Tag Archives: Sustainability

Life on Earth now under threat as never before

Posted on June 7, 2012 by John Gibbons

Below, my opinion article, as it appears in today’s Irish Times: WHEN WE put our mind to it, it’s amazing what we can learn to forget. Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 hosted one of the most important international conferences … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Habitat/Species, Media, Sustainability | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Doom with a view? Trap tightens on our diminishing prospects

Posted on May 15, 2012 by John Gibbons

In the current issue of ‘Village’ magazine, editor Michael Smith has explored at length and in some depth the array of formidable challenges that humanity (and all other species on Earth) face in the years and decades ahead. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity, Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

In the world, at the limits to growth

Posted on June 7, 2011 by David Korowicz

By David Korowicz* We imagine this country is in crisis, yet crisis is relative. Most people in the world would envy our material austerity and be thankful for our endlessly ‘collapsing’ health service. But, with our expectations thwarted and in … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Energy, Global Warming, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Can industrial civilisation and the biosphere both be saved?

Posted on May 11, 2010 by John Gibbons

Even when you don’t agree with him, Monbiot remains essential reading. Whether you regard the Dark Mountain Project as a bunch of dystopian doomers, or simply realists probably depends on how you feel about peak oil (in the shorter term) … Continue reading →

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Decreasing carbon emissions without affecting the quality of life

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Paddy Morris

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 , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Do you believe in miracles?

Posted on February 15, 2010 by John Gibbons

Bill Gates is for many the Dr Evil of the corporate world. His Microsoft behemoth has had a stranglehold on the world’s personal computer market for the last two decades, and wrung hundreds of billions out of users in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

McCarthy: ability without sustainabilty?

Posted on November 5, 2009 by John Gibbons

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? This well-known Latin phrase from the poet Juvenal, loosely translates to “Who will guard the guards?” It came to mind when thinking about the Talented Mr McCarthy and his oversized shears, better known as An Bord … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There (still) is no plan B

Posted on October 21, 2009 by John Gibbons

One of my earliest posts on this blog, on December 12, 2007, was headed ‘There is no Plan B‘. The headline was taken from a quote from the then new Australian PM, Kevin Rudd to delegates at the UN climate … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Challenging the infallible economist

Posted on October 15, 2009 by John Gibbons

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 , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Anthropocene draws to a close

Posted on October 8, 2009 by John Gibbons

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A good day for Ireland, but where’s Copenhagen?

Posted on October 4, 2009 by John Gibbons

I was in the city centre on Friday night, just as the polls were preparing to close, and happened upon the hugely impressive illuminated Liberty Hall (hard to miss, in fact, and far and away the most dramatic installation the … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Comhar’s Green New Deal makes sense

Posted on October 1, 2009 by John Gibbons

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 , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Where have all the fish gone? (we ate them)

Posted on September 22, 2009 by John Gibbons

The world’s oceans are in deep, deep trouble. Industrialised fishing, in full swing since around 1950, has in essence waged a war against the marine ecosystem. And the bad news is: we’re winning. Species extinctions, population crashes and vast disruption … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity, Global Warming, Habitat/Species, Media, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Which part of ‘conserve’ don’t conservatives get?

Posted on September 18, 2009 by John Gibbons

Let’s hear it for Connie Hedegaard. Connie who? She’s the Danish minister for climate and energy and, crucially, will host the UN-sponsored global climate treaty negotiations in Copenhagen this December. That puts her in the hottest of hot seats in … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity, Energy, Global Warming, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Where will you be when the lights go out?

Posted on September 13, 2009 by John Gibbons

Prices in Ireland have, mercifully, started to ease back from the highs of a year or two ago, yet some things remain extraordinarily cheap. The two things that contribute probably more than anything else to our overall well-being, comfort, security … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment