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Crucial cross-border cooperation to protect the environment across the island of Ireland must not be “diluted” by Brexit, warned MEPs, NGOs and leading legal experts at a conference today. The views were expressed at a conference in Dundalk today [Friday, 16 June 2017] to examine the potential impacts on the Irish environment in a post-Brexit […]

President Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement shows a profound lack of solidarity with the rest of the world in tackling the universal threat of climate change. The Environmental Pillar wholeheartedly denounces the decision, which puts the Agreement’s goal of limiting global average temperature to within 2°C above pre-industrial levels in […]

Post-Brexit cross-border cooperation crucial to protect the environment and tackle climate change, say leading environmental groups both North and South of the border The need for cross-border cooperation will be crucial to protect the environment across the island of Ireland as Brexit looms closer, the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement […]

May 31st, 2017 Immediate Release Leading environmental organisation outlines three key budget policies to net €215m in revenue and limit environmentally damaging practices. Taxing environmentally damaging practices and giving the money back through investment should be a key initiative of Budget 2018, Ireland’s largest environmental organisation told the Budget Oversight Committee today. Speaking in front […]

Immediate Release Ireland was among nine countries named and shamed at the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Awards ceremony in Brussels today for the Government’s commitment to subsidise peat burning for electricity generation. Ireland was crowned number one for giving Sneaky Special Treatment to peat-burning at today’s medal ceremony, hosted by Climate Action Network – a coalition […]

For Immediate Release The Irish Environmental Network is delighted to announce the launch of Ireland’s National Biodiversity Week, which will take place from the 19th – 28th May 2017. Over the course of nine days, over 50 free events will take place all across the country, celebrating Ireland’s diverse species and natural habitats. From bat walks and […]

Immediate Release The Environmental Pillar will hold a seminar in Galway with Independent MEP Marian Harkin on Friday, 26 May 2017 to highlight Irish people’s rights to access information as EU citizens. The interactive seminar – Right to Know, Right to Act: Your rights as a European Citizen – will take place at the Harbour Hotel Galway from […]

Immediate Release The Environmental Pillar will hold a seminar in Athlone with Independent MEP Marian Harkin on Friday, 26 May 2017 to highlight Irish people’s rights to access information as EU citizens. The interactive seminar – Right to Know, Right to Act: Your rights as a European Citizen – will take place at the Sheraton Athlone Hotel from […]

For Immediate Release To celebrate the launch of National Biodiversity Week 2017, the Irish Environmental Network is offering people the chance to win two tickets to its Flagship Event: a moonlight kayak to witness the astonishing bioluminescence on Lough Hyne in county Cork, Europe’s first ever marine nature reserve. The Irish Environmental Network (IEN) – […]

Immediate Release The Environmental Pillar will hold a seminar with MEP Liadh Ni Riada this Friday, 28 April 2017 to highlight Irish people’s rights to access information as EU citizens. The interactive seminar – Right to Know, Right to Act: Your rights as a European Citizen – will take place at the Savoy Hotel, Henry Street, Co […]

Immediate Release The Environmental Pillar will hold a seminar with MEP Liadh Ni Riada this Friday, 28 April 2017 to highlight Irish people’s rights to access information as EU citizens. The interactive seminar – Right to Know, Right to Act: Your rights as a European Citizen – will take place at the Imperial Hotel in […]

The Government’s long overdue draft National Mitigation Plan is almost wholly inadequate to meet the climate challenges ahead, according to Ireland’s leading environmental organisations. The Environmental Pillar, together with Stop Climate Chaos, has outlined its findings on the draft Plan in a submission sent as part of a public consultation set to close today. The […]

500 organisations sent an open letter to the President of the European Commission (EC) Jean-Claude Juncker today urging him to enact legislation to protect our soils from further degradation. The letter was sent to coincide with this Saturday’s celebration of Earth Day, an international day of action to highlight the work of environmental movements worldwide. […]

Environmental organisations welcome the recommendation of the Oireachtas’ environmental Committee to ban fracking in the Republic of Ireland. The Environmental Pillar welcomes the decision to support a prohibition on fracking in a report launched by the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment today. The Environmental Pillar – a coalition of 26 Irish environmental […]

Environmental organisations are deeply concerned at the absence of a set charge for excessive water use in the pending report on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. The Environmental Pillar also believes that the Oireachtas Committee’s proposal for penalties for excessive water use will do next to nothing to curb wastage. The committee has […]

Whilst there is much that is welcome in the report, it includes one obvious and serious contradiction. It states that Excessive or wasteful use of water should be paid for directly by the user at tariffs determined by CER. It then goes on to make no real proposal on how to decide when there is […]

As part of the annual European Semester process, the European Commission published its Country Reports on each EU Member State, including Ireland, in February 2017. The Country Reports present the Commission’s analysis of the economic, social and environmental policies of each country, as well as national progress in delivering on both the five agreed Europe […]

For immediate release The existing prohibition on cutting ANY hedgerows between March 1st and August 31st is an offence under the Wildlife acts, unless exempted The Environmental Pillar are reiterating that the cutting of hedgerows remains illegal during the month of August, and are calling for existing wildlife laws to be upheld and enforced. Almost 20,000 people have signed a […]

This document, compiled by members of the Environmental Pillar and Stop Climate Chaos, draws on extensive policy and scientific evidence to challenge government and industry claims regarding the sustainability of Irish agriculture, in terms of its efficiency, its contribution to global food security, and its adequacy in climate mitigation. The document also highlights inadequacies in […]

More regular flooding, aggressive storms and drought will be outcome of watering down our climate targets.    New European Climate Change targets have been revealed today and they have made it easier for Ireland because of how emissions and carbon is accounted for. The Environmental Pillar, a coalition of 28 Irish national environmental NGOs, warns […]

Irish cattle less climate-efficient than European average and emissions per head up from 1990 The Environmental Pillar and Stop Climate Chaos and have published a new report titled “Not So Green: Debunking the Myths around Irish Agriculture”. Drawing heavily on scientific evidence, the report challenges government and industry claims and shows that Ireland’s current agriculture and […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomed the proposals by officials in the Department of the Environment to Minister Coveney, to take measures to tackle the twin issues of litter and waste while also providing some extra revenue for the Environment Fund.
“By placing a cost on single use items we can encourage consumers and vendors to think about what will happen to the item when they are finished using it.” “We need to change the way that people think about ‘disposable’ packaging.” said Mindy O’Brien of VOICE, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Pillar.

Representatives of the Environmental Pillar will speak at the National Economic Dialogue about their vision for a resilient circular economy, based on Sustainable Development Goals – which can bring a strong buoyant economy with fairness and benefits for all. “We have to build our economy on solid foundations. This means reducing and ultimately eliminating the […]

Speaking at the opening session of the National Economic Dialogue, Cillian Lohan of the Environmental Pillar spoke about reducing and ultimately eliminating the concept of waste from all sectors. He said: “Almost all materials can be reused or remanufactured, which not only is beneficial for our environment but also creates jobs and wealth amongst communities […]