News

The Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition, is urging the next Government to reject the EU Mercosur deal when it comes before the European Council. In a letter to the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Minister for Agriculture, the Environmental Pillar says that the EU-Mercosur deal will drive habitat loss, exacerbate the climate and biodiversity crisis, […]

Join your local Public Participation Network to take part in Council Committees Do you want to have a say in the policies around your local environment? The Environmental Pillar is excited to announce an opportunity for community members to actively engage in the development of local policy in their County. (1) Local environmental groups can […]

“No more business as usual – it’s time to put climate, nature and fairness at the heart of Government” is the call of the Environmental Pillar as it publishes its Manifesto for the General Election. The 2024 EPA State of the Environment Report could not have been more clear: economic prosperity and public health are threatened […]

The announced investment in climate transition and water infrastructure in Budget 2025 is welcome and necessary, according to the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition. However, this Government has, in its last budget, missed an opportunity to make sustainable shifts in tax and welfare policy, opting instead for one-off measures that will not lead […]

Plan is vague and lacking in detail and ambition The Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan launched today 10th September is a failed opportunity to urgently put in place the necessary measures to prevent the extinction of this iconic bird of prey species, according to the Environmental Pillar, BirdWatch Ireland and An Taisce.  This plan has […]

The Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan (HHTRP) is a litmus test for how the Government plans and implements the Nature Restoration Law, according to the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition. In a letter to Minister Malcolm Noonan, the Environmental Pillar reiterated its call for a strong, effective, clear and measurable plan to halt […]

On National Your Council Day, which takes place on Friday, 5th July, the National Environmental Pillar is urging community groups interested in their local environment to become involved in their local Public Participation Network (PPN). County Councils and Local Authorities provide a huge range of services and amenities as well as making decisions that play […]

Ongoing absence of a qualified majority for the carefully negotiated provisional agreement is very concerning A coalition of leading environmental organisations has written to the ambassadors of eight EU Member States that are currently blocking the adoption of the Nature Restoration Law urging their countries to endorse the provisional agreement on the NRL which was […]

EESC has written to Belgian Environment Minister ahead of Council meeting reiterating its endorsement of the Law The Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition, has welcomed the renewed support from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for the Nature Restoration Law to be passed at the meeting of Environment Ministers on 17th June. […]

The Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition, is calling for fully funded Marine Protected Areas amounting to €55 million over four years (1) at the National Economic Dialogue 2024 which is taking place in Dublin Castle today. Ireland is one of more than 190 countries committed to protecting or conserving at least 30 percent […]

EU Member States not supporting the Nature Restoration Law are at odds with public opinion. This is the result of a poll conducted in the Netherlands, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, which shows that three out of four citizens are in favour of the legislation, as pressure mounts on Member States to adopt the […]

Environmental Pillar welcomes intervention by EU Environment Ministers supporting the law The Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition, has welcomed the intervention by EU environment ministers supporting the Nature Restoration Law to have the law approved at the upcoming Environment Council meeting on June 17th. In a letter to Environment Ministers of non-signatory Member […]

The Environmental Pillar has welcomed the call from the Irish Farmers’ Association in its election manifesto for a  separate EU environment fund, in addition to the CAP, to support environmental action on farms. The Environmental Pillar has been consistent in its calls for new funding in addition to CAP to empower farmers to restore nature, […]

The Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition, is calling on the Taoiseach to ensure that climate action and the environment are maintained as key priorities for the EU when he meets with his counterparts at the Brussels informal Council Meeting today. Following a leak suggesting that the core priority of creating a climate-neutral, green, […]

Dear Minister McConalogue, We, the undersigned Irish coalitions and civil society organisations, are writing to express our deep concern about recent actions taken by the European Commission to undermine the EU’s Green Deal and weaken the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) conditionality within CAP and to urge you to reject all plans to dismantle […]

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. […]

“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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]