fossil fuels

Fossil fuels from ancient ecosystems — more action and fewer mistruths needed now

What rational intelligent action looks like: Ireland has joined the ‘Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance’, led by Costa Rica and Denmark, collectively advocating for the phasing out of fossil fuels

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

FILE PHOTO Today sees the launch of The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) national air quality forecast online END

France, US to propose ban on private finance to coal-fired plants at Cop28

Divisions set to deepen at climate conference with India and China opposed to any attempt to block construction of coal-fired power stations

Tue, 21 Nov, 2023

Ratcliffe on Soar coal fired power station near Nottingham, UK, responsible for massive greenhouse gas emissions.

France is Europe’s biggest supporter of ‘carbon bomb’ projects, data shows

French banks have financed €144bn to firms running biggest fossil fuel projects since 2015 climate pact

Tue, 31 Oct, 2023

Cars run on e-fuel would emit five times more carbon dioxide than electric vehicles

EU called on not to give in to pressure from major car manufacturers to water down its transport targets

Fri, 06 Oct, 2023

Expert warns against 'doubling down' on 'chronic reliance' on fossil fuels

'While the short term risks of disruption to energy supplies are real and significant, on any medium- or long-term basis they are entirely dwarfed by the risks of catastrophic climate disruption' Dáil committee told

Tue, 30 May, 2023

LNG tanker is passing by Singapore Strait.

Gas falls for eighth week to bring price down 66% this year

The price of gas for delivery in June fell below €25 per megawatt hour, completing a huge slide this week in the key benchmark prices for gas

Fri, 26 May, 2023

Government accused of 'acting as commentators' on topic of rising energy bills

Sinn Féin's energy spokesman Darren O'Rourke made the charge as the Dáil debated a motion calling on the Government to provide financial relief to households by "returning energy prices" to their level, pre-war in Ukraine

Wed, 03 May, 2023

Climate change: 'No getting away from need' for higher taxation to deter fossil fuel use

Climate scientists warn Ireland must pick up pace of decarbonisation — but say Ireland's progress in terms of renewables provides a hopeful note

Wed, 03 May, 2023

Company plans to proceed with Shannon LNG terminal

The directors of Shannon LNG Ltd stated in new accounts that 'the company intends to begin construction of the terminal after consultation is completed and planning permission is approved'

Tue, 28 Feb, 2023

A semi-trailer truck drives on a wet road during poor visibility and rain. Bad foggy and rainy weather. Copy space for text

Diesel-fuelled haulage sector ‘hard to abate’ amid lag in tech, says Environment Minister

Mr Ryan said 99% HGVs in Ireland run on diesel, and 'alternative vehicle technologies have not, so far, developed as quickly as for cars, light goods freight, or even buses'

Thu, 15 Dec, 2022

Irish Examiner view: Solving existential climate crisis is the moonshot of our times

Climate change is a global problem that requires cooperation between all nations. That’s why today more than 30 newspapers and media organisations in more than 20 countries have taken a common view about what needs to be done. Time is running out.

Tue, 15 Nov, 2022

Ryan wants aviation, shipping, and fossil fuel firms to pay for climate impact

International aviation, shipping, and fossil fuel firms should cough up funds towards so-called "loss and damage" and "climate finance" efforts to protect countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to Environment and Transport Minister ...

Mon, 14 Nov, 2022

Florida To Join California As Leader In Reducing Carbon Emissions

Ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 welcomed by environmental groups

Move hailed as 'good news' for motorists, with the prices of zero emissions cars to be cheaper and more affordable

Fri, 28 Oct, 2022

Governments still prioritising fossil fuels in spite of damage to human health, report finds

Countries surveyed are subsidising fossil fuels to the tune of €401bn

Wed, 26 Oct, 2022

Only one port on island of Ireland ready to construct offshore windfarms

A new report found that only Belfast Harbour has the current capability to support the building of offshore windfarms

Wed, 21 Sep, 2022

Limerick businessman advertises his turf as mud

Eric McNulty says the Government is well intended in trying to reduce emissions, but are offering 'no alternatives' for fuel

Tue, 13 Sep, 2022

'Great disappointment' that carbon emissions are still rising

SEAI report shows energy related emissions rose by 5.4% in 2021

Tue, 06 Sep, 2022

Fuel excise reduction to be extended as part of €8bn cost of living budget package

Senior Government sources say it is a near certainty that the 20c per litre cut to petrol and 15c per litre to diesel will be extended in next month’s budget until the spring

Wed, 17 Aug, 2022

Blackouts and energy rationing 'could be a reality' in Europe this winter

Europe has relied too heavily on Russian fossil fuels, particularly gas and oil, which was a “weakness of our system”, EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness said

Tue, 21 Jun, 2022

Dr Paul Deane: Ireland has 90 days of oil, but no strategic gas reserves. What now?

The energy landscape of the world has changed and we need to evaluate our options for gas storage while working to reduce our dependance on fossil fuels

Thu, 31 Mar, 2022

Fossil fuel firms accused of exploiting war for their gain

Never one to let a good crisis go to waste, the fossil fuel industry and its allies have taken to the airwaves over the last few days to try and use the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an excuse for greater oil and gas development.

Sat, 26 Feb, 2022

I’m a climate scientist - 'Don’t Look Up' captures the madness I see every day

A film about a comet hurtling towards Earth and no one is doing anything about it? Sounds exactly like the climate crisis

Wed, 29 Dec, 2021

A bear landscape: Tom Breathnach takes a trip of a lifetime to magical Manitoba

"800 polar bears migrate through its environs each summer, when their unique sea ice habitat melts, and they await the next winter’s big freeze"

Sat, 11 Dec, 2021

Majority of homes reliant on fossil fuels for heating

Almost a quarter of households are likely to purchase an electric vehicle when next changing car, according to new data published by the Central Statistics Office

Wed, 10 Nov, 2021

Planet Earth burning, global warming concept

Hannah Daly: Meeting global warming obligations will require a change to our mindset

Ireland may be a small nation but it has an outsized impact on global warming, which Dr Hannah Daly believes requires a transformational change across society, and of people’s mindsets if we are to turn it around. It will be difficult but it has to be done to secure our future.

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Steel mills Smoke and powder dust pollution in industrial District

Fossil fuels take revenge in world facing energy crunch

The forecast for record emissions is a poor backdrop to the COP26 climate talks that will take place in Glasgow in November

Sun, 10 Oct, 2021

'We’re not about to back down’: how climate experts hold hope despite IPCC report

The landmark IPCC report paints a bleak picture for our planet’s future. Five climate change experts reveal how they are staying strong

Tue, 10 Aug, 2021

Paul Deane: How agriculture could fuel Ireland's journey towards energy independence

There's no fast track to sustainability — but we can take steps now to quit being a mere bystander in global energy markets

Sun, 01 Aug, 2021

Nuclear power plant with dusk landscape.

Nuclear power lobby group hits out at environment minister for not exploring options

Lobbyists say nuclear power could be key in reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Tue, 29 Dec, 2020

EPA: Dramatic shift needed as Ireland's environment 'going in the wrong direction'

Biodiversity, air quality, and rivers are under threat unless dramatic shifts occur in policy, warns a major new report

Wed, 25 Nov, 2020

Low prices for fossil fuels cost Exchequer €2.4bn

Lowering prices for consumers on environmentally harmful fossil fuels through subsidies cost the exchequer €2. 4bn in 2018, or 71% more than at the turn of the millennium.

Tue, 24 Nov, 2020

Emission-cutting deadlines for power stations urged

Stronger governance needed to end 'unmitigated' fossil fuel burning, says expert

The proposed Climate Bill does not go far enough to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, says expert

Mon, 09 Nov, 2020

Green party motion to ban €125m gas project in Cork fails

Party's councillors wanted to amend the County Development Plan to ban importing fossil fuels

Fri, 23 Oct, 2020

Fossil-fuel body says it is being ignored in talks on Ireland's move to a green future

Fuels for Ireland called for engagement by policy makers as it set out its plans to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Mon, 17 Aug, 2020

Greenpeace targets Barclays bank branches in UK over fossil fuel funding

Greenpeace has targeted Barclays high street branches across the UK over the bank’s support for fossil fuels.

Mon, 02 Mar, 2020

Ireland will not meet 2020 renewable energy targets

Ireland will not meet its 2020 renewable energy targets, with 90% of energy still sourced from fossil fuels.

Tue, 05 Mar, 2019

Donohoe: Ireland to withdraw public money from investment in fossil fuels

The divestment follows the enactment of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018 which was signed into law by the President last month.

Fri, 04 Jan, 2019

Fossil fuels accounted for 90% of energy use in 2017, says SEAI

Fossil fuels accounted for over 90% of all energy used in Ireland last year, according to a new report from the Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland.

Thu, 13 Dec, 2018

Electric vehicles revving up

Slow down. That’s the message from a Swedish professor of combustion engines to the electric vehicle industry.

Mon, 20 Aug, 2018

Ireland makes history as the first country to divest from fossil fuels

Ireland is to be the first country in the world to withdraw public money being invested in fossil fuels.

Thu, 12 Jul, 2018

China and Japan extract frozen fossil fuel from sea floor

Methane hydrate reserves could meet global gas demands for 80 to 800 years at current consumption rates.

Fri, 19 May, 2017

Government defeated in Dáil: Options limited

Yesterday, the Government suffered its sixth and seventh defeats in Dáil votes since May, when motions on fossil fuels and tracker mortgages came before the House.

Fri, 27 Jan, 2017

Time for sun to set on addiction to fossil fuels

With 2015 now officially the hottest year on record, Payal Parekh looks at the Break Free Movement and how vital it is that the world ends its dependence on coal, oil, and gas    

Wed, 20 Apr, 2016

Fossil fuels 'largely gone by 2050'

Fossil fuels will be largely gone from energy production in Ireland by 2050.

Wed, 16 Dec, 2015