One in five 18-34 year olds acting to live sustainably, AIB survey finds

Only one in five 18-34 year olds takes action to live sustainably, according to new research by AIB.

The AIB sustainability survey, carried out by Amárach, finds more than half (56 per cent) of people say cost is the main barrier preventing them from making more sustainable changes in their personal lives. But only four in 10 feel sustainability is really important to them in their daily lives – the lowest level recorded since 2019.

And only three in 10 say they take meaningful actions to live sustainably, with those over 55 most likely to do so.

More than 40 per cent of those over 55 say they do take meaningful action to live sustainably, compared with 20 per cent in the 18-34 age group and 30 per cent in the 35-54 group.

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Using renewable electricity sources and reducing flights are the most popular high-impact actions taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, with 39 per cent saying they are already using electricity produced from renewable energy and 33 per cent saying they are already taking one flight less a year.

Among other high-impact sustainability changes, giving up meat or cars are those moves least considered, with 60 per cent of people saying they would not consider switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet, and the same number saying they would not consider living without a car.

However, just over half of those surveyed do support EU plans to stop the production of petrol and diesel cars by 2035. Separately, 46 per cent agreed they would be driving less by 2030, while 41 per cent agreed they would be switching to electric vehicles by 2030.

The research finds almost 90 per cent have at least one car in their household. Among those who do, one-fifth already has an electric or hybrid vehicle.

Seventy per cent are recycling or composting everything they can, 62 per cent are using more energy-efficient appliances. But 61 per cent believe their homes would need a deep retrofit to significantly improve its energy efficiency, according to the research.

AIB chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer Mary Whitelaw said: “It is heartening to see that this new research shows that consumers still have a positive view of sustainability despite cost of living challenges, particularly the cost of energy.

“It is also positive to see that 15 per cent of consumers are planning to take out a loan related to a green product over the next 12 months.”

Amárach chairman Gerard O’Neill said consumers “recognise the importance of environmentally conscious purchasing decisions and are knowledgeable about sustainability-related terms”.

“This research shows there is widespread belief among consumers about the need to retrofit to improve the energy efficiency of their home, but most are unaware of schemes available and only a minority of those have checked if they qualify.’’

Increasingly, people consider Government has the most responsibility for driving behaviour to tackle the environmental crisis. Asked to chose the three groups most responsible, 72 per cent named Government, up nine points on 2021, while 57 per cent said it lay with individuals, down four points. A more modest and unchanged 49 per cent chose big business.