Environmental Pillar welcomes passing of the Nature Restoration Law in EU Parliament
/

But now the real work begins for Ireland and Europe to implement the measures necessary to protect nature and biodiversity Fintan Kelly, Agriculture and Land Use Policy and Advocacy Officer with the Environmental Pillar, said: “The passing of the Nature Restoration Law by the European Parliament in Strasbourg today is a historic day for Europe. […]

BirdWatch Ireland, An Taisce and Environmental Pillar urge public to get behind their “Save the Skydancer” Campaign in light of stark Hen Harrier decline
/

“Save the Skydancer” campaign aims to highlight the nearing of the Hen Harrier’s national extinction and call for urgent action. Public urged to make submission to draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan public consultation before 5 p.m. on February 20th, 2024 February 8, 2024 For immediate release Without urgent action, we may have just 25 […]

National Survey highlights dramatic collapse in Ireland’s Hen Harrier population
/

Environmentalists dismayed as government plan to save iconic upland bird has been appropriated by industry The Hen Harrier is an iconic bird of Ireland’s uplands. It is one of Ireland’s most studied species and in theory one of its most protected. Despite this it is now one of Ireland’s most threatened birds. This is according to […]

Committee report on Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss welcome but implementation is key – Environmental Pillar

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment and Climate Action on the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss but has stressed that rapid implementation of measures proposed is vital to address the worsening biodiversity crisis in Ireland. In particular, the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy […]

A giant of Ireland’s environmental movement

The Irish environmental movement has lost another of its champions and passionate advocates with the sad passing of Michael Ewing. One of Ireland’s great environmentalists, he played a central role in the movement and was a leading figure in the Irish Environmental Network and Environmental Pillar for many years. In 2008, he was employed by […]

Sustainable Water Network and Environmental Pillar meets with Commissioner Sinkevičius and urges him to stay the course on Nitrates Derogation

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and the Environmental Pillar (1) at a meeting with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius today urged him to stick with the decision to reduce Ireland’s derogation limit to 220 kg nitrogen per hectare. “We impressed upon Commissioner Sinkevičius that we have reached a critical point in tackling water quality in Ireland,” said […]

Environmental Pillar and Sustainable Water Network urgently seeks meeting with Commissioner Sinkevičius on Nitrates Derogation
/

The Environmental Pillar and the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) are urgently seeking a meeting with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius to discuss Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation during his visit to Ireland on Nov 23rd. It is important that the Commissioner comes away from Ireland with a balanced and informed view of civil society’s attitude to the Commission’s position […]

Nature Restoration Law welcome but concerns over its scope and ambition – Environmental Pillar

The Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition, has given a cautious welcome to the Nature Restoration Law which was agreed last night following negotiations between the EU Parliament, Commission and Council. But it still has concerns over concessions on the Commission’s original proposals and weaker targets in some areas. The new law sets a […]

Andrew St Ledger – A Fallen Oak
/

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Andrew St Ledger. Andrew was an active member of our network and a passionate advocate for native woodland and the wider environment. His energy, enthusiasm, passion and knowledge about our native forests and his willingness to share that knowledge were legendary in the […]

Environmental Pillar Letter to PEFC International Calling for the Suspension of Draft PEFC Irish National Forest Standard Public consultation on behalf of PEFC Social and Environmental Stakeholder Group
| Leave a Comment

To the Directors of PEFC International. I am writing to you on behalf of the Environmental Pillar, an organisation that works to represent the views of 32 of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs. We work to promote environmental sustainability and the protection of our natural environment. We are the largest NGO stakeholder in the PEFC process, […]

Ireland’s Draft Forest Strategy (2022 – 2030)
/ | Leave a Comment

This is a submission on behalf of the Environmental Pillar in response to the public consultation on Ireland’s Forest Strategy (2022 – 2030) and the associated implementation plans, and the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment obligations pertaining. Click here to read the full Environmental Pillar submission on Irelands Draft Forest Strategy (2022 – 2030). […]

Ireland’s Fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2027
/ | Leave a Comment

Submission on behalf of the Environmental Pillar on Ireland’s Fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan. In May 2019, Dáil Eireann declared a climate and biodiversity emergency making Ireland only the second country to do so. Despite this and a multitude of government commitments, targets and timelines we continue to see the health of the environment deteriorate […]

Environmental Pillar submission to the consultation on Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2023
/ | Leave a Comment

The Environmental Pillar’s submission covers the following areas:

The Framework
Avoid impacting biodiversity
Carbon Pricing and Cross-Cutting Issues
Transport
Agriculture, Land Use and Forestry
Buildings
Waste and the Circular Economy

UN FAO report on Irish agriculture a travesty, misrepresents reality and ignores NGO warnings

IMMEDIATE RELEASE A UN case study portraying Ireland as leading in the transformation to sustainable  agriculture is deeply misleading and puts forward an image of the industry that is not supported by scientific evidence, The Environmental Pillar has warned. Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups is alarmed by the case study’s publication and have stressed […]

Dark day for Irish biodiversity as Dail passes destructive Heritage Bill

Immediate Release The passage of the destructive Heritage Bill through the Dail marks a dark day for Irish biodiversity, Ireland’s leading environmental coalition has said. The Government’s Bill was voted through yesterday evening with the support of Fianna Fail despite widespread opposition from all other parties, environmentalists, conservation groups and farmers working together with biodiversity. […]

Brexit: NGO coalition calls on Barnier to stress need for cross-border environmental solution

Immediate Release n environmental coalition has called on Michel Barnier to stress the need for a solution to the border issue that maintains full alignment of environmental rules on the island of Ireland post-Brexit. The EU’s top Brexit negotiator will be in Ireland next week to give a keynote address at the fourth plenary meeting of […]

Nature Scorecard shines light on Ireland's failure to protect its natural heritage and internationally important habitats and species  

Immediate Release The Irish state is failing in its duty to fully implement European Directives vital to protect numerous threatened species and habitats on our island. This is the finding of a new report published today by leading environmental NGOs, BirdLife Europe, WWF, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Friends of the Earth Europe. [1] The […]

Press Conference on State's failure to consult Irish people on UK nuclear expansion

Concerns about the UK’s nuclear expansion program and Ireland’s failures to consult with the Irish public were raised today by TDs and Senators from across the political spectrum, together with environmental NGOs, academics and the agricultural sector. The broad grouping came together for a briefing at Buswell’s Hotel at 11AM this morning organised by the Environmental […]

New forestry figures point to urgent need for root and branch reform of failing State policy

Immediate Release Ireland’s latest forestry figures are a clear sign of the urgent need for a root and branch reform of failing forestry policy, warns a coalition of environmental groups. According to the Environmental Pillar – a coalition of 30 national environmental organisations -the Forest Statistics Ireland 2017 report gives false reassurances that Ireland’s afforestation […]

PRESS RELEASE: Strict enforcement on hedgerow cutting and upland burning vital to avoid environmental devastation

Immediate Release Strict enforcement on hedgerow cutting and upland burning during the prohibited season is vital to avoid the level of devastation witnessed last year, a coalition of environmental groups has warned. Once the remaining snow left from the Beast from the East along our country verges and on the uplands melts, it is crucial […]

Environmental groups welcome long overdue public consultation on proposed UK Nuclear Power Plant

Immediate Release The launch of a public consultation on the UK’s planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, less than 250km from Rosslare, is welcome but long overdue, leading environmental groups said today. An Taisce, Friends of the Irish Environment, and the Environmental Pillar said that it is vital that the Irish people now raise […]

Environmental groups welcome Fine Gael Senator's support for plastic bottle deposit return scheme

Ireland’s leading environmental coalition welcomes support from Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone for a deposit and return system on plastic bottles, and calls on her party’s leaders to follow suit. The Environmental Pillar – a coalition of 28 national environmental organisations – is pleased to see the Senator’s support of this progressive policy which she […]

Ireland faces mega fines as Commission takes the State to court over poor environmental record

Immediate Release Large fines loom for the Government as the European Commission brings the Irish State back to court over its decade-long failure to carry out an environmental impact assessment for Ireland’s largest wind farm. The Environmental Pillar – a coalition of 28 national environmental organisations – welcomed the Commission’s decision which highlights the catastrophic failure […]

Waste Reduction Bill badly needed to tackle our escalating plastic problem, Committee hears

The Government must support the straightforward and progressive policies in the Green Party’s Waste Reduction Bill to tackle our escalating plastic problem, the Oireachtas Environment Committee heard today. Speaking before the Committee this afternoon, Mindy O’Brien, the Coordinator of VOICE – a leading environmental charity focused on tackling plastic pollution – told the Committee that […]