Unpublished review warned farmer backlash over climate policy should not be underestimated

An unpublished government review warned that Ireland risks sustained resistance from farming communities over climate policy unless engagement strategies are urgently improved.

The assessment, prepared for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, described growing distrust of the State’s climate agenda among rural constituencies and cautioned that grassroots opposition could quickly gather momentum.

It highlighted how politicians in agricultural regions were already encountering frequent pushback from constituents frustrated by both the tone and content of government climate measures.

The review criticised official communications as fragmented and overly technical, suggesting that terminology such as “rewetting” could provoke negative reactions by implying unwanted flooding rather than positive land-management outcomes.

It further warned that delays in implementing climate action could expose Ireland to EU-level consequences while simultaneously deepening domestic opposition.

The author urged government departments to adopt clearer, more relatable messaging and to invest in engagement structures capable of reaching farming communities directly, warning that climate policy would fail without social consent.