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environment

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>A Cop31 sign at the Antalya Expo center ahead of the climate conference in Antalya, Turkey. Ireland will help represent Europe in negotiations about delivering climate promises - though its domestic record makes that task uncomfortable. Picture: Chris McGrath/Getty</p>

comment-analysis

Colin Sheridan: Ireland's credibility at Cop31 not helped by our lack of climate action at home

Cop 31 is an opportunity for Ireland to influence a global argument on climate change, but three key tests will determine whether the meeting in Antalya delivers progress.

<p>Despite some progress, most protected habitats and species have either poor or bad conservation status, according to the European Environment Agency.</p>

comment-analysis

Ciaran Brennan: European Union is gaslighting us all with its simplification agenda on climate action

<p>About €2.1bn (40%) of Ireland’s high-tech construction exports in 2024 were associated with the construction of data centres by Irish-owned companies.</p>

S economy

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

Cairde Fail president's dinner

politics

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

Family volunteering cleaning up plastic waste from lake

comment-analysis

Parenting must be political in the shadow of climate change and the planet our children will inherit

Refueling at a modern gas station with green fuel pumps and a customer filling their vehicle in a well-lit, organized space duri

politics

Government may stall carbon tax rise due in October, minister hints

Irish Cabinet meeting

October's carbon tax increases could be paused, hints Simon Harris

In April, the Government pushed back planned increases to carbon tax from 1 May to 14 October

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

More than 60% of river flows fell below normal range last month, EPA finds

More than 60% of river flows fell below normal range last month, EPA finds

The EPA said the exceptionally dry and warm weather experienced in July had a 'clear impact' on river flows

Wed, 12 Aug, 2026

Red fox smelling marigold flowers

Suzanne Harrington: Out-foxed by a sly thief who stole my leopard print slider

She fed it, gave it shelter, and treated its mange... but Suzanne Harrington is now a precious shoe down after adopting a fox

Mon, 27 Jul, 2026

Moon Jellyfish stranded on a beach.

These are the jellyfish to watch out for and the ones you don't need to be afraid of

These smugairle róin (translates from Irish as 'seal snot') seem to be on the increase, although in the absence of monitoring and data about jellyfish distribution and abundance, it is hard to know for sure

Tue, 14 Jul, 2026

IFI investigates major fish kill in West Cork lake

IFI investigates major fish kill in West Cork lake

Several hundred juvenile bream were found dead at Curraghalicky Lake near Dunmanway

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Machair wild flower meadow, The Outer Hebrides Western Isles

Wild Matters: The symbiotic nature of midsummer meadows

Species rich grasslands are now one of the most threatened habits in Ireland and if once common orchids, bees, butterflies, wildflowers and farmland birds are to be part of our future, we must act now for effective restoration

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Builder On Site Putting Waste Into Rubbish Skip

Round the houses: Building more and wasting less should not be competing ambitions

Ireland urgently needs homes and increasing supply remains a national priority. The challenge, however, is not whether Ireland should build. It must. The challenge is whether future construction can become genuinely circular

Sat, 23 May, 2026

A black septic tank halfway buried in dirt outside

Almost 60% of septic tanks failed inspection last year, EPA report finds

Cork City had the lowest number of identified septic tank failures

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Rivers of Munster: Suir 'probably the reason Clonmel exists in the first place'

Rivers of Munster: Suir 'probably the reason Clonmel exists in the first place'

A large island on the Suir, right in the middle of the town is now a significant presence in the town

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Rivers of Munster: Cork’s 'hidden' River Bride and the fight to protect it

Rivers of Munster: Cork’s 'hidden' River Bride and the fight to protect it

Central to Blackpool's development in the 1700s and 1800s, the OPW now want to cover the River Bride over for flood relief, thus losing it as an amenity for the village, writes Michael Moynihan

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Rivers of Munster: The Feale's influence on the town of Listowel is clear

Rivers of Munster: The Feale's influence on the town of Listowel is clear

Named after a mythical princess, the River Feale is central to life in the Kerry town as a source of recreation and of a vital water supply, writes Michael Moynihan

Mon, 04 May, 2026

Department has no control over school book about tree that doesn't sustain Ireland's ecology

Department has no control over school book about tree that doesn't sustain Ireland's ecology

The book about the Sitka Spruce, which was sent to all primary schools last week, also features a foreword by former forestry minister Michael Healy-Rae expressing 'hope' that the story will help the reader 'see forests in a new way'

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

A view of Earth, partially hidden behind the Moon, captured through the Orion spacecraft window

It's Earth Day — meet the Irish activists leading a revolution

On Earth Day on April 22, Jonathan deBurca Butler talks to Irish people who are devoting their lives to creating a better environment for the place we all call home

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Chanellor Merz Meets Irish Prime Minister Martin

Majority believe Government not doing enough to cut reliance on fossil fuels

A majority of people think the Government is not doing enough to cut Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels, as it was urged to convene a national dialogue of stakeholders to ensure this is our “last fossil fuel crisis”.

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

President Trump Concludes Stay In Doonbeg

Make Trump Doonbeg plan to save rare snail public, say environmentalists

Planners for the US president-owned gold resort were granted permission in February to build a new ballroom

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

€4 for a coffee is not expensive when you consider it’s a small miracle in a cup

€4 for a coffee is not expensive when you consider it’s a small miracle in a cup

That seemingly modest drink represents one of the most complex and morally tangled supply chains on Earth, writes Colin Sheridan

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Fields of Ireland

Public warned not to cut hedgerows during bird nesting season

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has also issued updated guidance for landowners, outlining their legal responsibilities.

Fri, 03 Apr, 2026

Portrait of an American Mink ((Mustela vison) in the Rain

Being cruel to be kind: Rathlin Island finally a ferret-free zone

Introduced to the island to control the rat population there, the alien ferrets became more rat-like than the rats and took to killing seabirds

Fri, 03 Apr, 2026

Law concept - Open law book with a wooden judges gavel on table in a courtroom or law enforcement office isolated on white backg

High Court dismisses challenge seeking to quash permission for Kerry power plant

Judicial review challenge was brought by Friends of the Irish Environment

Wed, 01 Apr, 2026

South Kerry Greenway costs balloon to more than €70m

South Kerry Greenway costs balloon to more than €70m

Initial preliminary projections for the greenway were estimated at under €5m in 2014

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Illegal Fly Tipping by a Farmers Gate on a Quiet Rural Lane

Messaging being lost under piles of unlawfully dumped rubbish

Despite all the anti-littering appeals, many people still don’t get the message, with unauthorised dumping accelerating as a fundamental cause of litter pollution

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Bumble Bee

The many ways to be a wild bee — and what we can do to help them

Taking action for wild bees and other wildlife is a powerful way to engage with the wondrous world of wildlife all around us

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Five sites linked to majority of odour complaints as EPA steps up enforcement

Five sites linked to majority of odour complaints as EPA steps up enforcement

EPA highlights surge in odour complaints and ongoing non-compliance at a small number of industrial and waste sites

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

EU flag in front of Berlaymont building facade

EU plans to change funding mechanisms for environmental initiatives 'deeply regressive'

Fears projectssupported by LIFE, Europe’s dedicated funding instrument for environmental and biodiversity initiatives, would be integrated into 'larger funding instruments'

Sun, 22 Mar, 2026

'No plan' for residents if Dublin Airport passenger cap is lifted

'No plan' for residents if Dublin Airport passenger cap is lifted

Oireachtas transport committee also hears that the passenger cap is 'a key guardrail to curb aviation fossil fuel pollution in Ireland'

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Possible avian flu concern after 11 dead swans discovered at Loughaderra lake in east Cork

Possible avian flu concern after 11 dead swans discovered at Loughaderra lake in east Cork

'This is a biohazard,' said Proinsias Ó Tuama of Clean Coasts Ballynamona, who reported the find to the Department of Agriculture

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

More than 40% of Irish households have no plans to retrofit

More than 40% of Irish households have no plans to retrofit

Just 11.5% of the targeted levels of deep retrofits on Irish properties had been carried out by the end of 2024

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Government considers options to reduce shortfall in renewable energy targets

Government considers options to reduce shortfall in renewable energy targets

Options to help make up the shortfall include an EU mechanism to contribute to the financing of renewable energy projects in other countries

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Experts and voters agree that green space in cities has major health benefits

Experts and voters agree that green space in cities has major health benefits

More walking and cycling infrastructure, a congestion charge, and space for nature are key to unlocking Cork's potential — and our health

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Climate change

EU scientists: 'Tackle air pollution to cut cancer rates'

It is estimated that lung cancer deaths would be reduced by more than 10% by meeting WHO guidelines for air pollution

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Arbutus with berries

Portugal fined €10m by EU Court of Justice for failing to protect biodiversity

Country ordered to pay €41,250 a day until it complies with a previous court order made in 2019

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Asian hornet from Catalonia - portrait

Waterford beekeepers join forces to prevent return of Asian hornet

The Asian hornet, often called the yellow‑legged hornet, is an apex predator of honey bees and other pollinating insects

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

An undated handout photo made available

River fishing ban seen to reverse biodiversity decline

In response to biodiversity collapse in the Yangtze river, China dramatically implemented a 10-year, full commercial fishing ban across the entire river basin

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Meowing a tool cats use to control their keepers

Meowing a tool cats use to control their keepers

A feline companion is a calming presence, especially if it’s a regular purrer

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Finding frogspawn still stirs some excitement

Finding frogspawn still stirs some excitement

Common frogs are not especially fussy about where they lay their eggs, but they do follow the same routes to get to spawning areas that have been followed by many generations of their predecessors

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

barn swallow flies fast

Changes in nature aren’t always that predictable

The natural world is not bound by dates on the calendar. Such matters are dictated by changes in temperature and lengthening daylight

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Climate change of The Planet Earth and environmental awareness concept

S Pádraic Fogarty: Ecosystem collapse is real and is happening here now

Ireland can breeze through the collapse of our own ecosystems because of the stabilising effect of much larger ecosystems elsewhere. Now those ecosystems too are at risk of collapse, due principally to livestock farming and industrial fishing but supercharged by the burning of fossil fuels and the pollution of waterways, writes ecologist Pádraic Fogarty

Sun, 15 Feb, 2026

Cork fish kill report calls for single agency to lead pollution responses after it finds 'detection gap'

Cork fish kill report calls for single agency to lead pollution responses after it finds 'detection gap'

The suspected pollution source in Ireland's largest fish kill remains undetermined despite Inland Fisheries Ireland investing almost €43,000 into the investigation

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Cork council to carry out pilot project to prevent infestation of sea lettuce on the coast

Cork council to carry out pilot project to prevent infestation of sea lettuce on the coast

The project will place oysters and mussel bags in the water to remove nitrates and reduce the nutrition sea lettuce depends on to thrive

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Smoke from the chimney

Illegal smoky coal and wet wood still being sold in Cork despite 2022 ban

Council inspectors target wholesale fuel suppliers as councillors warn illegal smoky coal is still harming vulnerable communities

Sun, 01 Feb, 2026

New study on indiscriminate death traps known as tangle nets

S New study on indiscriminate death traps known as tangle nets

We need a ban on the use of tangle netting to bring an end to the carnage of threatened and protected species says ecologist Pádraic Fogarty as a new Marine Institute report highlights serious problems facing wildlife in Ireland's first marine environment National Park

Sun, 01 Feb, 2026

Beautiful Autumn colours at Upper Torc Waterfall, Killarney National Park, Kerry, Ireland

Parks service to appeal refusal of immersive education centre in Killarney National Park

Also, there has been no decision yet by An Coimisiún Pleanála on an NPWS proposal to build a raised cycle and walkway between Dinis and Torc

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Interactive map showcases Shannon Estuary's wildlife and how to best protect it

Interactive map showcases Shannon Estuary's wildlife and how to best protect it

The Shannon Estuary has been internationally recognised for its wildlife, as it sees many waterbirds travel thousands of kilometres from Greenland and Iceland to winter there

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

Written on the walls: what lichens tell us about our environment

Written on the walls: what lichens tell us about our environment

Lichens have no roots, no waxy leaves and no way to filter what they absorb. Everything they take in comes directly from the atmosphere so they are extraordinarily sensitive to air quality. For more than a century, scientists have used lichens to track pollution

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026