Sustainability – Future Living

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FUTURE LIVING

Collection highlighting a wide variety of sustainability themed content which impacts people's lifestyles and living habits across topics like food, home and fashion.

FUTURE LIVING

Collection highlighting a wide variety of sustainability themed content which impacts people's lifestyles and living habits across topics like food, home and fashion.

<p>A wildfire in Killarney National Park this summer. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan/NPWS</p>

news

Ireland ‘unprepared’ for extreme heat as expert warns of rising health risks and pressure on services

An expert says extreme heat could worsen existing illnesses, strain health services and increase risks from accidents and water-related incidents

<p> Some election posters in Cork City in 2024. A new report from An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s Electoral Commission, has recommended reducing the size of election posters, enforcing existing postering laws, and communicating with political stakeholders about public safety. File picture: Eddie O'Hare</p>

politics

Amount of plastic in 2024 election posters same as in 1.3 million takeaway coffee cups

<p>Climate action can mean warmer homes, lower and more stable energy costs, better public transport, strengthened rural livelihoods, and new skills and employment pathways. File photo: Ben Birchall/PA</p>

comment-analysis

Ali Sheridan: It's a key moment for climate transition — we must show people the benefits

Builder On Site Putting Waste Into Rubbish Skip

outdoors

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

Organisation announces public meeting on water quality in East Cork

farming

Organisation announces public meeting on water quality in East Cork

Budget will not include carbon tax reforms, minister says

politics

Budget will not include carbon tax reforms, minister says

Congestion Charging Begins In London

Don't let what's happened in London replicate itself in Cork

The streets are our own — except when they aren’t, writes Allan Prosser

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Electric car purchase incentives

Electric car sales in Ireland overtake petrol and diesel

Strong January growth pushed electric cars ahead of petrol and diesel, while Tesla slipped and hybrids became Ireland’s top choice

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Less than a quarter of journeys into Cork City made via sustainable methods

Less than a quarter of journeys into Cork City made via sustainable methods

75% of journeys into the city were by car, with just 23% via sustainable transport

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

Retrofit of Cork council houses will see tenants save thousands on heating

Figures provided by the council show that two previously retrofitted properties recorded an annual drop in fuel consumption from €3,440 to €771.60 and €3,740 to €1,311.60

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

'It wasn't long-fingered, I can assure you': Minister defends Dart+ South West timeline

'It wasn't long-fingered, I can assure you': Minister defends Dart+ South West timeline

Dart+ South West aims to electrify the rail from Drumcondra to Hazelhatch along the Cork rail line

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Aldi recycling centre in Ireland.

Re-turn planning to use some of its €89.8m to build bottle-to-bottle recycling facility

Re-turn intends to use some of the funds accumulated from unclaimed deposits and producer fees to develop the new facility

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

The bioeconomy surrounds us but there is enormous potential for more

The bioeconomy surrounds us but there is enormous potential for more

Batteries that use wood-pulp, plant-based trainers and corn-based forks. They're much closer than you think, and the EU’s new Bioeconomy Strategy aims to supercharge the sector, writes Jessika Roswall

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

'Indicative' timelines for major public transport projects can be moved forward, says minister

'Indicative' timelines for major public transport projects can be moved forward, says minister

The Green Party’s transport spokesperson, Cllr Feljin Jose, criticised what he described as a return to an old pattern of focusing on road developments

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Electric car purchase incentives

Government investment a 'drop in the ocean' of what's needed for electric vehicle charging

The Oireachtas Transport Committee heard that 10 times more funding is needed for fast, public electric vehicle charging

Wed, 26 Nov, 2025

Heavily congested Cork town has no working air pollution monitor

Heavily congested Cork town has no working air pollution monitor

Cork County councillor Audrey Buckley claimed it hasn’t been transmitting data since October 5, 2023

Sun, 23 Nov, 2025

Recyclable and non-recyclable garbage can indoors

In the can: Waste companies to film proof of our sloppy recycling

In-lorry surveillance cameras may be about to take us all to task if we fail to use our bins properly, writes Kya deLongchamps

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

File Photo Luas drivers have called off strike action planned for this Saturday and Sunday to allow for further talks.

Planning board gives green light for extension of Luas into Dublin's northside

The extension will go from the Broombridge station near Cabra as far as Charlestown close to the M50 motorway

Thu, 30 Oct, 2025

SPAIN-FIRE-CLIMATE-ENVIRONMENT

Spain and Portugal wildfire weather made 40 times more likely by climate crisis, study finds

Wildfires were 30% more intense than would have been expected without global heating, scientists say

Thu, 04 Sep, 2025

Solar panel installation on residential house

Budget must help households cut emissions, says advisory council

The Climate Change Advisory Council said the Government must boost supports for home retrofitting, heat pumps, and solar panels

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Middle-class pursuit of Insta-friendly kitchens a distraction from the real problems with our homes

Middle-class pursuit of Insta-friendly kitchens a distraction from the real problems with our homes

Pressure to perform prosperity is relentless in this era of waste and inequality

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Catherine Conlon: At a time of global uncertainty, the Cork-Kinsale Greenway cannot be allowed to fail

Catherine Conlon: At a time of global uncertainty, the Cork-Kinsale Greenway cannot be allowed to fail

The silent majority who spend hours in traffic may well be in favour of this greenway, but they are not as organised as farmers and landowners

Sun, 31 Aug, 2025

The progress in other cities makes Cork look like a backwater

The progress in other cities makes Cork look like a backwater

The uncomfortable truth is the majority of people in this city voted against Cork having more power

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

We must connect ordinary people with their city's future

We must connect ordinary people with their city's future

A Limerick City project involves architects, students, city officials and members of the public in shaping all the layers of their city's future

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

Heavy traffic in istanbul

S New roads mean more traffic, not less — somebody should tell Galway County Council

New roads cause more traffic, not less, but that doesn't stop people from wanting them. It's time to change tack, writes Ciarán Ferrie

Wed, 28 May, 2025

Cork County Council to seek expressions of interest for €50m Bottlehill landfill site

Cork County Council to seek expressions of interest for €50m Bottlehill landfill site

The local authority is trying to recoup some of the significant monies spent on the then state-of-the art landfill at Bottlehill

Mon, 05 May, 2025

Nature in danger

How the EU is pushing back against fast fashion

New rules seek to address one of the modern economy's most pressing workers' rights and climate issues, writes John Hearne

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

Cork’s Black Ash bus hub could feature large-scale solar farm under new plan

Cork’s Black Ash bus hub could feature large-scale solar farm under new plan

City officials to examine the feasibility of including solar panels as part of proposed redevelopment of park-and-ride site

Thu, 06 Mar, 2025

Bike to college scheme to be introduced in the budget

Bike to college scheme to be introduced in the budget

Minister says initiative will help Ireland to meet its 2030 carbon reduction targets

Sun, 02 Mar, 2025

Irish adults waste more than €370 worth of food a year, survey finds

Irish adults waste more than €370 worth of food a year, survey finds

This contributes significantly to global greenhouse emissions, and combatting food waste can be a critical climate action

Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

Refrigerator With Fruits And Vegetables

Innovation may cut energy use of fridges which consume 4% of the world's electricity

The study also found that the technology could be expanded across various applications, from wearable cooling devices to industrial-grade scenarios

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025