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 …
Ireland must meet the moment and halve its emissions over the next decade
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ireland must face the concrete challenge head-on of halving our emissions in the next ten years in order to meet the ambition laid out in this week’s revised Climate Bill, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups has said. The Environmental Pillar welcomed the Bill’s publication earlier this week and recognised it as a crucial first step in finally …
The Environmental Pillar withdraws from the problematic 2030 Agri-Food Strategy Committee
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups has reluctantly withdrawn from the Agri-Food 2030 Strategy Committee today having come to the conclusion that the draft Strategy is woefully inadequate to meet the social and environmental challenges we face. The soon-to-be-published draft 2030 Strategy serves as a follow-up to Food Wise 2025, and rather than drive the ecological transformation we need …
The Environmental Pillar cautiously welcomes Brexit Deal
The Environmental Pillar has given a cautious welcome to the news that a deal has been reached between the UK and the European Union on the future relationship. Over the coming weeks the Pillar will be examining the text in detail to ensure that our common environmental standards, monitoring and enforcement are adequately provided for. The problems posed by Brexit …
Local community representation crucial for Forestry Policy group
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Local community campaigns must have a voice on the newly formed Forestry Policy group in order to meet the industry’s pressing challenges. Groups such as Save Leitrim, Save Cavan and Save Kerry have been at the forefront in calling for an improved forestry model. The Environmental Pillar, the Sustainable Water Network, BirdWatch Ireland, An Taisce and the Irish …
Ag Climatise is a roadmap for business-as-usual damage to climate
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The recently published Ag Climatise roadmap by the Department of Agriculture perpetuates business-as-usual practices that will continue to wreak havoc on our environment and prevent us from meeting our climate targets. This is the warning from the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups, who are calling for a transformative, ambitious, and synchronised agricultural policy in line …
EPA’s clarion call for action welcome
25 November 2020 The clarion call to action from the Environmental Protection Agency today has been wholeheartedly welcomed by Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental organisations. The Environmental Pillar has a longstanding history of advocating for a unified policy response to our ongoing climate and biodiversity crises, and we have witnessed time and time again that existing siloed measures to address …
Fundamental Flaws in Climate Bill must addressed in pre-legislative scrutiny
The Environmental Pillar is pleased to see the Bill strengthen the State’s commitment to climate action, and particularly welcomes the proposed inclusion of biodiversity expertise on future Climate Change Advisory Councils. The Pillar has stressed that the twin crises of climate and biodiversity are deeply interlinked and must be addressed simultaneously.
New agri-food policy must shift away from intensive practices
IMMEDIATE RELEASE This World Food Day, the Environmental Pillar and the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) are demanding that an immediate shift away from intensive agricultural practices take place in the State’s new agri-food policy. Both organisations have expressed serious concerns that the State is rushing the development of Ireland’s new 2030 Agri-Food Strategy, which will determine the future direction of …
Forestry Bill fails to solve the sector’s problems
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The current Forestry Bill set to go before the Dáil today fails to solve the multi-faceted problems the sector faces, Ireland’s largest coalition of environmental groups has warned. The Environmental Pillar has stressed that the Bill is being rushed through and will limit the public’s capacity to appeal forestry decisions. It proposes permanent actions that will not fix …
