Last attempt to agree EU climate target before COP
EU environment ministers are meeting in Brussels for a last-ditch attempt to agree a climate target before the COP climate summit. The European Commission has proposed to cut greenhouse gas…
Irish government urges EU not to scrap Life fund
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has signed up to a letter putting pressure on the European Commission not to scrap its climate funding programme. The letter, which…
District heating could drastically cut energy bills
Excess heat from data centres, geothermal sources and industry could be converted into district heating for neighbourhoods all over Ireland, according to a new joint project launched by the government…
Transport emissions breach carbon budget
Emissions from cars and lorries have already breached Ireland’s first carbon budget, that’s according to data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Ireland’s first carbon budget was agreed…
EU Ecolabel tops 100,000 products
The EU’s Ecolabel now features on more than 100,000 products, but only 154 of them are from Ireland. The Ecolabel is designed to highlight products that meet strict environmental criteria.…
Environment Commissioner to visit Ireland
The EU’s Environment Commissioner, Jessika Roswall, will visit Ireland next month, the government has confirmed. It comes as ministers step up their case to try to convince the EU to…
Treatment plants breaching pollution limits
Over half of Ireland’s waste treatment plants are failing to meet pollution limits stipulated in their licences, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says. “Wastewater discharged from 59 per cent of…
European Parliament votes to ‘ban’ veggie burgers as part of simpler farming rules
Meat-substitutes should not be allowed to call themselves burgers or sausages under rules voted through by the European Parliament. MEPs have voted to simplify rules that govern the Common Agricultural…
PFAS found in minister’s blood
Toxic substances known as ‘forever chemicals’ were detected in Timmy Dooley’s blood, according to the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). Ireland’s environment minister, Timmy Dooley TD, was one of 18 ministers…
Fishing industry fears €200 million hit from quota cuts
Ireland’s fishing industry is warning that it could lose up to €200 million if quota cuts recommended by scientists are supported by the EU. The International Council for the Exploration…