Tag Archives: emissions
Hard cheese for environment as Big Ag juggernaut steamrolls NGOs
This piece ran on Desmog.com in mid-April. This site has, since 2006, sought “to clear the PR pollution that is clouding the science and solutions to climate change”. And in Ireland, nowhere is this pollution more pervasive than the smog … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture, Global Warming, Irish Focus
Tagged Aarhus Convention, An Taisce, dairy, emissions, Glanbia, IFA, methane
5 Comments
SUV fad puts us into fast lane towards climate breakdown
I’ll admit to having never been a big fan of SUVs. It’s fine if you’re one of a tiny handful of people who actually need a 4×4 in your trade, but there seems little reason for regular folk to be … Continue reading
Better late than never for Irish political action on climate
My take on the Programme for Government and why I think it represents a real opportunity to break the decade-plus logjam on meaningful climate action was published in late June on Thejournal.ie THE BATTLE FOR the hearts and votes of … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture, Arctic, Energy, Irish Focus
Tagged emissions, Extinction Rebellion, Green Party, Paris Agreement, politics
1 Comment
An outside view on Ireland’s ‘climate action’
Below, my article, as published last week on the Guardian – my first article on what is arguably the world’s foremost news media source for environment and climate news and opinion. Having been banging on about these issues domestically for years, … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability
Tagged Denis Naughten, emissions, Food Wise 2025, Guardian
4 Comments
Flights of folly at Dublin airport
Fallout from the recent Brexit vote may prove something of a gift for the Dublin Airport Authority’s (DAA) ambitious plan to have a second runway built and ready for business by 2020. The huge cloud of economic uncertainty now parked … Continue reading
Myths and mischief-making in renewable energy reporting
I couldn’t have claimed to be Ireland’s greatest fan of wind energy. Not because I don’t think it’s a good idea – it is – but rather, my concern is whether it will ever be deployed on a scale sufficient … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sceptics, Sustainability
Tagged emissions, Energy, GWPA, Pat Rabbitte, RTE, wind farms
7 Comments
EU “may adapt” 10% biofuel target
The scientific perspective could “kill biofuels” – that’s what the head of the EU’s agriculture unit said to colleagues in response to data showing the global ramifications of dedicating land in Europe to biofuels. The new Commissioner has said “if … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Sustainability
Tagged Biofuels, climate change, emissions, indirect land use impacts
5 Comments
Suspend democracy to tackle emissions – Lovelock
From the Guardian: In his first major interview since the climate-change emails scandal, James Lovelock says he is disgusted by the actions of some scientists, applauds ‘good’ climate sceptics, and warns that global warming could even lead to war Leo … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Sustainability
Tagged carbon, democracy, emissions, Gaia, James Lovelock
1 Comment
Decreasing carbon emissions without affecting the quality of life
There are a couple of simple ideas, which if implemented could make deep and long term cuts in our carbon emissions, while maintaining (or even increasing) the quality of life for all. In no particular order, they are: 1. Immediately … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Energy, Global Warming, Sustainability
Tagged carbon, climate, climate change, CO2, emissions, global warming, Sustainability
4 Comments
Keeping our heads above (rising) water
In these dark November days, as parts of Ireland lie submerged after a virtually stormless deluge, it’s natural to want to look for some positive news. Images of tens of thousands of people using the public sector strike on Tuesday … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability
Tagged Copenhagen, emissions, Mary Robinson, Obama, RTE
13 Comments
To the last drop?
Take a minute or two to study the chart below. It is just issued by the International Energy Agency, an industry-centric organisation not prone to engaging in eco-alarmism. But this is alarming, truly shocking in fact. The dark blue chart … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged carbon, climate change, emissions, Energy, global warming, nuclear, Peak Oil
31 Comments
Challenging the infallible economist
Colm McCarthy chaired the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, better known as An Bord Snip Nua. It issued its various prescription for what ails us in July, and much of the national discussion since then has … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability
Tagged Arctic, Bord Snip Nua, carbon, climate change, collapse, Colm McCarthy, Convery, emissions, Energy, Sustainability
6 Comments
The Anthropocene draws to a close
The term Anthropocene was coined by Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen a decade ago to describe the new ‘Era of Man’, a distinct geological epoch shaped almost entirely by our actions and impacts. “The Anthropocence has yet to be accepted as … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Habitat/Species, Media, Sustainability
Tagged Anthropocene, Arctic, climate change, CO2, Crutzen, David McWilliams, emissions, famine, global warming, John Gibbons, methane, New Scientist, permafrost, RTE, species loss, Sustainability
4 Comments
Comhar’s Green New Deal makes sense
At 11am today in the Irish Academy in Dublin’s Dawson Street, Comhar, the sustainable development council formally launches its Green New Deal for Ireland. It’s a genuinely impressive document, as I’ve outlined in the Irish Times today, with much to … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability
Tagged climate change, CO2, Comhar, Convery, emissions, Energy, environment, Green New Deal, pollution, Sustainability, sustainable
2 Comments
