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Thursday 8 June 2023 Dublin: 12°C

# Climate Change

# CLIMATE CRISIS
Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions at 'all-time high'
A team of scientists have developed an open platform with key information about the state of the cliamte.
This week
4th June 2023 - 8th June 2023
# Fossil Funds
EU Commissioner says auto-enrol pensions should be 'transparent' about climate sustainability
Pre-legislative scrutiny of Ireland’s auto-enrolment pension scheme called for funds to be prohibited from investing in fossil fuels.
Last week
28th May 2023 - 3rd June 2023
# plastic waste
Global negotiators take key step towards landmark treaty to end plastic waste
The negotiators are charged with developing the first international, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, on land and at sea.
# short-haul flights
No domestic flight ban on the cards for Ireland as Taoiseach says we're not the same as France
Domestic flights are very important to some of Ireland’s most remote areas, says Varadkar.
# climate action
Govt say EPA report 'doesn't tell the full story' and won't concede targets will be missed
Coalition leaders say some modeling is not contained in the EPA report.
Voices
Eoghan Daltun: 'Yes, state budget surpluses should be used to pay farmers to rewild their land'
The author and campaigner says if we are at all serious about reversing the death of Irish nature, we need to be rewilding on as big a scale as possible.
# Biodiversity
Rewilding row: Green minister warns of ‘horrible conservative scaremongering’ on EU nature law
Ossian Smyth said he was ‘not happy’ that Fine Gael’s EU party, the EPP had walked out of talks on the issue.
# Rewetting
Fine Gael's EU party pulls out of talks on high-profile nature law
The proposed law, which would set targets for restoring nature, has been the subject of controversy in Europe and in Ireland.
# Flying
'I don't think Cork-Dublin flights will return' - Ryanair boss
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has said he does not believe short-haul flights in Ireland are unacceptable from a climate perspective.
Last month
May 2023
# France
Climate protesters sprayed with tear gas at TotalEnergies shareholder meeting in Paris
The protest was mostly peaceful.
# What To Know
“There is no perfect way to be sustainable”: Interview with Taz Kelleher of The Useless Project
Taz Kelleher, co-founder of The Useless Project, shares advice on living more sustainably.
# Colorado River
US states agree to save dwindling river that supplies water to 40 million people
Human-caused climate change means the once-bountiful snowpack that feeds the river has shrunk.
# Nature
Degraded land in Dublin mountains to be restored under new biodiversity project
The project is seeking to restore land and improve biodiversity across 2,000 hectares around the Glenasmole Valley.
Voices
Biodiversity: The Bee Guy shares some home truths about saving the bees
Paul Handrick of the Bee Sanctuary is taking issue with the direction of the ‘save the bees’ narrative.
THE MORNING LEAD
Green MEPs 'very' concerned by opposition to plan for restoring nature and rewetting Irish bogs
A report by
Lauren Boland
Two Green MEPs from Ireland and Germany gave an in-depth interview to The Journal on the proposed Nature Restoration Law.
# Climate Neutrality
Public consultation launched on long-term strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said ‘citizen engagement must be at the centre’ of this strategy.
# grounded
People Before Profit propose ban on private jets in Irish airspace
The proposed legislation is aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.
# Gridlock
'If everyone drives, no one gets anywhere quickly', says Minister for Transport
Minister Eamon Ryan has said that switching to electric vehicles will help reach climate targets but will not be enough to solve congestion problems.
# heating up
Hottest year of modern records highly likely to come in next five years - report
Average temperature increase may temporarily break the important 1.5 degree threshold by 2027.
# Climate
Disposable cups to be axed from public sector canteens under new climate action mandate
The installation of heating systems that use fossil fuels in new buildings will also cease after this year under the mandate.
# Plan Ahead
Underfunded planning system puts climate action at risk, Government warned
The Climate Change Advisory Council has written to the coalition leaders to highlight specific issues with the planning system.
# Fossil Fuels
Oil giant Saudi Aramco reports €29 billion profit in first quarter of year
The company blamed the fall on lower global oil prices.
# Temperature Check
Get The Journal's monthly climate newsletter delivered to your inbox
It’s the biggest story of our time.
THE MORNING LEAD
Automatic pension scheme should not invest in fossil fuels, Government told
A report by
Lauren Boland
A new auto-enrolment pension scheme for workers has undergone scrutiny as the government prepares to put forward legislation.
A newly published report advises that investment funds in the scheme should not be allowed to invest in fossil fuels.
It also recommends that a minimum percentage of the funds should be invested in renewable energy development.
April
April 2023
# looking ahead
Ireland has finally released its 30-year climate plan - here's what it says
The long-term climate strategy has been published today three years after an EU deadline.
# Climate Change
Spain hit by unusually early heatwave as record-breaking temperatures expected
Experts have warned of the high risk of wildfires and farmers have said the heatwave is killing their crops.
# Fossil Fuels
Oil giant BP faces shareholder backlash over U-turn on climate promises
Several big pension investment funds are pushing back on BP’s decision to scale down its climate goals.
# Clean Air Act
Ireland's first clean air strategy to target pollution for sake of health and environment
The government has published a plan to significantly improve Ireland’s air quality.
# Fire lit
Government to send long-term climate strategy to EU this week - three years late
EU countries were told in 2018 to submit a 30-year strategy on climate action by 1 January 2020.
THE MORNING LEAD
North Sea Summit: Ireland and UK need to cooperate on offshore wind energy, says Eamon Ryan
A report by
Lauren Boland
Nine countries have agreed to ramp up capacity for harnessing offshore wind to generate power.
# Germany
Climate activists glue themselves to roads bringing traffic to a halt in Berlin
This morning there were more than 30 road blocks across the city, according to reports.
Voices
Analysis: Can Ireland tackle climate change without a credible medium or long-term plan?
Assistant Professor in climate law, Dr Orla Kelleher looks at Ireland’s record on climate and finds we’re coming up short.
# Nature
Children's assembly on biodiversity calls on Ireland to 'treat the Earth like family'
Young people aged seven to 17 have created nearly 60 recommendations on protecting and restoring Ireland’s biodiversity.
# Global Warming
Climate change: The last eight years were the hottest in modern records
The World Meteorological Organisation has released its State of the Global Climate report for 2022 – and the forecast is stark.
# fit for 55
EU approves €86 billion plan to help people impacted by climate transition
The EU Parliament passed a series of votes on climate legislation today that have been long in the works.
# Climate Change
G7 pledges to quit fossil fuels faster, but doesn't set new deadline on phasing out coal
The call to action comes as many developing countries step up demands for more help in phasing out fossil fuels and stabilising energy prices.
# district heating
Should we use data centres to heat our homes - or is it greenwashing?
The waste heat from data centres can be used for climate-friendly heating systems – but data centres are major energy consumers.
# wind energy ireland
Govt must invest in ports in order to build offshore wind energy projects, report finds
Belfast is currently the only port on the island of Ireland that is capable of constructing offshore wind farms.
# Ukraine War
Germany to shut its last nuclear power plants this weekend despite energy crisis
The last three reactors were due to be switched off on 31 December last year but that deadline was extended.
March
March 2023
# Jets
Private jets in firing line as report shows over 6,000 flights left Irish airports last year
People Before Profit is to bring a Bill to the Dáil after Easter to ban private jets in Irish air space.