90% of people in Waterford say there is a responsibility to act on climate change, yet just 15% say they would join a campaign for climate action.
That's according to figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Over four fifths of Waterford people say they are worried about climate change, but the amount of people who feel personally responsible to act does not correlate with that number.
Local Green Party Councillor, Cristiona Kiely, told WLR News people are too used to others doing things for them.
"I think it's human nature that we expect other people to do stuff for us unfortunately, and I think that might be what it's coming down to," she said.
78% of Waterford people believe taking climate action will improve Ireland's quality of life.
Cllr Kiely outlined a few small ways in which people can take action.
Being conscious about energy use and walking or cycling for small local journeys are just two ways mentioned by the Green Councillor.
The EPA Report also showed that in Waterford, 95% of people believe that climate change will harm future generations.
Cllr Kiely says she used to think the same but she now knows this is not the case.
She has been working in climate and environmental action for the past 30 years and believed she was doing so to safeguard the future of her four children's children.
"It's only in recent years that we're actually discovering that it's actually my children's future and my own future that's under threat," Cllr Kiely said.
This can be seen through a variety of natural events that have occurred just last year.
There were numerous wildfires in Europe.
There are now millions of climate refugees from a range of countries, in particular, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.
The River Po in Italy dried up.
There is currently no snow in the Alps.
A map was produced by Climate Central highlighting areas that will be underwater if no action is taken between now and 2050.
Many areas across Waterford including parts of Tramore, Portlaw, Dunmore East, Woodstown, Dungarvan, and more would be submerged if this was the case.
Reflecting on the Waterford statistics, Cllr Kiely says "they show a broad range of opinions on a lot of different elements of climate change."
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