Energy

Achieving the climate commitments in the Programme for Government will require wide-ranging changes across all aspects of Irish society and our economy, as well as shifts in mindset in how we define what are our core values and true priorities. An Taisce’s Climate Committee will keep the pressure on in the months and years ahead to ensure that the ambitious targets and objectives on climate action are met in full and on time.

An Taisce has written today to Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton TD on the eve of what may be his final EU Environment Council meeting.

An Taisce wrote today to each of the 13 Irish MEPs to demand sustainable recovery investments.

While the immediate priority is to address the public health emergency, public stimulus packages are being developed to relaunch the economy. Given the monumental size of these investments, how we invest this money will determine whether we succeed or fail in the fight against climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, widespread pollution and inequality.

[A report from Ian Lumley, An Taisce Head of Advocacy, from COP-25.]

Even more visible this year than at COP24 in Poland is the presence of the fossil fuel industry in rebranding itself as the agent of climate action. COP25 saw a wide range of events promoting carbon capture and storage (CCS) and/or biomethane. These were held mainly in the national pavilions, therefore having support of the relevant governments. The promise of bringing in CCS is the new front for continuing to burn coal, oil and gas, with a bit of bioenergy to greensugar the pill. 

Prof. John Sweeney's second report on the UNFCCC COP-25 Meeting in Madrid, December 2019. See also his first report: No Real Progress in Week 1.

Ireland continues to be among the worst performing countries in the EU on climate action, despite slight improvements in our ranking, according to a major international survey published today.