The Irish Times view on data centres and climate: no more development without a renewables boost
Ireland’s ability to reach its legally binding CO2 reduction targets by 2030 would be fatally undermined by the continued growth of data centres
Friends of the Earth
Data centre boom under AI growth in Ireland threatening climate targets, report warns
Friends of the Earth calls for ‘moratorium on new data centres and expansion of existing ones until robust legislative framework is in place’
Analysis: What next for climate policy now the Greens are out of government?
A campaign where the main parties downplayed climate issues and shunned hard choices bodes ill for ambitious climate policies in the next programme for government
Greens take third place in review of climate pledges, behind Labour and Soc Dems
Friends of the Earth rated parties on their pledges in areas of leadership, homes, energy, transport and food
Cop29 deal which includes new ‘climate finance goal’ criticised as ‘utterly inadequate’
Wealthy countries including EU committing $300bn a year for climate vulnerable countries but the outcome was condemned by aid agencies across the world
Mark Ruffalo rows in on Irish politics, saying Green Party ‘about to do something really terrible to the environment’
After actor rows in on LNG terminals and Planning Bill, party responds that ‘keeping the lights on in Ireland is not something he needs to worry about’
Budget 2025: ‘Bonanza’ budget that pumps billions into economy repeats Ireland’s past mistakes, State watchdog warns
Spending boost set ‘to stoke inflation’, adding an estimated €1,000 to cost of a typical household’s yearly outgoings
Government ‘scrapes a B- grade’ in climate action report card
Friends of the Earth report card concludes ‘programme for Government commitments were not strong enough in first place’
Google data centre expansion draws ire of environmental groups
An Taisce, Friends of the Earth and Extinction Rebellion all object to third phase of Grange Castle development
Friends of the Earth calls for temporary ban on new data centres over electricity use
‘Why is this energy-guzzling industry continuing to expand when we know Ireland needs to rapidly reduce energy demand, both on security and climate grounds?’
Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 reach lowest level in three decades
State still ‘well off track’ for 2030 targets despite reductions in almost all sectors
Friends of the Earth says contamination of Lough Neagh with blue green algae ‘inevitable’
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council says it has received confirmation from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency that blue green algae had been detected in a bay in Lower Lough Erne
Public urged to raise climate change with politicians seeking their vote
‘Vocal minority’ leaving politicians ‘running scared’ from issue, World Earth Day event told
Climate change: ‘How can we feed the world while not damaging it?’
Is Ireland’s new climate action plan the blueprint needed to transform the country within decades?
Nowhere is there a wealthy country that consumes only a little energy, or a poor country that consumes a lot
Barclays bank has announced it will stop direct financing of new oil and gas fields. It is too much to expect Irish banks to follow suit?
Dublin should follow Paris’s lead and charge SUVs higher parking fees, say campaigners
If Parisian approach was adopted in Dublin, cost of parking larger cars would top €10 per hour and might dissuade motorists from buying big vehicles
Don’t wait for politicians to lead the climate revolution
A new political and economic culture is required to rebalance the power of corporations and profit so they respect planetary boundaries - and it will be lead by communities
New climate plan lacks bold actions needed to tackle crisis, says environmental group
Coalition leaders shying away from political courage climate action needs as election looms, says Friends of the Earth
Cop28 thrown into crisis as ‘weak’ draft decision text rejected by EU and other countries
Minister for Environment Eamon Ryan says all references to phasing out fossil fuels were excised from previous iteration and replaced by vague language
Can Cop28 really pull the plug on fossil fuels? With five days left, Irish activists want action
Kevin O’Sullivan’s Dubai diary: Mary Robinson’s testy exchange with Cop president Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber brings wider attention to a technical debate
Global leaders must respond to climate alarm that has never rung so loudly, Taoiseach tells Cop28
Irish aid organisations criticise lack of ‘new money’ for Ireland’s contribution to loss and damage fund
Cop28: World leaders meet to attempt closure of emissions gap amid worsening climate crisis
Fossil fuel allegations dismissed by Cop28 hosts as UAE insists ‘unprecedented outcome' still achievable
Cop28 beckons: A hellish future is predicted, yet the world continues to take baby steps on climate crisis
There are welcome trends, but the latest science from multiple sources is killing the positive outlook: human-made greenhouse gases are still rising despite big pledges
Ireland should support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
Thinking in a Climate Emergency: Ireland is ideally placed to start the process of getting the proposed treaty initiative on the diplomatic and UN agenda
Emissions gap leads to calls for scaled up ambition at Cop28 and phasing out of fossil fuels
‘Our [carbon] pollution levels are pushing us over the edge into catastrophic climate breakdown’ - FoE
Environmental NGOs and renewables sector call on Government to scale up funding
Country’s renewable energy and environmental objectives at risk due to lack of resources and expertise, Government told
Use of Moneypoint as ‘generator of last resort’ will put pressure on ESB’s net-zero goal
Ireland may have bigger problem in long run because of heavy reliance on gas for power generation
Moneypoint power station to be kept open until 2029 despite emissions concerns
Coal-burning Co Clare plant not being decommissioned in 2025 and will move to using oil as energy security backup
Data centre energy use ‘heading toward 30%’ of Ireland’s supply, claims environmental group
Granting of permission to Amazon for three new data centres will lock us into dependency on fossil fuels, says Friends of the Earth
Environmental Pillar calls for establishment of €8bn climate and nature restoration fund in budget
Extra funding should be provided to support farmers in nature restoration and increasing staff in State agencies involved in climate and ecology
Activists hold protest in Dublin ahead of United Nations climate talks
Environmental groups calling on Government to act fast on fossil fuels
Irish politicians at risk of ‘delusional’ thinking on climate crisis, activist says
Oisín Coghlan tells Dublin conference he fears politicians will not have the courage ‘to tell voters what has to happen to protect our future’
Planning board refuses permission for €650m Shannon LNG terminal
An Bord Pleanála says development would be inappropriate pending review of energy supply in Ireland
Report card on Government’s climate change warns of failure to meet some key commitments
Friends of the Environment report gives Coalition government a ‘moderate progress’ assessment
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