Climate & Sustainability - Irish Examiner

Sign in

Climate and Sustainability

<p>Coral reefs sustain about a quarter of marine life.</p>

world

Death of world's coral reefs a 'tipping point' in climate-driven ecosystem collapse', scientists say

The last two years were Earth’s warmest on record, with marine heatwaves that stressed 84% of the world’s reefs to the point of bleaching and, in some cases, death, researchers found

<p>In February, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities published a proposal on rules for connecting data centres to the electricity grid but a final decision on this has yet to be made.</p>

companies

Data centres: Industry body calls for timeline on energy policy

<p>A bus drives in downtown Madrid during a major power outage on April 28; the Iberian blackout during the spring was a timely reminder of how much we rely on a solid energy system and the devastating effects when things can go wrong. File picture: Manu Fernandez/ AP</p>

news

Investment needed in under-pressure energy infrastructure to prevent blackouts

2024 to be the hottest year on record

comment-analysis

Budget 2026 leaves us more exposed to the ravages of climate change than ever

large school of mackerel

outdoors

Once 'sustainable' mackerel stocks are drastically declining

Electric vehicles survey

news

EV switch ‘biggest step’ most drivers can take to hit climate goals, committee hears

Budget 2026: Here's what's expected as talks set to go down to the wire

Budget 2026: Here's what's expected as talks set to go down to the wire

Paul Hosford and Louise Burne break down what we are likely to see on Tuesday across each of 12 government departments

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Ahead of the herd

Ireland could be hit with fine of up to €26bn for failing to meet emissions targets, C&AG report warns

'If Ireland fails to meet its national emissions reduction targets, the consequences will be significant, affecting the State legally, financially, economically, environmentally, and politically,' report says

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Revealed: Europe losing 600 football pitches of nature and crop land a day

Revealed: Europe losing 600 football pitches of nature and crop land a day

Investigation shows extent of green land lost across UK and mainland Europe to development from 2018 to 2023

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Catherine Conlon: We are choosing business over nature every single time

Catherine Conlon: We are choosing business over nature every single time

Fish kills, polluted drinking water, declining wildlife populations, and increased emissions are a direct result of politicians’ policy decisions

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Petrol costs

Households pay more than half of €5.5bn in environmental taxes collected last year

Each year, the rate of carbon tax rises by €7.50 per tonne, aiming to reach €100 per tonne by 2030

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

MTU and UL host recycling-derived fertiliser workshops

MTU and UL host recycling-derived fertiliser workshops

In October an interactive workshop will be held to propose the use of recycling-derived fertilisers as a sustainable alternative for farmers.

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Aerial view of madrid city from fine arts circle viewpoint bar.

World’s major cities hit by 25% leap in extremely hot days since the 1990s

Capitals from London to Tokyo need urgent action to protect people from deadly high temperatures, analysts say

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Winter weather Jan 26th 2025

Climate council criticises Government for not learning lessons in storm response

The report expressed its disappointment that a cross-government review of the response to Storm Éowyn remains unpublished

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Environmental damage is putting European way of life at risk, says report

Environmental damage is putting European way of life at risk, says report

The report makes for worrying reading.

Mon, 29 Sep, 2025

Hong Kong Asia Typhoon

Typhoon hits Hong Kong and China after causing deaths in Taiwan and Philippines

One of the strongest typhoons in years has lifted waves taller than lampposts onto Hong Kong promenades and halted life on the southern Chinese coast after causing deadly destruction in Taiwan and the Philippines.

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Coronavirus - Tue May 25, 2021

Ireland to donate €3m to Pacific islands in fight against climate change

Ireland has also announced additional funding of €3m to support people in Sudan

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Mary Robinson labels Donald Trump 'stupid' and a 'bully'

Mary Robinson labels Donald Trump 'stupid' and a 'bully'

UN high commissioner condemns the US president's stance on climate change as 'reckless'

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

UN General Assembly

Trump tells UN climate change is a 'con job' and Europe should be ashamed over Russian oil

In a combative UN speech, Donald Trump attacked Europe’s Russian oil purchases, dismissed climate science, and warned against immigration

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Just Transition Commission report

Countries' ramping-up of coal, gas and oil extraction putting climate goals at risk, data shows

Nations planning higher levels of fossil fuel production for the coming decades than they did in 2023

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

Passenger airplane flying above clouds during sunset

Industry has executed a ‘corporate capture’ of UN aviation body set up to tackle climate crisis

Industry delegates outnumbered climate experts by 14 to one at recent ICAO meeting, thinktank says

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Man must decide his way forward to success or failure

Ireland’s climate targets: the clock is ticking and the bill is mounting

Despite the daunting gap, Ireland has shown it can bend the emissions curve. A 6.8% drop in one year proves that action, combined with factors like a mild winter and a shift away from coal, has an impact

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Australia Climate

Australia targets at least 62% emissions cut in next decade

Australia has set a new target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by between 62% and 70% below 2005 levels by 2035. The new target adds to Australia’s ambition of a 43% cut by the end of this decade and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

Autumn weather Nov 18th 2021

Global water cycle is more erratic and harder to predict, UN scientists warn

Last year was the sixth in a row to show an erratic cycle and the third where all glacier regions reported ice loss

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

Why are we using arable land for solar farms when new rooftops are bare?

Why are we using arable land for solar farms when new rooftops are bare?

Helen Shaw questions a solar energy strategy where our most precious resource for food growth and biodiversity is being used for solar farms while new buildings' roofs have no panels

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

Home Heating Autumn

Agriculture vs aviation: Who wins the battle for biofuel?

In tests, fuel made from hydrotreated vegetable oil proved a practical alternative to reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

UK deaths from climate change-driven heatwaves

Human-made global warming 'caused two in three heat deaths in Europe this summer'

Researchers from Imperial College London say 16,500 deaths caused by hot weather brought on by greenhouse gases

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Families encouraged to help clean their local coastline as part of Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean

Families encouraged to help clean their local coastline as part of Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean

This weekend, volunteers and their families will remove the litter from our shorelines as part of the annual Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

PORTUGAL-WEATHER-CLIMATE-WILDFIRE

Europe’s summer of extreme weather caused €43bn of short-term losses, analysis finds

Greatest damage from heat, drought and flooding done in Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Bulgaria

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025

Biodiversity experts plan for arrival of invasive species amid rise in temperatures

Biodiversity experts plan for arrival of invasive species amid rise in temperatures

A risk register of the chances of non-native species arriving here will be developed

Sun, 14 Sep, 2025

Revolution Wind's Rhode Island Construction Hub

Novo Nordisk and Orsted troubles spark fears Denmark faces its own 'Nokia moment'

Novo Nordisk layoffs and Orsted’s offshore wind troubles expose the risks of Denmark’s reliance on a handful of corporate giants

Sat, 13 Sep, 2025