Posts in the "Climatechange" category
Friends of the Earth Newsletter, January 2019
Posted on January 28, 2019 by Claudia Tormey
Welcome to our newsletter - catch up on what we've achieved over the past few months thanks to your support, time and donations. See what we're planning next and how you can be involved!
Friends of the Earth Campaigns
Community Energy & Solar Schools
Congratulations to St Munchin's College in Limerick, our first winners of the Solar Schools competition. A fantastic group of students ready to take on the energy transition in their school!
More winners will be announced very soon - watch this space! This exciting pilot project targeted a number of areas where community energy cooperatives are already in existence. The aim of the project is to support schools and communities to power themselves with free renewable electricity generated right from their roof.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy • waste
Beat the VAT increase on coffee. Plus a new series of Eco Eye starts tonight.
Posted on January 08, 2019 by Oisín Coghlan
Happy New Year.
I'm really optimistic we can make a breakthrough this year on climate action (see below for a preview of the possibilities).
But first, a quick life hack for coffee drinkers! It hasn't been such a good New Year for those of us who look forward to a take-away coffee at some stage during the day. The VAT increase in Budget 2019 has added 9 to 18 cent to the price of a coffee since January first.
Thankfully, there's an easy way to avoid paying the new higher price.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy • waste
Let’s make 2019 the year we choose a safer, healthier future.
Posted on January 01, 2019 by Oisín Coghlan
This is the full length version of an article for the Irish Independent
Politicians and the public are paying attention to climate change like never before. A number of factors coming together gives us the opportunity to make 2019 the year Ireland takes climate action seriously.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy
It's happening. Are you in?
Posted on November 29, 2018 by Oisín Coghlan
Something is happening. And I think I know what it is.
The climate movement in Ireland is growing in passion and power.
Together, in the last three years, we've:
- Passed the historic Climate Action Act
- Passed a law to ban fracking
- Divested Irish universities from fossil fuels
- Got the Bill to divest the Irish sovereign wealth fund to the point where it will be law before Christmas
- Got the Bill to ban offshore oil and gas drilling to Committee Stage in the Oireachtas
All four of those Bills were initially opposed by Government and the civil service. But people power has tipped the balance towards progress.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange
Friends of the Earth Newsletter, November 2018
Posted on November 26, 2018 by Meaghan Carmody
Welcome to our newsletter - catch up on what we've achieved over the past few months thanks to your support, time and donations. See what we're planning next and how you can be involved!
Community Energy
The way energy is generated, sold and used in Ireland is changing fast. A couple of weeks ago, we asked for your thoughts on buying, investing in and supporting locally owned renewable energy. A million thanks to those of you who took that survey. There is very little Irish research on this topic, so real data from real people is invaluable to us. If you’re interested in the results, you can see them here. 
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • energy • activism
Apply now to take part in Mobilize. Resist. Transform. Environmental Issues Course 2018!
Posted on October 23, 2018 by Meaghan Carmody
Are you aware of the existence of envrionmental issues, but unsure how they interconnect? Are you eager to meet like-minded people with whom to delve into these issues and find a point of intervention where you can make a change? Perhaps you have watched a documentary about climate change but don't know where to start in order to make a change, and that can be a lonely, scary place. So maybe you need to feel part of a community to feel supported enough to try to make those changes?
If any or all of this sounds like you, then register now to take part in Mobilize.Resist.Transform - a 6 week Autumn evening course run by Friends of the Earth.
Apply to take part by completing this form:
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • activism
We're not going down without a fight
Posted on October 15, 2018 by Oisín Coghlan
Last Monday a UN scientific panel published an alarming report on on climate change. The impacts are worse than we thought and to prevent complete climate chaos we essentially have to halve our pollution by 2030 and reduce it to zero by 2050.
On Tuesday, the Government introduced Budget 2019, dropping plans for an increase in the carbon tax announced by the Taoiseach, and effectively "giving two fingers to the Paris Agreement" and everyone who is threatened by climate change.
It was a staggering failure of political leadership that put us all at risk of devastating climate impacts.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange
Plastic Free July Series, Item 2 - Plastic War on Climate Change
Posted on July 17, 2018 by Chloe Healy
We will be posting one article a week in July around ways you can reduce the amount of plastic in your day-to-day life! Let us know how you're getting on on Twitter by using the hashtag #SickOfPlastic.
Written by Chloe Healy
If you are reading this article today and/or taking part in our Plastic Free July challenge, then it’s fair to say that you are already aware of the serious challenges plastic pollution poses to human health and the environment. But do we really understand why its a problem, what exactly makes plastic so harmful and how it is linked to climate change?
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • waste • blog
Together, we are irresistible. Let's make law.
Posted on July 13, 2018 by Oisín Coghlan
When we formed the Stop Climate Chaos coalition 10 years ago, our first slogan was "Together, we are irresistible". To be honest with you, I thought it was a bit over-the-top for climate campaigners.
This week showed how wrong I was.
This week's big wins underline the value our work coordinating the Stop Climate Chaos coalition - work we want to be able to continue, but which is now at risk.
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange
Take action now to push the Divestment Bill over the line!
Posted on July 06, 2018 by Meaghan Carmody
This is big.
Next Thursday July 12th, Ireland could become the first country in the world to fully divest from fossil fuels. But the thing is, we need TDs to actually be there to vote. We, those campaigning for progressive action on climate, know how important this is, but the reality is that TDs have lots of other issues to contend with. Unfortunately, they might not show up and vote unless they're asked by their constituents.
Will you take 30 seconds to ask your TDs to be there to vote for a strong Divestment Bill?
Permanent link | Categories: climatechange • divestment
