New survey reveals Northern Ireland’s ocean climate knowledge gap

People in Northern Ireland are among the least informed in the UK when it comes to ocean-based climate science, according to new research by the Convex Seascape Survey, a global initiative exploring how the ocean helps tackle climate change.

The new poll of over 2,000 UK adults found that:

• Only 31% of respondents in Northern Ireland correctly identified the ocean as the world’s largest natural carbon sink, compared to a national average of 34%.
• 43% believed the Amazon rainforest produces most of the Earth’s oxygen, despite the correct answer being the ocean.
• Just 32% knew that seagrass can store up to 10 times more carbon per hectare than a rainforest, slightly below the UK average of 35%.
• 57% correctly defined Blue Carbon as carbon stored in marine ecosystems, compared to 61% nationally.
• 34% in Northern Ireland said they couldn’t explain carbon sequestration, with only 50% identifying it as a method for storing carbon to fight climate change.

The confusion goes deeper:

• 63% of people in Northern Ireland said environmental terms feel as difficult to grasp as learning a foreign language – higher than the UK average of 49%, and the highest rate across all nations surveyed.
• Only 5% of respondents from Northern Ireland were classified as "Eco-Pros", scoring highest on the quiz, compared to 6% in Scotland and 3% in Wales.

Despite this, there is a clear willingness to learn:

• 37% of Northern Irish respondents said they want to reduce their carbon footprint – similar to the UK average of 42%.

The Convex Seascape Survey, a five-year research programme involving over 100 scientists across 10 countries, is working to close these knowledge gaps by exploring how continental shelves store carbon, and how better understanding can help shape ocean policy and climate action.

“Oceans are often overlooked in climate conversations, but they store more carbon than forests and soil combined,” said Professor Callum Roberts, lead scientist on the project.

“If we want the public to care about the ocean, they need to understand its role in protecting life on Earth,” added Victoria Turner, Education Lead at Blue Marine Foundation.

The project also supports climate education through a partnership with Encounter Edu, which has reached more than 14 million students across 90 countries with free ocean-focused teaching resources.

“You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference,” said Rachel Delhaise, Head of Sustainability at Convex Insurance. “Small actions, like cutting plastic use or spreading awareness, add up.”

To test your own Environmental IQ or find out more about the Convex Seascape Survey, click here.