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CLIMATE CHANGE

<p>Despite Ireland’s relatively good air quality, the agency warned that air pollution from solid fuel burning and traffic emissions 'still causes significant health impacts'. File picture</p>

news

Ireland's air quality 'good' despite pollution contributing to around 1,500 needless deaths a year

However, a revised EU directive, which comes into effect in December, will mean Ireland will face tougher limits for air quality from 2030

<p>Storm Austen will see Cork, Kerry, and Waterford under an orange warning for rain from 10pm on Thursday until 5am on Friday. File picture</p>

news

Storm Austen: Ireland's climate policy compared to 'plaster on a gash' that needs A&E

<p>United Nations general secretary António Guterres: 'Overshoot is not surrender. We can still keep it as small and as short as possible — and bring temperatures back below 1.5C by the end of the century.' Picture: AP/Themba Hadebe</p>

world

Rapid emissions cuts needed to ‘minimise’ peak global warming at 1.8C, UN warns

MixCollage-17-Jan-2025-04-36-PM-3143

Caitríona Redmond: Are you emergency ready? Here's my non-negotiables

CANADA-UN-DIPLOMACY-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE-NATURE-CONSERVATION

news

Cop17 at a glance: Everything you need to know about the UN’s nature summit

Gavin Nugent: Why are environmentalists still pushing the politically toxic carbon tax?

comment-analysis

Gavin Nugent: Why are environmentalists still pushing the politically toxic carbon tax?

Dodder Road Lower opens

S Mick Clifford: Eamon Ryan told Ireland what it did not want to hear — and paid the price

Mick Clifford reflects on Forever Is Now, a documentary capturing Eamon Ryan’s climate mission, political isolation and family life beyond Government

Sat, 17 Oct, 2026

Water running from tap into kitchen sink

Fears Ireland may be experiencing its first 'saltwater intrusion' after salt found in Kerry water supply

The North Kerry incident may be linked to prolonged drought conditions this year

Fri, 16 Oct, 2026

Irish Examiner view: A test of democratic freedom

Irish Examiner view: A test of democratic freedom

A democracy should be troubled when its anti-terrorism laws intrude on the relationship between a novelist, her publisher, and her readers

Fri, 16 Oct, 2026

INDONESIA-POLLUTION-ENVIRONMENT-FIRE

Indonesia fights fire with dry ice as toxic haze spreads across region

Tens of thousands of people have sought treatment for respiratory illness linked to the haze.

Thu, 15 Oct, 2026

Retrofit firm NetZero plans to double workforce adding 1,000 jobs

Retrofit firm NetZero plans to double workforce adding 1,000 jobs

Company says it expects demand for heat pumps and retrofits to increase significantly in the coming years as homeowners and businesses move away from fossil fuels to lower-carbon heating

Thu, 15 Oct, 2026

Scottish data centres

Environment a major blind spot in the AI Summit agenda

The EU is pushing massive AI expansion, driven by concerns over digital sovereignty, ie having control over its own digital resources and security

Wed, 14 Oct, 2026

Call to ban materials from landfill

Watchdog urges more reuse and recycling as Ireland's waste grows by a fifth in 10 years

The Climate Change Advisory Council said due to rising levels of consumption, Ireland was 'certain to miss many mandatory recycling targets'

Wed, 14 Oct, 2026

Low Water Levels on River Rhine Disrupts Cargo

Second-hottest September ever as global temperature rises continue to exceed 1.5C threshold

“Crossing the Paris Agreement’s long-term limit is only a matter of time," said Copernicus Climate Change Service director Carlo Buontempo. "How far we overshoot, and for how long, is still up to us.”

Mon, 12 Oct, 2026

Paradisical tropical beaches, islands and islets on Vanua Levu island near Savusavu, the hidden paradise of Fiji, Fiji, South Pa

Wealthy countries should spend far more on climate than defence, Cop31 president says

'Climate issue is the security issue', Turkish climate change minister told delegates at pre-Cop meeting in Fiji

Fri, 09 Oct, 2026

UCC leads EU project on preparing for disasters and extreme weather

UCC leads EU project on preparing for disasters and extreme weather

AMPLIFY brings together researchers, public authorities, first responders, civil society organisations, communities and creative practitioners from seven European countries

Fri, 09 Oct, 2026

Ireland to miss climate targets with renewable energy being 'cannibalised by data centres'

Ireland to miss climate targets with renewable energy being 'cannibalised by data centres'

Ireland could not 'credibly take leadership on a fossil fuel phase-out while simultaneously pushing new fossil fuel infrastructure and ever-expanding energy demand driven through the proliferation of data centres', Dáil committee hears

Wed, 07 Oct, 2026

Budget 2027: The main takeaways

Budget 2027: The main takeaways

Tax, housing, childcare, health, welfare and transport all feature in the Government's latest budget package. Here's a quick guide to the main announcements

Tue, 06 Oct, 2026

Disruptive Ryanair passengers

Carbon emissions from flights out of Ireland's airports climbed 7% in first six months of year

Irish Aviation Authority found flights emitted 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide

Mon, 05 Oct, 2026

FRANCE-WEATHER-TORNADO

Heatwaves, drought and then a tornado: France fraught over extreme weather stress

Rare supercell twister that ripped through a quiet village exposed common vulnerabilities

Mon, 05 Oct, 2026

Data Center Construction

S Ireland built the data centre boom. Now Irish firms are taking it around the world

Irish engineering companies are expanding rapidly overseas as domestic grid constraints collide with soaring global demand for AI infrastructure

Sun, 04 Oct, 2026

Cairde Fail president's dinner

Budget 2027: Government likely to remove carbon tax increases on kerosene and home heating oil

The Taoiseach also confirmed that there will be double Christmas payments for those in receipt of social welfare

Sat, 03 Oct, 2026

More than 80% of Europe experienced strong heat stress during summer 2026

More than 80% of Europe experienced strong heat stress during summer 2026

Copernicus data shows prolonged heatwaves also contributed to wildfires, low river levels and dangerous air pollution across Europe

Fri, 02 Oct, 2026

Sunlight bokeh through Trees in Evergreen forest - UK

C&AG: Targets to plant 8,000 hectares of trees a year need to be changed

Comptroller and Auditor General said that to achieve target set out in climate action plan, 16,000 hectares a year would need to be planted

Wed, 30 Sep, 2026

'Relocation of some communities' urged due to rising sea levels

'Relocation of some communities' urged due to rising sea levels

Report by the Climate Change Advisory Council found coastal erosion is already affecting coastlines, putting ancient forts and properties in the south and south-east at particular risk

Wed, 30 Sep, 2026

'A big win for residents': Protests change cycle path project to save trees in Cork suburb

'A big win for residents': Protests change cycle path project to save trees in Cork suburb

The amendments will ensure the provision of the required active travel, parking and public realm improvements and require the removal of a reduced number of trees, 10 compared to the 22 previously proposed

Wed, 30 Sep, 2026

FRANCE-SCIENCE-WEATHER-OCEANS-CLIMATE-GLOBAL WARMING

'The ocean is transforming before our eyes': World’s seas absorb record-breaking amount of heat

This year's deadly cocktail of extreme heat and dirty air subjected more than one-third of humanity to dangerous levels of ground-level ozone pollution, says report

Wed, 30 Sep, 2026

Automated Potato Processing

Irish potato growers caught between drought, soaring costs and volatile prices

Industry forecasts indicate that production lost to this year’s drought across Europe could cost growers more than €800m due to what is expected to be one of the EU’s smallest potato harvests on record

Wed, 30 Sep, 2026

Irish Cabinet meeting

Carbon tax changes under consideration as minister defends home energy grants

The Government is considering changes to carbon tax as rising energy and fuel costs put pressure on households and businesses

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026

Deforestation in the Amazon

UN warns of ‘narrowing window’ to restore world’s forests

Food and Agriculture Organization urges governments to make forest restoration a national priority

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026

Winter weather Jan 27th 2026

'Protracted delays' in flood relief schemes as 30 of 54 still at design stage, climate watchdog warns

Climate Change Advisory Council says Ireland not adapting quickly enough to worsening climate risks

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026