IMMEDIATE RELEASEIreland’s leading environmental coalition is shocked at the Minister for Housing’s attempt to press for new planning legislation that would make it near impossible to challenge planning decisions in the courts and hold public authorities and the Government to account. The Environmental Pillar – a coalition of national environmental organisations – learned over the weekend of worrying developments with …
Budget 2020: Climate ambition still lacking
Immediate Release Ireland’s largest environmental coalition has said it is disappointed that Budget 2020 has failed to show the level of urgency required to deal with the climate emergency we are facing, While there were some positives (discussed below), the Environmental Pillar – which had called for a €20 bump in the carbon tax – said that it is concerned …
Budget 2020: Four steps to fund a Green New Deal for Ireland
Immediate Release: 4 October 2019 The Government can tackle out of control emissions and fund the just transition to a carbon-free future for Ireland through common-sense environmental taxation, a coalition of environmental groups has said. The Environmental Pillar is calling on the State to adopt four taxes in Budget 2020 that will protect our environment and health, tackle escalating emissions …
New plan won’t bring about promised climate policy revolution
The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and the Environmental Pillar have carried out a detailed assessment of the Government’s Climate Action Plan and have launched a 20-page “end-of-term” Report on the Government: Will the new Climate Action Plan deliver the revolution the Minister promised? Link to Report: https://tinyurl.com/y58a9jzk Media Release New Climate Action Plan will not bring about promised climate revolution, says …
Climate Plan: Environmental coalition welcomes plans to boost ailing funding
Immediate Release, 18 June 2019 Environmental coalition welcomes plans to boost ailing funding but still major concerns over biodiversity policy in the new climate plan The Environmental Pillar has welcomed plans in the new all of government climate plan to examine the bolstering of the ailing Environment Fund, as well as changing consumer and business behaviour. In equal measure, …
Environmental coalition welcomes Green Wave washing over Ireland
Immediate Release, 25 May 2019 The Green wave across European and local elections is a clear signal that Irish people want urgent action to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, Ireland’s largest environmental coalition has said. The Environmental Pillar said today that it was a heartening experience for its member organisations to see the Irish people vote en masse for …
No deal Brexit poses major risk for Irish environment, GFA Committee hears
July 4th, 2019 Unleashing the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement and avoiding a No-Deal scenario are key to protecting the environment on the island of Ireland from the threat posed by Brexit, an Oireachtas Committee heard today. Speaking before the GFA Committee, barrister and Athlone IT law lecturer Alison Hough said that Brexit poses a major threat to …
NED: Sustainable revamp of policy to protect nature vital to State’s future stability
Immediate ReleaseA sustainable revamp of State policy to protect nature is vital to tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis, Ireland’s largest environmental coalition told the Government at the National Economic Dialogue this week. The Environmental Pillar – a coalition of over 30 national environmental groups – was represented by several expert members at NED that was attended by the Taoiseach …
All-of-Gov Climate Plan falls far short on biodiversity measures
Immediate Release Plan fails to join dots and see biodiversity protection as a solution to the climate crisis The new All-of-Government climate plan falls flat on nature protection, insufficiently joining the dots between the biodiversity and climate emergencies facing us, Ireland’s largest environmental coalition said this morning. The Environmental Pillar – a coalition of over 30 national environment groups – laments …
Environmental Coalition calls for comprehensive investigation into ESB oil leaks
Immediate release, 6 June 2019 The Environmental Pillar has welcomed the decision of the EPA to investigate the massive leak of oil from underground ESB cables revealed by a whistleblower within the semi-state body. The shocking information shown on RTÉ Investigates last night only came to the surface after the whistleblower, Seamus O’Loughlin, made a number of Protected Disclosures …
