Immediate Release Fine Gael proposals to limit access to justice rights for citizens and environmental groups to challenge poor planning decisions is out of line with European and international human rights law, the Environmental Pillar warned today. The comments from Ireland’s largest environmental coalition come as the public consultation on the controversial General Scheme for the Housing and Planning and …
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. The Environmental Pillar is deeply …
Citizens’ Assembly recommendations will revolutionise Ireland’s climate policy
Immediate Release The recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly are the best foundation on which to lay the policy roadmap for real and lasting leadership in tackling climate change. This was the expert view that the Environmental Pillar outlined before a new 22-member Joint Oireachtas Committee to explore how best the State can lead on tackling climate change. [1][2] Built …
Press Release: Draft National Mitigation Plan wholly inadequate to tackle climate change, say leading environmental organisations
The Government’s long overdue draft National Mitigation Plan is almost wholly inadequate to meet the climate challenges ahead, according to Ireland’s leading environmental organisations. The Environmental Pillar, together with Stop Climate Chaos, has outlined its findings on the draft Plan in a submission sent as part of a public consultation set to close today. The submission finds that the proposed …
Press Release: New European Climate Change targets let Ireland off the hook but they will not keep global warming below 1.5C target
More regular flooding, aggressive storms and drought will be outcome of watering down our climate targets. New European Climate Change targets have been revealed today and they have made it easier for Ireland because of how emissions and carbon is accounted for. The Environmental Pillar, a coalition of 28 Irish national environmental NGOs, warns that the change to emission …
Press Release: Programme for Government falls far short of what Ireland needs to do to tackle climate change
The Programme for Government lacks the key clear goals we need to move our people and economy forward into a post carbon future. The Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition of 28 Irish national environmental NGOs, does not believe that the Programme for Government goes far enough in tackling climate change and will force increasingly difficult decisions on future Governments. …
Catastrophic winter flooding will increase with climate change unless we substantially change the way we use land
The Environmental Pillar is calling on the government to bring in substantive land use changes to protect communities from increasingly frequent high rainfall events.
Press Release: Taoiseach’s stance that climate change is ‘not a priority’ is foolhardy and economically short-sighted
The Environmental Pillar are calling on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to retract his statement that ‘climate change is not a priority’ and start to build a country and economy fit for the 21st century. The Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition made up of 28 national environmental NGOs, want the Taoiseach to accept that failing to prepare the country for climate …
Press Release: Environmental groups call for native woodland scheme to be expanded to balance farm emissions
The Environmental Pillar welcome calls for the use of forestry on farms to balance carbon emissions from agriculture, in an effort to increase sustainability and protect livelihoods.
International Aviation and Shipping to be exempt from emissions cuts in Paris negotiations
International shipping and aviation, huge sources of emissions, were dropped from last week’s draft Paris climate agreement. This is an incredibly backward step, leaving an emissions gap in the agreement equivalent to Germany and UK combined. Even more incredible given both sectors purchase their fuel tax free, and their emissions are set to treble by 2050. In response to this the Environmental …
