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 – […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Declaration of biodiversity and climate emergency warmly welcomed

 IMMEDIATE RELEASE  The Environmental Pillar warmly welcomes the Dáil’s declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency. The surprise move makes Ireland only the second country to do so, following in the footsteps of the UK that last week recognised the crisis at our door. The issue was raised during a debate on a motion to […]

Extinction crisis and climate emergency hot on Cork MEP hustings agenda

Irish must vote en masse for biodiversity & climate in upcoming elections, says environmental coalition It’s vital that citizens voice their concerns to MEP candidates over climate change and biodiversity loss in advance of the European elections, Ireland’s leading environmental coalition has said. It’s vital that citizens voice their concerns to MEP candidates over climate […]

Climate hot on the agenda at MEP husting in Dublin

Immediate ReleaseOver 150 citizens are set to gauge where EU election candidates stand on key environmental and climate issues at a public debate in Co Dublin this Friday before polling stations open in May. The sold-out event in the Wynn Hotel in Dublin on Friday, 3 May will see concerned citizens challenge candidates from across […]

Climate hot on the agenda at election hustings in Leitrim

Immediate Release Over 100 citizens are set to gauge where EU election candidates stand on key environmental and climate issues at a public debate in Co Leitrim this month before polling stations open in May. The event in the Bush Hotel in Carrick-On-Shannon on Friday, 26 April will see concerned citizens challenge candidates from across […]

Irish must vote en masse for climate action in European elections

Immediate Release It’s vital that citizens voice their concerns to MEP candidates over climate change and biodiversity loss in advance of the European elections, Ireland’s leading environmental coalition has said. The need is even more pressing, the Environmental Pillar said, following the release of a new report today calling out Ireland’s largest parties for their […]

Biodiversity measures in Committee climate report welcomed

Immediate Release Calls from the Oireachtas Climate Action Committee to protect biodiversity and recognise the vital role of a healthy environment in tackling climate change is welcomed by Ireland’s leading environmental coalition.  The nature-friendly recommendations are included in the Committee’s report officially launched today that will feed into Government policy in tackling climate change.  The report follows […]

Report on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, Brexit & the Environment

The executive summary of the report is available here:  https://nienvironmentlink.org/cmsfiles/Brexit-GFA-report-SUMMARY.pdf The full report is available here: https://nienvironmentlink.org/cmsfiles/Brexit-GFA-report-FULL.pdf Please see media release below April 16th, 2019 Unleashing the full potential of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement could address some of the main risks posed by Brexit to the environment of the island of Ireland, a new report […]

Climate hot on the agenda as Irish youth tell MEP candidates to act on climate

Young Irish citizens on the frontline of climate activism took centre stage at an event in the capital this evening to tell MEP candidates what needs to be done in Brussels to tackle the crisis of their generation.   The Loud & Clear! Youth views on Climate­ event at the European Parliament office in Co Dublin featured a […]

Environmental coalition raises alarm over Skellig Michael management plan

January 10th 2019 – immediate release Environmental groups and the public are being left in the dark over the Government’s plans to manage Skellig Michael, Ireland’s largest environmental coalition has said. The comments from the Environmental Pillar come in the wake of the launch of a public consultation in late December on the next management […]

Extension of public consultation on controversial upland burning welcomed by environmental coalition

Immediate Release –  9 January 2019 The Environmental Pillar has welcomed the Government’s decision to extend a public consultation on controversial upland burning regulations after it raised concerns over the decision to hold the consultation during the Christmas holidays. The consultation process was launched on 21 December 2018 with the original deadline set for 18 […]

Environmental Pillar cautiously welcomes the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration

Environmental Pillar cautiously welcomes the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration: will a level playing field deliver cross-border alignment?   The conclusion of negotiations on a Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration lay the groundwork for designing a future EU-UK relationship incorporating far-reaching environmental standards. In the Withdrawal Agreement the UK and the EU have committed to […]

Brexit draft withdrawal agreement seeks to quell any rollback on environmental standards

November 16th, 2018 The Environmental Pillar welcomes the inclusion of a commitment in the draft withdrawal agreement to maintaining current levels of environmental protection across the island of Ireland post-Brexit. It also includes a clause designed to prevent any regression of environmental laws, regulations and practices in the UK or the EU following the Brexit […]

Budget 2019: Concern over possible State row back on carbon tax and diesel levy

Immediate Release Ireland’s largest environmental coalition is deeply concerned by reports that the Government is set to row back on hikes in carbon and diesel taxes. It was widely reported in the media this morning that both the proposed increase in the diesel levy and carbon tax are proving to be sticking points ahead of tomorrow’s Budget. […]

New public-private woodland scheme is window-dressing to cover up decades-old failed forestry policy

Immediate Release The latest public-p rivate native woodland funding scheme is window-dressing to cover up the State’s decades-old failed forestry policy, warns environmental coalition. The call from the Environmental Pillar follows last week’s launch of a public – private fund to support businesses in partnering with the Government and Irish landowners in the creation of […]

Budget 2019: Three key steps to avert climate catastrophe and solve housing crisis

  IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Government can take real action to tackle out of control emissions and an unacceptable housing crisis by adopting three common sense taxes in Budget 2019, says Ireland’s largest environmental coalition. The Environmental Pillar has called on the cabinet to support three tax policies that will protect our environment, tackle the escalating […]