Paving over progress — what Ardee Bog means for Ireland’s climate future

The controversy over Ardee Bog is a wake-up call. If we are serious about achieving climate goals, we must address these policy gaps that extend legal safeguards beyond SACs and NHAs to include smaller, fragmented, and degraded peatlands that are still ecologically and climatically valuable

Dr Michelle McKeown: "The decision to build a road through Ardee Bog highlights a major weakness in Ireland’s climate and environmental laws. Many peatlands are left unprotected unless they are designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs)." Pictures: Friends of Ardee Bog 

As Ireland faces the mounting challenges of a climate crisis, the decision to construct a road through Ardee Bog in County Louth has ignited fierce debate on the topic of peatlands and Ireland’s climate future.

The recent dismissal of a legal challenge against the road project by the High Court has not only cleared the way for the development but also highlights systemic loopholes in Ireland’s climate and environmental policies. Peatlands are central to Ireland’s climate action strategy, yet gaps in legal protections and planning policies allow these vital ecosystems to slip through the cracks, jeopardising this country’s ambitious environmental goals.