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  • Our Mission
  1. About Us
  2. Our Mission

Our Mission

An Taisce is a charity that works to promote environmental awareness and action in the context of the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

Founded in 1948, we are one of Ireland’s oldest and largest environmental organisations. We are an independent charitable voice for the environment and for heritage issues. 

Over the past few years, we have been widening the organisation's original mission from ‘the protection of built and natural heritage’ to a more encompassing vision including a focus on ecosystem resilience and biodiversity enhancement as essential to sustain human community and wellbeing. This vision is  guided by a commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and an awareness of the interconnection of the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

Bee and flowers at An Taisce

An Taisce is focused on the resilience of ecosystems as the foundation for the preservation of human society and heritage. In so doing we recognise the need to educate, and advocate on behalf of, present and future generations regarding the interdependence of all elements of the biosphere and the choices that must be made in search of a more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future.

We know that this cannot be achieved by local or national actions alone, but demands a robust, integrated approach which recognises the importance of species diversity, sustainable agriculture, clean and plentiful water, unpolluted air and living within planetary boundaries. An Taisce has three branches working towards these goals:

Our Advocacy Unit focuses on environmental planning and policy. We advocate for sustainable planning and development and other environmental issues on local, national and European levels. We are the only independent environmental non-governmental organisation in Ireland with prescribed status under the Planning Acts. 

Our Education Unit designs and delivers key environmental education programmes, such as Green Schools and Clean Coasts, from Irish and international sponsors giving us links deep into the community for the promotion of environmental objectives.

Through our Properties Unit, An Taisce continues to hold important heritage properties and nature reserves in trust for the Irish public. This portfolio continues to expand most recently with a 2,400 acre cross-border estate in Co. Monaghan.

We work closely with other environmental organisations around the country. We are part of the Irish Environmental Network and the Environmental Pillar. Internationally, we are a member of the International National Trusts Organisation and the European Environmental Bureau. We are also the Irish member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a global organisation of over 70 nations which is recognised as a world leader in education for sustainable development and environmental education.

Published: 15th September, 2020

Updated: 22nd October, 2020

Author: Phoebe Duvall

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Latest

  • Environmental NGOs call time on government-sanctioned environmental destruction

    Environmental NGOs call time on government-sanctioned environmental destruction

    An Taisce welcomes the decision of the Environmental Pillar, of which An Taisce is an active member, to resign from the Agri-Food 2030 Committee. We join the Pillar in denouncing the strategy produced by this committee as entirely inadequate to meet the social and environmental challenges facing us.

  • CETA and the Investor Court System  - No legal basis or need to have such a court

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    Ireland has much to lose if the Investor Court System is setup with impacts for health, environment, equality and employment standards.

  • Sliabh Beagh farmer nominated for Farming for Nature award

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    Pat McKenna, who runs an eco-grazing scheme on the An Taisce lands at Sliabh Beagh, has been nominated for a Farming for Nature award. His low-impact method uses Dexter cattle, a breed that is well-suited to that environment. Pat has been working closely with the Collaborative Action for the Natura Network (CANN) project, funded through Interreg, to ensure that activities are in line with habitat information and conservation actions through this initiative.

  • Application by ESB for change of use from museum to residential at Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2

    Application by ESB for change of use from museum to residential at Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2

    This proposal by the ESB to close the Georgian House museum at Fitzwilliam Street would represent the loss of a thirty-year-old heritage and cultural visitor attraction and educational resource for the city

Most read

  • Environmental NGOs call time on government-sanctioned environmental destruction

    Environmental NGOs call time on government-sanctioned environmental destruction

    An Taisce welcomes the decision of the Environmental Pillar, of which An Taisce is an active member, to resign from the Agri-Food 2030 Committee. We join the Pillar in denouncing the strategy produced by this committee as entirely inadequate to meet the social and environmental challenges facing us.

  • Irish water quality trends in the wrong direction

    Irish water quality trends in the wrong direction

    The EPA released the Water Quality in 2019 report today, indicating that over one third of rivers and a quarter of lakes are failing to meet their environmental quality standards for nutrients, with serious consequences for the health of Irish waters.

  • Ireland still among Europe’s climate laggards – new study

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    Despite improvements in our use of renewable energy, Ireland remains among the worst in Europe on overall climate action, according to the newly released 2021 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) Index of almost 60 states.

  • A Significant Step Towards Stronger Climate Action

    A Significant Step Towards Stronger Climate Action

    Today’s Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on the draft of the Climate Bill 2020 by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action makes important recommendations to help shore up what has been widely criticised as a flawed and problematic Climate Bill.

  • CETA Vote Imperils Irish Climate and Nature Action

    CETA Vote Imperils Irish Climate and Nature Action

    At Saturday’s extraordinary general meeting of An Taisce, members across the country expressed outrage that such an important matter would be rushed through the Dail. They called for TDs to postpone the vote to ratify the agreement which would mean Ireland would be saying yes to the investment protection mechanism and called for the Government to allow proper time for public debate and scrutiny.

  • Climate Bill 2020 currently not fit for purpose

    Climate Bill 2020 currently not fit for purpose

    The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020 as it is currently constituted, is not fit for purpose and requires radical and extensive amendments, according to An Taisce’s formal submission to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action

  • An Taisce's Response to the Climate Bill 2020

    An Taisce's Response to the Climate Bill 2020

    An Taisce considers that the Climate Bill 2020 in its current form is not fit for purpose and is need of radical amendments to make it effective in addressing the climate emergency

  • We Protect

    We Protect

    We hold and preserve a range of heritage properties in trust, including historic buildings and nature reserves.

  • Accessibility

  • Be the reason Ireland's natural and historical beauty is enjoyed for generations to come!

    We are lucky in Ireland to be surrounded by areas of natural and historical beauty. An Taisce has been gifted some of these areas over the past 70 years to maintain for the public. We also protect the environment through our role in the planning process and by drawing attention to immediate global threats like climate change. Our goal is 250 monthly giving supporters like you who care about protecting our environment and heritage for our children, grandchildren and future generations. Thank you!

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agriculture Air quality Biodiversity Buildings at Risk CAP Reform Climate Energy Heritage Peatlands Planning Press Release Submission summary Threats to Nature Conservation Transport Waste Water
This is our head office address and a map of where to find us.
Application by ESB for change of use from museum to residential at Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2

Application by ESB for change of use from museum to residential at Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2

This proposal by the ESB to close the Georgian House museum at Fitzwilliam Street would represent the loss of a thirty-year-old heritage and cultural visitor attraction and educational resource for the city Read more

Published: 7th February, 2021

Updated: 8th February, 2021

Author: Kevin Duff

Location: 19, Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin

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© 2020 An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland 
Registered in Ireland 12469 - Charity No. CHY4741 - Charity Regulator No. 20006358 - EU Transparency Register No. 473905437651-60