Rowback is not a policy when clean tech is the only game in town As geopolitical turmoil reshapes global priorities, climate action is taking a backseat. From corporate rollbacks to political U-turns, a once-urgent transition to clean energy faces fresh obstacles. But in a world increasingly dependent on fossil fuels, delays will only drive up costs—both economic and environmental.Thu Apr 24 2025 - 05:00
Remains of Roman gladiator attacked by a lion in combat shows ‘brutality of spectacle’, Irish scientists findRemains found in York show brutality of spectacles staged far beyond the heart of the Roman empire Wed Apr 23 2025 - 19:00
Pope Francis’s green legacy is his radical encyclical Laudato Si’ that upended centuries of Catholic teachingPublished in 2015, Laudato Si’ spoke of our serious moral responsibility to protect the planetTue Apr 22 2025 - 17:47
Offshore wind farms at risk of legal challenges due to flawed developer-led policy, environmentalists warnSetting aside of ecosystem-based marine planning in Ireland has created a ‘mess’, says Blue IrelandTue Apr 22 2025 - 15:29
Ardnacrusha at 100: What could happen if Ireland showed similar ambition today and invested 20% of national budget in energy? Spending €24bn on projects such as upgrading the grid and electrifying transport and heating could transform the nationTue Apr 22 2025 - 06:00
Why international firm Corio withdrew from plans for Sceirde Rocks wind farm off Connemara’s coastEmerging technology, harsh marine conditions and cost pose challenges, but big offshore projects can be done, say expertsMon Apr 21 2025 - 06:00
Urgent action needed to ‘clear fog’ and progress transition to clean energy The Nesc findings would be used to inform ongoing work of Government to deliver the transitionFri Apr 18 2025 - 15:55
The global fight for science in the face of Trump’s attacksAs Trump takes aim at science and institutions, other nations double down on research and innovationThu Apr 17 2025 - 05:21
The ‘foot may be coming off the action pedal’: Climate plan fails to build on ambitionGovernment’s delayed 2025 initiative is arguably lacking fresh actions and policiesTue Apr 15 2025 - 20:01
Measures in 2025 climate plan will be at centre of social and economic development, Government saysBut campaigners criticise proposals as ‘largely ignoring data-centre growth and reliance on fossil-fuels’Tue Apr 15 2025 - 19:27
Striking east-west contrast as extreme heat and flooding mark Europe’s warmest yearEurope continues to warm faster than other continents, with cities unprepared for extreme weather events, Copernicus-WMO report warnsTue Apr 15 2025 - 04:00
Connemara offshore wind farm will not go ahead, dealing blow to Government’s climate targetsSceirde Rocks project off Co Galway coast had won State contract to deliver power by 2030Fri Apr 11 2025 - 21:45
Ireland to become leader in Europe’s clean energy future amid revised national plan, conference toldWind industry proposes new offshore wind deal for Europe backed by government supported auctions Thu Apr 10 2025 - 17:13
Offshore grid for Irish, Celtic and North seas closer to delivery Joint development can be ‘key step for Europe’s energy future’ and climate neutrality Wed Apr 09 2025 - 16:39
Farmers and urban dwellers equally worried by climate change and willing to act, ESRI study finds Research points to significant knowledge gap on actions needed to reduce carbon emissionsWed Apr 09 2025 - 00:01
Power grid to be strengthened against storm threatESB networks to improve surveying, hazard removal and forestry managementTue Apr 08 2025 - 18:25
Fertiliser sales jump 11%, which may undermine Irish case for retaining EU nitrates derogation Sales spike in 2024 after two years of declinesFri Apr 04 2025 - 17:20
Irrational view of science under Trump not reflected beyond US, says EU research funderProf Maria Leptin rejects view ‘this is a big opportunity to snatch back our colleagues’Wed Apr 02 2025 - 06:00
Glitter microplastics damage shells and skeletons of sea life, Irish scientists findNotorious pollutant found in sea turtles and chewing gum in wave of new studiesTue Apr 01 2025 - 15:58
The Uninsurables: One in 20 Irish houses struggles to get flood insuranceWe’ve been lucky so far but ‘only a matter of time before a 3m storm surge’ hits IrelandSat Mar 29 2025 - 06:00
Smartphone bans in isolation fail to equip children for healthy use of tech, say experts‘Schools, teachers and parents require training and guidance to help them support children’s healthy use of technology’Thu Mar 27 2025 - 22:30
People power is driving Ireland’s clean energy switch, says Minister Combining technologies is breaking down barriers to renewables in the home, SEAI energy show revealsThu Mar 27 2025 - 16:27
Ireland’s ability to deal with large forest fires put to the test in Wicklow mountains exerciseMulti-agency operation will assess Ireland’s preparedness and response capacityWed Mar 26 2025 - 14:23
Ireland’s ability to deal with large forest fires put to the test in Wicklow mountains exerciseMulti-agency operation will assess Ireland’s preparedness and response capacityWed Mar 26 2025 - 12:37
Winter flood and storm damage may worsen due to Atlantic wind system changes, scientists warnChanges to North Atlantic oscillation could increase frequency of cold snaps, floods and storms, says studyThu Mar 20 2025 - 15:55
Dublin in top 20 cities sampled for levels of cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy found in sewageNew study on wastewater testing uncovers widespread city drug-use habits across EuropeWed Mar 19 2025 - 13:46
Ireland must scale up preparations for extreme weather events, climate council warns‘If we do not put structures and resources in place, communities will be increasingly exposed,’ Climate Change Advisory Council chair saysWed Mar 19 2025 - 06:00
Earth saw ‘spiralling weather and climate impacts’ in 2024, WMO report findsSome consequences will be ‘irreversible over hundreds, if not thousands of years’, says UN agencyWed Mar 19 2025 - 00:01
EPA records ‘welcome’ cut in river nitrogen in boost to farmers seeking retention of EU nitrates derogation Nitrogen ‘remains too high in the southeastern half of the country’ despite overall improvements, warns agencyWed Mar 19 2025 - 00:00
Gamma rays could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions here on earth Findings will inform targeting of emissions cuts, say University of Galway scientists Fri Mar 14 2025 - 06:00
Philosopher Richard Kearney and healthcare pioneer Michael Dowling awarded St Patrick’s Day Medals Taoiseach pays tribute to ‘exceptional work being carried out by the Irish research diaspora across the US’Thu Mar 13 2025 - 19:30
Trump’s Doonbeg hotel and golf course: Its problematic planning history explainedDoonbeg’s ‘grey dunes’ and presence of endangered snail hampered original developer’s plansWed Mar 12 2025 - 21:40
Burrow Beach sewage fix criticised over fears next storm could undo itDischarge was ongoing for three weeks before intervention Wed Mar 12 2025 - 19:08
Smart devices can stop €2.1bn wind energy waste and help give homes hot water, says social enterpriseEnergyCloud urges Government to ensure scale-up of solution with ‘broader pilot’ for 10,000 householdsWed Mar 12 2025 - 06:00
Radical overhaul of retrofit grants under considerationCase for improved incentives based on big shortfall in delivering retrofits, district heating and heat pumpsMon Mar 10 2025 - 06:00
Connemara National Park to expand by 250 hectares after land purchaseMinister for Heritage announces doubling of walkways in Co Galway nature attraction via partnership between parks service and Fáilte Ireland Thu Mar 06 2025 - 19:00
New supports needed as energy bills set to rise further, officials warnOfficial source notes 10% and 24% of electricity and gas customers respectively in arrears Thu Mar 06 2025 - 06:00
Five ways to slash Ireland’s looming multi-billion euro climate fines Two advisory councils outline gross failures to face up to climate realitiesTue Mar 04 2025 - 19:00
State-led offshore LNG facility will only be used following supply disruptions, says MinisterOpposition accuses Government of failing to consider independent analysis of zero-carbon energy backup optionsTue Mar 04 2025 - 18:51
Widespread breaches of smoky coal regulations uncovered in Dublin‘Results raise serious concerns about effectiveness of regulations and integrity of solid fuel supply chain’Tue Mar 04 2025 - 12:05
Last-minute deal agreed at global biodiversity summit Resumed UN Cop16 negotiations in Rome end with fragile accord but critics warn pact falls short on curbing nature lossFri Feb 28 2025 - 16:31
How robots are helping to set a sustainable course for Irish farming Scientists at Maynooth University are applying a breadth of thinking and innovation with a view to putting farming on a surer footingThu Feb 27 2025 - 06:01
Climate experts warn Government against move to import LNG from USLetter to Taoiseach follows his assertion Ireland ‘will have to have an LNG facility of some kind’Thu Feb 27 2025 - 00:01
Amoc: Atlantic Ocean current that gives Ireland benign climate ‘may not collapse this century’, study findsCurrent collapse would lead to much colder conditions in Ireland and northwest EuropeWed Feb 26 2025 - 16:29
Move to fracked gas ‘will not give Ireland energy security’, conference toldMary Robinson warns of power of fossil fuel lobbyists spending $4 billion a year on communicationsMon Feb 24 2025 - 21:50
State’s housing investment ‘not sustainable’ as homebuilding grows, officials warnedRelying on exchequer grants to deliver climate and energy targets not sustainable in long term, department saidMon Feb 24 2025 - 18:57
Failure to meet 2030 climate targets ‘to bring higher energy costs for consumers, businesses’Ireland’s changing climate is having significant impact on coastlines, land use and natural resources, officials saySun Feb 23 2025 - 14:38
Bird flu ‘could very well become the next pandemic’, says Irish virologistDepartment of Agriculture and public health specialists consider risk manageable as no other animal species infected hereSun Feb 23 2025 - 11:53
Bird flu: Why are outbreaks happening and should I be worried?There is concern for poultry flocks in border counties, including Cavan and Monaghan, where most of the Irish poultry sector is concentratedFri Feb 21 2025 - 08:36
Failure to submit emission targets to UN indication climate is not priority for Government, says Green Party leader Ireland will provide joint commitments with EU later this year, Department of Climate saysMon Feb 17 2025 - 20:24
