Blog Archive
Solar Schools - For the Love of Solar
Posted on February 24, 2020 by Friends of the Earth

Voting is now live for the Friends of the Earth Solar Schools 2020 competition!!
Our 'For the love of solar' competition is deisgned to help schools all over Ireland to go solar. With thanks to our generous funders, next week we willl be announcing at least 8 schools as winners of solar panels, 4 primary and 4 secondary schools. But really, we think every school should be a solar school. In fact we think every school, community building, sports club and local authority should go solar, to generate clean renewbale energy right from their rooftops.
Permanent link | Categories: communityenergy • solarschools
Climate Hustings - Guest Blog
Posted on February 23, 2020 by Claudia Tormey

Alex Tone is an American student in her third year of Political Science and Geography at Trinity College Dublin. She is an active member of the Growing Together agri-activist team and one of the organizers for The Climate Hustings - an independently-organized event for candidates in the general election to respond to individuals and grassroots groups - that took place at the Mansion House on February 3rd.
These are some of her reflections on the event.
What place is there for a blow-in in a national election?
Permanent link | Categories: foodandfarming
We've Switched our Power - and you can too?
Posted on February 20, 2020 by Friends of the Earth

We have been working for years to support policy and legislation changes to enable people and communities take part in the energy transition. And now, it's becoming real! Our great friends and partners in the development of Ireland's first Community based Virtual Power Plant, Community Power have become a licenced supplier of electricity, and we've just switch our office electricity so we are buying electricity that is clean, renewable and owned by citizens and communities. And today, if you have a house, business or community enterprise, you can switch too!
Permanent link | Categories: communityenergy
Final Push - Canvass for Climate
Posted on February 06, 2020 by Claudia Tormey

Over the last three weeks, people across Ireland have been canvassing their local areas getting lots of people talking about climate action with their election candidates. We need to make sure every election candidate know the people of Ireland want faster and fairer climate action.
Join the last leg of climate canvassing!
On Friday - groups are leading canvasses and flyer distributions at busy transport hubs across the country.
Click here to join or lead an action on your commute tomorrow!
Check out the Canvass for Climate map to find a canvass, or set up one in your area or on your commute to work!
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • one future • stop climate chaos •
Make climate non negotiable for next government.
Posted on February 06, 2020 by Claudia Tormey

Have your election candidates signed the One Future climate pledge?
One Future asked 3 climate experts to score each political party's manifesto agains the campaign's 9 demands for faster and fairer climate action. See the results here at the link.
We don't think that's good enough - act now to make all candidates and political parties do more for faster and fairer climate action.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • one future • stop climate chaos •
For The Love Of Solar! 2 Weeks To Go!
Posted on January 31, 2020 by Friends of the Earth

WIN SOLAR PANELS for your local school!
Young people all over Ireland calling for climate action while sitting in classrooms and learning in old buildings powered by fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth are building a movement behind solar power in Ireland, that’s why we are running a competition to put solar panels on schools!
Enter Now!!
This competition is an excellent opportunity for communities to participate in renewable energy generation, and schools are the ideal place for valuable community-based education to occur. The competition will play an important role in encouraging communities to take the first step on their sustainable energy journey.
Permanent link | Categories: communityenergy • energy • solarschools
Join the Candidate Hunt - This Saturday!
Posted on January 30, 2020 by Claudia Tormey

It’s no secret that climate has been missing from the narrative of the general election.
The One Future campaign is reaching people across Ireland to make sure climate is a part of this election. One Future needs everyone to get the message out there. One Future needs you!
Take part in the One Future Candidate Hunt on Saturday February 1st and put climate on the agenda of #GE2020 candidates and voters alike.
Join the Candidate Hunt!
The Candidate Hunt is a climate-themed treasure hunt, with a list of challenges for you as an individual or as part of a group to complete and share on social media. Each team that takes part and sends photo evidence gets a prize, with silver, gold and platinum level prizes!
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • one future • stop climate chaos •
One Future for Fairer Faster Climate Action
Posted on January 23, 2020 by Claudia Tormey

We are so excited to tell you about One Future - Faster and Fairer Climate Action!
One Future a people led campaign aiming to communicate real and solid climate action to all political parties and candidates before the election on February 8th.
And it just launched yesterday (see the launch photos below) - we need your help to get it off the ground and reach as many people across the country. Actions below!
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • one future • stop climate chaos •
Climate Actions for Election 2020
Posted on January 17, 2020 by Claudia Tormey

The general election has been called for February 8th. We have three weeks to get everyone across Ireland talking to their local candidates about climate. And we need you to give and do what you can.
We need Faster and Fairer Climate Action
Much Faster: We need to be cutting our climate-polluting emissions by at least 8% a year, not 2% as planned, to make sure we achieve the Paris Agreement
Much Fairer: We need a substantial increase in government investment in public transport, warmer homes and community energy to make zero carbon options available for everyone.
Want more talking points? We've created this list to give you some pointers on what to ask your local candidates.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange
Renewable Electricity Public Consultation (RESS)
Posted on January 15, 2020 by Friends of the Earth
The Government is consulting with the public on the next renewable electricity support scheme - The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). Ireland can meet only about 30% of its electricity needs from renewables, so we really really need a new support scheme to allow more renewable electricity projects to get built. This scheme would support 3,330 GWhrs of renewable electricity onto the Irish market from onshore wind, solar, hydro, waste to energy, biomass CHP and biogas CHP.
The details of the scheme can be found here, and submissions are requested by email to ress@dccae.gov.ie by 5pm, 17th February.
Permanent link | Categories: communityenergy