Climate Crisis

Seventy per cent of plastic packaging generated in Ireland was incinerated in 2021 with only about 28% recycled

Timed phase-out of fossil fuels needed, and should be progressed at climate summit, conference told

Limiting growth of data centres here threatens foreign direct investment, our digital economy and modern life

Game Changers: Peadar Lynch’s Cherry Orchard garden salads are an example of how healthy food can be grown locally, organically and sustainably

There are welcome trends, but the latest science from multiple sources is killing the positive outlook: human-made greenhouse gases are still rising despite big pledges

Thinking in a Climate Emergency: Ireland is ideally placed to start the process of getting the proposed treaty initiative on the diplomatic and UN agenda

Plants are far from passive in the face of ravenous animals seeking to gorge themselves on leaves, flowers, seeds and even wood

The case for Ireland following its neighbours in introducing ‘the quintessential ecosystem engineer’ to our rivers

Separate UK Met Office research finds waters off North of Ireland jumped by 5 degrees

‘Our [carbon] pollution levels are pushing us over the edge into catastrophic climate breakdown’ - FoE

Countries’ ‘emissions gap’ is like an emissions canyon littered with broken promises, broken lives, and broken records, says UN chief

Game Changers: Ceding Lime Avenue to traffic in a climate and biodiversity emergency is a backward step

Beyond immediate compensation, politicians argue for a more radical, long-term approach such as relocating buildings off flood plains as climate change is sure to bring more storms

The autumn season has been increasing by a day a year in Ireland

President of the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association Pat McCormack accused the Government of “enjoying hindering and obstructing farmers” by supporting a cull of dairy cows

Half a million people have been displaced since the rains started in October

TDs criticise pace of delivery of flood relief schemes, and raise questions about the role of the Department of Public Expenditure

‘My fear is the national narrative is making climate change to the 95 per cent of people who are not in agriculture somebody else’s problem,’ climatologist Peter Thorne says

‘Despite decades of warnings from the scientific community, we are still heading in the wrong direction’, says WMO report

Power consumption in country reaches record levels due to increased use of air conditioners, fans and refrigerators

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Climate crisis research says overheating of the planet could persist

Galway city mayor says many flood-affected businesses would not have been insured, which is devastating to them

High-emitting states need to agree funding for new loss and damage fund agreed at Cop27, say lobby groups

Move predicted to lead to reduced electricity prices and provide flexibility that will improve energy security

Game Changers: The average tree newly arrived in a city takes 16 years to absorb its own carbon footprint

Profile of climate-vulnerable Zambia pre-Cop28: ‘The rain comes late and goes early’

Green MEP welcome measures to protect and restore Irish wetlands which were opposed by Irish farmers, although key elements ‘watered down’

Temperatures in the seas around Ireland and the UK were 3-5 degrees higher than normal in June - and climate change is to blame. Graphic: NOAA

John FitzGerald: Without good alternatives and appropriate signals, people will not shift their energy use patterns

Population growth and global warming compound difficulties in finding a global solution

Scientists found last month was the warmest October on record globally

Petrochemicals are in cleaning agents, paints, cosmetics, pillows, acrylic worktops and much of our clothing and footwear. But change is coming

Cabinet will also hear that a funding scheme will be opened for farmers in Shannon Callows whose fodder was badly damaged by extreme weather

Careful planning and monitoring of nature-based solutions can reduce the risk of negative outcomes

Despite progressive climate policies and impressive renewable energy use, why do we rank 21st out of 27 countries on climate change?

Game Changers: The monoculture farm that only produces one thing is a model that suits food businesses, not farming ones

Residents and businesses in Carlingford and Downpatrick continue to count impact of rising waters

Many weather stations countrywide have recorded normal year’s rainfall already, with November and December traditionally being two of our wettest months

Wildfires fuelled by 120km/h winds burn almost 2,000 hectares of land in eastern Spain