representatives remain the most trusted on Windsor Framework issues, with 54% expressing trust and only 16% of respondents distrusting them. -A majority (60%) of respondents believe that the Windsor Framework is being 'undersold in terms of the dual market access opportunities' it provides for Northern Ireland producers. The poll, using a weighted sample of 1,020 respondents from across Northern Ireland, was conducted by LucidTalk for Queen's University Belfast on April 25-28. The sample used is weighted to be representative of the adult population of Northern Ireland. All results presented are accurate to a margin of error of plus/minus 2.3%.
