Environmental Pillar supports fracking ban in submission to government

The Environmental Pillar supports the Bill – The Prohibition of Extraction and Exploration of Onshore Petroleum 2016, and recommends that the Committee pass this Bill to the next stage of the Dáil without delay. As a network we are motivated by the mounting global and national peer reviewed evidence detailing the significant risks and negative […]

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Press Release: Over 80 Irish civil society groups, including unions, farmers and business owners, are calling on MEPs to reject the EU Canada trade deal

A coalition of Irish farmers, environmentalists, trade unionists, global justice groups and small business organisations have called on MEPs to oppose the EU Canada trade deal known as CETA. [1]   The groups co-signed a letter to members of a European Parliament committee [2] calling for rejection of the deal earlier this week.   The trade deal […]

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Environmental Pillar sign letter calling on MEPs to reject EU Canada trade deal

[button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ENVI-letter-final-Irish-version.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo”  icon_only=”true” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only show up if you have decided to show a popover.”] Click here to view the letter [/button]

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Press Release: Over 450 European and Canadian civil society groups urge legislators to reject CETA

PRESS RELEASE Over 450 public interest groups from across Europe and Canada today urged legislators to vote against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The Environmental Pillar, a coalition of 28 Irish environmental NGOs, also joined the call for politicians to reject this trade deal. We have joined forces to defend people and planet […]

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Press Release: Environmental groups concerned that EU Parliament will not be allowed to scrutinise the CETA trade deal with Canada

PRESS RELEASE Today a resolution to seek an opinion from the European Court of Justice on the compatibility of CETA with EU Treaties [1] was rejected by the European Parliament. The push to fast-track the controversial CETA trade deal continues with both the EU Trade Committee and the Conference of the Presidents over the last […]

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Press Release: Climate change IS the challenge of our generation but Budget 2017 falls FAR short of what is needed

Budget 2017 may have brought measures to move Ireland’s transport and energy sectors towards a low carbon future but action across all areas of policy is needed to put the country on a sustainable path. The Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition of 28 national environmental charities, are calling Budget 2017 a missed opportunity to prepare […]

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Taxing environmentally damaging practices and giving the money back through investment should be a key initiative of Budget 2017

Environmental groups are calling on the government to tax environmentally damaging practices to change behaviour and raise government revenue. Three simple measures, a levy on single-use items, a levy on the aggregates, and a levelling of the excise duty on petrol and diesel, would net the government in the region of €415m every year.* And […]

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Press Release: Taoiseach misses opportunity to reinstate the Department of the Environment

Today the Government have failed to restore the Department of the Environment despite public outcry over its abolition. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has announced the new Junior Ministers but did not take the opportunity to address the problem of splitting up the functions of the Department of the Environment. The Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition of […]

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Press Release: Using nature, stopping poor development, and long-term planning are key to tackling flooding

The Environmental Pillar today publish a series of twenty measures which if implemented could help prevent the worst effects of flooding. As communities around Ireland continue to deal with the aftermath of this winter’s devastating floods, the Environmental Pillar is calling for immediate measures to be taken to protect communities now and into the future. […]

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Press Release: Bill to ban fracking in Ireland welcomed by environmental groups

The Environmental Pillar welcome the introduction of a bill today to ban fracking in Ireland. The Environmental Pillar, which is made up of 28 national environmental NGOs, are calling on TDs to support the proposed law which will prohibit the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the exploration or extraction of oil and gas in […]

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Press Release: The Energy White Paper is an important step forward but we need to deliver a zero emission future faster

The Environmental Pillar welcome the publication today of the Energy White Paper which outlines a vision for an emission free future. The Environmental Pillar, which is made up of 28 national environmental groups, welcomes this as a first step in a road towards the end of the use of fossil fuels. With over 90 actions […]

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Catastrophic winter flooding will increase with climate change unless we substantially change the way we use land

The Environmental Pillar is calling on the government to bring in substantive land use changes to protect communities from increasingly frequent high rainfall events.

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Press Release: Taoiseach's stance that climate change is 'not a priority' is foolhardy and economically short-sighted

The Environmental Pillar are calling on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to retract his statement that ‘climate change is not a priority’ and start to build a country and economy fit for the 21st century. The Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition made up of 28 national environmental NGOs, want the Taoiseach to accept that failing to […]

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Press Release: Environmental groups call for native woodland scheme to be expanded to balance farm emissions

The Environmental Pillar welcome calls for the use of forestry on farms to balance carbon emissions from agriculture, in an effort to increase sustainability and protect livelihoods.

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Press Release: An Taisce Dingle road appeal welcomed as decision could impact other cases

The Environmental Pillar welcome the decision of An Taisce to challenge the High Court ruling on the N86 road as it could have a substantial knock on impact. Today An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland – announced that it intends to pursue its case regarding the N86 Dingle road to the Court of […]

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Press Release: Budget 2016 is not future proof

The Environmental Pillar welcome Budget 2016 but warn that a number of measures do not effectively prepare the country for a low carbon future. The Environmental Pillar, a coalition of 28 Irish national environmental NGOs, is now calling on the government to support the measures announced in the budget with a robust plan to help […]

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International Aviation and Shipping to be exempt from emissions cuts in Paris negotiations

International shipping and aviation, huge sources of emissions, were dropped from last week’s draft Paris climate agreement. This is an incredibly backward step, leaving an emissions gap in the agreement equivalent to Germany and UK combined. Even more incredible given both sectors purchase their fuel tax free, and their emissions are set to treble by 2050. In […]

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Submission on Public Engagement

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the opportunity to respond to the consultation on Consultation by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the “Principles to Guide Public Engagement on Policy and Services Development” [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Environmental-Pillar-response-to-Draft-DPER-Consultation-Guidlines-1.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo”  icon_only=”true” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” […]

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Environmental Pillar welcome the passing of Climate Bill but warn real work still ahead

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the passing of the Climate Bill but warns that we need a solid emissions reduction plan in place now. Today the Climate Action and Low Carbon Bill 2015 passed Dáil Éireann. This is the culmination of many years of campaigning from Irish environmental groups. The Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition of […]

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Press Release: Ireland can be proud of the UN's Global Goals, test now is achieving them in Ireland

NGOs urge the Taoiseach to commit to a national action plan –  to overcome Irish “implementation deficit disorder” Friday 25th September – New York Ireland can be proud of the role our diplomats played in developing the UN’s new Global Goals for Sustainable Development, according to the Environmental Pillar. Along with Kenya, Ireland co-chaired the […]

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Coillte under increasing pressure to cease use of Cypermethrin

Coillte is coming under increasing pressure to phase out the use of Cypermethrin in Irish forests, Irish Examiner reports.Coillte recently made an application for a 5-year derogation of the pesticide, used to prevent or control pine weevil attacks on non-native spruce and pine trees.  In recent days, Coillte have been meeting with groups including the Environmental […]

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Submission on the draft 2015 NRP for Ireland

In regard to the Draft NRP for Ireland, The Environmental Pillar highlight concerns raised around the failure to make Ireland’s tax system environmentally friendly and the lack of incorporation of environmental concerns into fiscal measures. In the last 4 years there has been almost no additional action to broaden the tax base in a manner that enhances […]

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Consolidated Policy Document of Environmental Pillar

This document is a compilation of the headlines of all Environmental Pillar Policies to date. Each policy is linked to its source document. This document is intended to be updated periodically. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Consolidated-Policy-Document-Environmental-Pillar-July-2015.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo” icon_only=”true” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This […]

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Submission on the Draft Environmental Analysis Report of Food Wise 2025

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the opportunity to input into this process. We were disappointed to see the FoodWise2025 strategy “launched” by such senior figures as Minister Coveney and the Taoiseach when the public consultation phase had yet to take place. We would note that FW2025 is an extension of the FoodHarvest2020 strategy. We welcome that […]

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