More than half of Irish people say climate change will be a problem for future generations

New Worldview research published by Dóchas, the Irish network for international development and humanitarian organisations, found that three in five people believe there is a moral obligation to personally support overseas aid.

More than three in four Irish people agree it is important for the Irish government to provide Overseas Development Aid (ODA), with almost one-third believing spending should be increased.

It shows that the most pertinent global issues of personal concern for Irish people are war, conflict and terrorism, followed by economic crises, job security and wages.

Meanwhile, it found that just 12pc of Irish people have heard about and know what the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are, with 56pc having not heard of the aims adopted by all United Nations members to achieve by 2030.

People in Ireland believe the first goal around achieving zero poverty is the most important, while also believing it is the least likely to be achieved by 2030.

Only 14pc of the Irish public believe climate change will impact them a great deal, while 59pc say it is a problem for future generations and 51pc say it is a problem for developing countries in the global south.

Some 43pc said climate change is the responsibility for “other” people in Ireland apart from themselves while 40pc said it was the government’s responsibility. Less than 20pc said it was their personal responsibility.

More than two thirds of people are “very” or “fairly” concerned about levels of poverty in developing countries, with almost 80pc of people believe overseas aid can bring positive change to those living in developing countries.

Jane-Ann McKenna, chief executive of Dóchas, welcomed the high levels of support for overseas aid but said further work is needed to highlight the personal environmental responsibilities and the impact it can have on developing countries.

"Ireland’s long-standing commitment to increase overseas aid to low-income countries, and those who are the furthest behind across the globe, is a promise which Irish people support,” she said.

"However, we are concerned about the low levels of knowledge and awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals especially as 2023 marked the halfway point towards the 2030 deadline.

"More ambitious, accelerated and transformative action is needed to communicate and implement the SDGs nationally. Eight years on from the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the world is on track to achieve only 15pc of the 140 SDG targets, with regression or no progress on approximately 30pc of the targets.

“More needs to be done to highlight how our own actions can impact climate and the devastating effects this can have on developing countries.”