Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Saturday 3 June 2023 Dublin: 10°C

# CLIMATE CRISIS

This week
28th May 2023 - 3rd June 2023
# the lord's work
Ireland's cricket test match against England in London affected by climate activist protest
Just Stop Oil confirmed that it was behind the protest which delayed the England team bus.
# Rewetting
Fine Gael's EU party pulls out of talks on high-profile nature law
The proposed law, which would set targets for restoring nature, has been the subject of controversy in Europe and in Ireland.
# Flying
'I don't think Cork-Dublin flights will return' - Ryanair boss
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has said he does not believe short-haul flights in Ireland are unacceptable from a climate perspective.
Last week
21st May 2023 - 3rd June 2023
# France
Climate protesters sprayed with tear gas at TotalEnergies shareholder meeting in Paris
The protest was mostly peaceful.
Last month
May 2023
THE MORNING LEAD
Green MEPs 'very' concerned by opposition to plan for restoring nature and rewetting Irish bogs
A report by
Lauren Boland
Two Green MEPs from Ireland and Germany gave an in-depth interview to The Journal on the proposed Nature Restoration Law.
# grounded
People Before Profit propose ban on private jets in Irish airspace
The proposed legislation is aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.
# Gridlock
'If everyone drives, no one gets anywhere quickly', says Minister for Transport
Minister Eamon Ryan has said that switching to electric vehicles will help reach climate targets but will not be enough to solve congestion problems.
# heating up
Hottest year of modern records highly likely to come in next five years - report
Average temperature increase may temporarily break the important 1.5 degree threshold by 2027.
# Climate
Disposable cups to be axed from public sector canteens under new climate action mandate
The installation of heating systems that use fossil fuels in new buildings will also cease after this year under the mandate.
# Plan Ahead
Underfunded planning system puts climate action at risk, Government warned
The Climate Change Advisory Council has written to the coalition leaders to highlight specific issues with the planning system.
# Temperature Check
Get The Journal's monthly climate newsletter delivered to your inbox
It’s the biggest story of our time.
THE MORNING LEAD
Automatic pension scheme should not invest in fossil fuels, Government told
A report by
Lauren Boland
A new auto-enrolment pension scheme for workers has undergone scrutiny as the government prepares to put forward legislation.
A newly published report advises that investment funds in the scheme should not be allowed to invest in fossil fuels.
It also recommends that a minimum percentage of the funds should be invested in renewable energy development.
April
April 2023
# looking ahead
Ireland has finally released its 30-year climate plan - here's what it says
The long-term climate strategy has been published today three years after an EU deadline.
# Fossil Fuels
Oil giant BP faces shareholder backlash over U-turn on climate promises
Several big pension investment funds are pushing back on BP’s decision to scale down its climate goals.
# Clean Air Act
Ireland's first clean air strategy to target pollution for sake of health and environment
The government has published a plan to significantly improve Ireland’s air quality.
# Fire lit
Government to send long-term climate strategy to EU this week - three years late
EU countries were told in 2018 to submit a 30-year strategy on climate action by 1 January 2020.
THE MORNING LEAD
North Sea Summit: Ireland and UK need to cooperate on offshore wind energy, says Eamon Ryan
A report by
Lauren Boland
Nine countries have agreed to ramp up capacity for harnessing offshore wind to generate power.
# Nature
Children's assembly on biodiversity calls on Ireland to 'treat the Earth like family'
Young people aged seven to 17 have created nearly 60 recommendations on protecting and restoring Ireland’s biodiversity.
# Global Warming
Climate change: The last eight years were the hottest in modern records
The World Meteorological Organisation has released its State of the Global Climate report for 2022 – and the forecast is stark.
# fit for 55
EU approves €86 billion plan to help people impacted by climate transition
The EU Parliament passed a series of votes on climate legislation today that have been long in the works.
# Climate Change
G7 pledges to quit fossil fuels faster, but doesn't set new deadline on phasing out coal
The call to action comes as many developing countries step up demands for more help in phasing out fossil fuels and stabilising energy prices.
# district heating
Should we use data centres to heat our homes - or is it greenwashing?
The waste heat from data centres can be used for climate-friendly heating systems – but data centres are major energy consumers.
March
March 2023
# Jets
Private jets in firing line as report shows over 6,000 flights left Irish airports last year
People Before Profit is to bring a Bill to the Dáil after Easter to ban private jets in Irish air space.
# Three Year Delay
Environment charity brings judicial review over stalled long-term climate strategy
The EU opened infringement proceedings against Ireland last year over its failure to produce a 30-year strategy for climate action.
# Climate Change
Protesters blast Eamon Ryan as he says 'politics of division' will not work for climate crisis
Ryan was speaking in Trinity College as part of the university’s Green Week.
# climate inaction
World’s climate plans won’t keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees - major UN report
Humanity can still prevent the worst-case climate scenarios – but we need to act now, the IPCC has confirmed.
'Climate needs to be at the heart of all decision-making' - Irish expert
Debunked: Five common climate myths and why they're wrong
# No Excuses
'Climate needs to be at the heart of all decision-making' - Irish expert
A new climate report has shown that countries’ current plans aren’t enough to reach international targets.
Voices
Opinion: We have many lost Irish woodlands - let's document, cherish and protect them
The best place to rebuild our native woodlands is from the remnants of ancient ones which still exist, writes Ray Ó Foghlú.
# whitewash
Owner of Zara and Bershka reports €4.1 billion net profit despite fast fashion scrutiny
Retail giants are under growing pressure for their role in the climate crisis and workers’ rights abuses.
# energy poverty
Energy credits should not have included richest households, climate NGO says
A new report by Friends of the Earth has made 49 recommendations to government about how to tackle energy poverty.
# climate action
MEPs vote for Europe to decarbonise buildings and help nature to trap carbon
EU politicians backed new policies for buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
# CLIMATE CRISIS
Diplomats and scientists meet to approve major report on state of the climate
The synthesis report will condense down nearly a decade of science.
February
February 2023
# Sao Sebastio
Rescuers search for missing people in Brazil after twice monthly average rain falls in 24 hours
The record rainfall in a beachside city caused flooding and mudslides, killing at least 46 people.
# Gaining power
Eamon Ryan says plans are afoot for 'more solar in next three years than 20 years of renewables'
He made the statement before the Oireachtas Climate Committee today.
# Fossil Fuel
EU approves 2035 ban on new fossil fuel car sales
The Irish Government plans to ban new fossil fuel car sales from 2030 onwards.
THE MORNING LEAD
Delayed climate strategy to come before Cabinet amid EU infringement proceedings
A report by
Lauren Boland
The EU has taken the first step of a legal process against Ireland over failure to submit a long-term climate strategy due three years ago.
Ireland three years past deadline to send long-term climate strategy to European Union
Voices
John Gibbons: Shell made record profits as the planet burns - welcome to the toxic oil industry
The environmental campaigner questions how a global fossil fuel giant can record its highest profits ever in the shadow of a climate crisis.
# heatwaves
Planting more trees in cities could reduce deaths from intense summer heat, study finds
“This is becoming increasingly urgent as Europe experiences more extreme temperature fluctuations caused by climate change,” one researcher said.
THE MORNING LEAD
Ireland three years past deadline to send long-term climate strategy to European Union
A report by
Lauren Boland
The government has repeatedly fallen short of promises to get the important strategy finished.
Cumbersome grant system holding some back from solar PV uptake, says expert
Young people are least confident in Irish government's efforts on environment
January
January 2023
# Solar Panels
Cumbersome grant system holding some back from solar PV uptake, says expert
The chair of the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation likened the experience of securing a grant to a “bureaucratic nightmare”.