Category Archives: Energy
More power to our fledgling solar industry
The missing piece of the puzzle from Ireland’s transition to clean and renewable energy has long been solar power. While wind energy has grown in just a couple of decades from almost nothing to providing more than two fifths of … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus
Tagged Conall Bolger, ISEA, Sarah McCormack, SEAI, Solar energy
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A safer future for all means a better future for most
This article appeared in the Irish Times in early May, based around an intriguing paper published in the journal ‘Global Environmental Change’, titled “Providing decent living with minimum energy: A global scenario”. As the abstract begins: “It is increasingly clear … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Sustainability
Tagged degrowth, Energy, IEA, inequality, Irish Times
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Investors running for cover as allure of fossil fuels fades
The below piece was published in the Business Post in late February. By my usual standards, this probably ranks as quite optimistic, in pitching the argument that fossil fuel, the world’s most dangerous industry, is in the process of losing … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Energy, Global Warming, Pollution
Tagged Biden, BlackRock, Business Post, divestment, fossil fuels
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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
Sweden points way towards a lower carbon future
My debut contribution to The Business Post was published in early July on the paper’s Comment page. In the last year or two the Business Post has significantly upped its coverage and focus on environmental topics (reporter, Daniel Murray did … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Energy, Global Warming, Sustainability
Tagged Business Post, carbon tax, Kevin Anderson, nuclear, Sweden
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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
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LNG at Shannon: selling our future down the river
Below, my article as it appeared on DeSmog.uk on May 15th. ENVIRONMENTAL groups have united in opposing a massive new terminal that would receive fracked gas from the US in a protected area on Ireland’s west coast. They fear … Continue reading
In deep water: Naughten approves major offshore oil drilling plan
Below, my story, as it appeared a few days ago on DeSmogUK: IRELAND’S first minister for Climate Action, Denis Naughten, quietly signed off this month on the Druid/Drombeg exploration field off Ireland’s west coast which is eyeing an estimated five billion … Continue reading
Ulster says hoax: a short history of the DUP and climate denial
Below, my article as it appeared on DeSmog.uk over the weekend, in the light of the extraordinary decision by the Tories to throw in their lot with Ulster’s not-particularly-Democratic Unionist Party. ============================ Theresa May’s general election gamble has seen a … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sceptics
Tagged cash-for-ash, DUP, RHI, Sammy Wilson
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Lights out for Earth Hour? Save your energy
Dreamed up as a PR stunt by an ad agency 10 years ago, Earth Hour has become surprisingly succesful. This is, I suspect, because it’s long on tokenism and photo opportunities and desperately short on actual resolve, sacrifice or meaningful … Continue reading
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
Choosing to fail: Prof Kevin Anderson interviewed
Prof Kevin Anderson, Professor of Energy and Climate Change at the University of Manchester and deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, is one of the world’s best known and most influential – and outspoken – climate specialists. … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Energy, Global Warming, Sceptics
Tagged IPCC, Kevin Anderson, Tyndall
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“Well, here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into!”
Coalition partners Fine Gael and Labour are fast becoming the Laurel and Hardy of environmental regulation, with chaotic, contradictory and just plain wrong statements emanating from the government parties as they attempt to talk their way out of their shambolic … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability
Tagged Alan Kelly, diesel, Enda Kenny, VolksWagen
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Obama turns up the heat on climate change denial, inaction
It has been a long time coming, but it was – just about – worth the wait. Last Tuesday, President Obama finally put climate change front and centre on his critical second term agenda. It was perhaps apposite that he … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Media
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