IMMEDIATE RELEASE The lack of discussion around food systems at the COP26 conference in Glasgow is entirely unacceptable and the same approach cannot be taken here in Ireland, the Environmental Pillar has said. Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups has closely been following the ongoing negotiations in Scotland and while there have been some overall positive developments resulting from the …
Soon-to-be-published Climate Action Plan must meet this moment
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ireland must put its money where its mouth is with the new and soon-to-be-published Climate Action Plan as its delegation prepares to take part in international climate negotiations in Glasgow. This is the call from the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups, who are urging the Government to ensure the highly anticipated Climate Action Plan due …
Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan is failing the environment
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Measures in the draft CAP Strategic Plan fall far short of what’s needed to address the biodiversity and climate crisis, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups has said. Representatives from the Environmental Pillar met with Minister Charlie McConalogue and Minister Pippa Hackett on Friday 16 October and stated clearly that the actions and measures in Ireland’s draft CAP …
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 that it misrepresents Ireland’s rolling …
The Environmental Pillar opposes Department cuts to space for nature on farmland
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Environmental Pillar is dismayed with a recent proposed change in Ireland’s CAP Strategic plan by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to cut the space for nature requirement on Irish farms, from 5% to just 4% at a recent Common Agriculture Policy consultation meeting.The Department also proposes to further weaken this ambition by including crops …
Budget 2022: Time for the Government to put its money where its mouth is
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Government must put its money where its mouth is in the upcoming 2022 National Budget in order to address our worsening climate and biodiversity crises. This is the call from the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s largest coalition of environmental groups, who have recommended a number of measures to confront these twin crises while improving the resiliency of our …
Food Vision 2030: another detrimental blueprint for agriculture
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The newly published Food Vision 2030 Strategy is yet another detrimental blueprint for agriculture which regrettably takes its place amongst a series of failed policies for the sector. This is the warning from the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups, who reluctantly withdrew from the industry-dominated Strategy (formerly known as the Agri-Food 2030 Strategy) in February …
How to send in your submission on the Agri-Food 2030 Strategy
How we use our land is one of the most important decisions our representatives make. It has long-standing consequences for the climate, nature, and our water and air quality. The newly drafted Agri-Food 2030 Strategy is a key blueprint for our land use and it comes at the most important crossroads our planet has ever faced. We need this Strategy …
Three environmental coalitions launch policy recommendations that could transform Irish agriculture
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Three leading environment and climate coalitions today published policy recommendations that could transform agriculture in Ireland, the sector with the most significant impacts on climate, biodiversity and water. Towards a New Agricultural and Food Policy for Ireland is the fruit of over 70 organisations’ collective labour and expertise, and was jointly published today by The Environmental Pillar, Stop …
The Agri-Food 2030 strategy must forge a path of transformation
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The newly published Agri-Food 2030 Strategy must set us on a path of transformation for a diverse and resilient food system in line with planetary boundaries. This is the call from the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups, who reluctantly left the Strategy’s Committee in February after reading a draft final document. [1] Karen Cielsielski, the …
