Climate change

WEEE Ireland chief Leo Donovan said the EU's targets do not consider the extended lifespans of modern electronics

EU recycling targets 'do not consider' circular economy

The head of WEEE Ireland, the country's national compliance scheme for the recycling of e-waste, has said European recycling targets set more than a decade ago fail to account for the real impact of the circular economy.

Ireland • 14 Apr

The climate plan aims to have a further rollout of high powered charging points

Retrofitting and EV charging points focus of climate plan

Minister for the Environment Darragh O'Brien will seek Cabinet approval for this year's Climate Action Plan, which identifies measures to be taken in 2025 to help reduce carbon emissions by 51% by the year 2030.

Politics • 13 Apr

Kelsey Juliana, a lead plaintiff in the Juliana v. United States climate case, speaks outside the Supreme Court in Washington DC. Photo: Getty Images

How kids are using the courts to force action on climate crisis

Legal cases taken by young activists are provoking policies that might just do enough to mitigate the climate crisis

Climate Change • 10 Apr

The ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit surveyed a representative sample of almost 1,700 adults, including 467 farmers, for the study

'Modest support' for pro-climate policies - ESRI

A national study by the Economic and Social Research Institute has found that farmers, people living in rural areas, and urban residents are all worried by climate change and equally willing to take action to help stop it.

Ireland • 09 Apr

For the European area specifically, the average temperature over land last month was 6.03 degrees

March second warmest on record - EU climate body

The EU Copernicus Climate Change Service has said last month was the second warmest March on record.

Climate Change • 08 Apr

The 15,000 solar panels, on a 28-acre site, are expected to generate up to 9 gigawatt hours of electricity every year

Solar farm shows challenge of cutting airport emissions

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien has officially opened the new solar farm beside Dublin Airport.

Dublin • 12 Apr

'Shipping contributes about 2 to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than Germany's total and over 15 times that of Ireland.' Photo: Venti Views/Unsplash

Will shipping industry introduce a global carbon tax this week?

The International Maritime Organisation are discussing measures to decarbonise shipping, including the introduction of a carbon levy

Shipping • 07 Apr

'The chewing gum study is fascinating, but we cannot confidently assign any kind of health risk to chewing gum.' Photo: Getty Images

Is chewing gum another way for microplastics to enter your body?

A new study shows how easily we can unwittingly expose ourselves to hundreds of microplastics

Microplastics • 04 Apr

The ocean economy doubled in real terms between 1995 and 2020, with most of that growth originating in countries in Asia and the Pacific region (Stock image)

Future of ocean economy at threat, OECD says

Oceans need stronger protections and governance to ensure the blue economy can grow fairly and sustainably in the face of climate change, territorial disputes and other threats, the OECD has said.

News Lens • 31 Mar

Oceans provide more than three billion people with enough to eat, transport 80% of all goods and host cables that carry 98% of the world's internet traffic

Future of $2.3 trillion ocean economy at threat - OECD

Oceans need stronger protections and governance to ensure the blue economy can grow fairly and sustainably in the face of climate change, territorial disputes and other threats, the OECD said today.

Business • 31 Mar

New figures show the momentum in the global renewable energy transition is extremely strong

Renewables an economic force despite US climate policy

Climate change is a gloomy subject. The fact that it is an existential challenge makes good news hard to find.

Analysis and Comment • 30 Mar

Rainwater harvesting encourages public involvement in water conservation efforts. Photo: Getty Images

Why you should be collecting and using rainwater

Rainwater harvesting is a possible solution to some very big problems - and not just watering the garden.

Rainwater • 28 Mar

Combined Arctic and Antarctic sea ice cover plunged to a record low in February

Arctic sea ice peak reaches record low

This year's Arctic sea ice peak is the lowest in the 47-year satellite record, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said, as the planet continues to swelter under the mounting effects of human-driven climate change.

Climate Change • 27 Mar

A member of the Korea Forest Service observes a wildfire from the side of a road in Andong

At least 27 dead as South Korea battles wildfires

Wildfires raging in South Korea have doubled in size compared to yesterday, as authorities called the blazes the country's worst natural fire disaster with at least 27 people killed and historic temples incinerated.

World • 27 Mar

The Wicklow Mountains exercise was the first of its kind in Ireland

Simulation to assess Irish ability to deal with wildfires

An exercise to assess Ireland's ability to deal with large forest fires has taken place in the Wicklow Mountains.

Ireland • 26 Mar

The report found growing international market offers an export opportunity for Irish suppliers of sustainable energy

Energy transition could generate €19bn a year - SEAI

A new report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland estimates that Ireland's energy transition will drive up to €19 billion per year of new business by 2030.

Ireland • 26 Mar

The Environmental Protection Agency says flood management is a problem in Ireland

Ireland needs adviser on climate change adaption - study

Ireland needs a Commissioner for Long-Term Thinking to advise on adapting to climate change. That is one of the recommendations from a report compiled for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Climate Change • 20 Mar

The report confirms 2024 was the warmest in 175 years of observational records

Human-induced climate change reaches 'new heights' - WMO

The World Meteorological Organization has said clear signs of human-induced climate change reached new heights in 2024, with some of the consequences being irreversible over hundreds if not thousands of years.

World • 19 Mar

The overall improvement in nitrogen levels in 2024 follows a period of little positive change in recent years

Nitrogen levels in rivers at eight-year low - EPA

Early indications show a welcome reduction in the level of nitrogen pollution in Ireland's rivers last year, the Environmental Protection Agency has said.

Ireland • 19 Mar

A man stands in front of damaged house after tornado hit in Alabama

US death toll from extreme weather rises to 36

Parts of Pennsylvania, New York and mid-Atlantic and southeast US states were still under weather alerts for damaging wind and tornadoes, as the death toll from weekend storms rose to 36.

Climate Change • 17 Mar

The Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council site will see the construction of a library and social housing

Dublin construction site sees benefit of battery power

A Dublin building site has been benefitting from the installation of batteries charged by generators to save on electricity use and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Dublin • 15 Mar

The ESB's pumped water storage system at Turlough Hill, Co. Wicklow, which pumps water up the hill to a lake higher in the mountain to store energy. Photo: Aidan O'Toole via Wicklow Uplands Council

What are the alternative ways of storing energy for long periods?

Long-duration energy storage technologies could help Ireland reach its goal of eliminating the use of fossil fuels by 2050

Energy • 10 Mar

Clive and Samantha Ryan say they will have to foot the bill if the insulation has to be removed

Couple told to remove home insulation over planning rules

The Irish Planning Institute and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland have said they would like to see planning regulations updated to take account of green initiatives such as home energy upgrades.

Environment • 10 Mar

An iceberg is seen near Dismal Island, located in the part of Adelaide Island that opens into the Southern Ocean in Antarctica

Global sea ice cover hits record low in February

Global sea ice cover reached a historic low in February, Europe's climate monitor has said, with temperatures spiking up to 11C above average near the North Pole.

Climate Change • 06 Mar

Customers at Monaghan Hire have been buying power banks which power several appliances and devices for up to 12 hours

People look to new backup power sources after Storm Éowyn

The damage wreaked by Storm Éowyn in January has caused many home and business owners to look at other sources of backup power for the next big storm.

Weather • 06 Mar