Learning Hub is back in action! Join us for our next event
Issued in the blog on February 04, 2021 at 17:47:00.
There’s no doubt about it, January was a long, hard month for many of us. It’s good to see February arrive - with some new hope and slightly brighter days.
We're delighted to announce that the Learning Hub we launched in Autumn 2020 is back in action. Perhaps you attended the first Learning Hub event last October, where the meaning of Climate Justice was explored? If you missed it, you can watch it back here. That first event was based loosely on Mary’s Robinson’s book ‘Climate Justice’.
Have your say on Community Energy - Submit to the Microgeneration Consultation using our handy guide
Issued in the blog on February 04, 2021 at 17:05:00.
We’ve reached a critical juncture in our campaign for renewable, community owned energy. In a matter of months we could finally have a support scheme for small renewable energy microgenerators. But this scheme could end up being very good - or pretty bad. The difference hangs in our collective hands!
We've been campaigning for this type of scheme for years. And now - finally - the Government has agreed that it’s needed!
Ireland shuts the door on new gas and oil
Issued in news on February 02, 2021 at 13:34:00.
Friends of the Earth
For Immediate Release
Tuesday 2nd February 2021
Campaigners welcome the Government’s proposal for a national ban on all future oil and gas exploration and extraction in Ireland.
Ireland will now become the second country in Europe and only the fourth in the world to introduce a definitive national ban through legislation on all fossil fuel exploration [1] In 2017 Ireland took the first steps to legally prohibiting gas extraction with a legal ban on fracking onshore [2]. This next step will extend that ban to any new oil or gas exploration in our offshore waters.
Kate Ruddock, Deputy Director of Friends of the Earth commented,
Watch it Back - Hopeful Chats about Climate Change
Issued in the blog on January 13, 2021 at 14:07:00.
There’s no denying it, the last few weeks have been very difficult. We’re living through a period where every glimmer of hope we can find is precious - and to be treasured. With that in mind, we wanted to share the recording of a webinar that we hosted just before Christmas - Hopeful Chats about Climate Change. People left the webinar feeling very hopeful - and it continues to give us hope when we think back about it now! You can watch it back here in your own time.
Dr Cara Augustenborg did a super job of chairing the discussion and spoke from her own experience as a climate scientist, activist and mother.
Watch it Back: Let's talk Community Energy
Issued in the blog on December 15, 2020 at 15:26:00.
Earlier this month we hosted a special webinar on community owned renewable energy. Missed it? Well, don’t worry, we recorded it so you can watch it back at this link or in the screen below.
We were delighted to be joined by Molly Walsh from Friends of the Earth Europe. Molly shared some inspiring stories from her new book, Community Energy: A practical guide to reclaiming power - which you can download here.
Why I'm urging TDs to postpone the vote to ratify CETA, the EU-Canada trade deal
Issued in the blog on December 13, 2020 at 22:00:00.
The Order of Business for the Dail this week indicates a Government motion on Tuesday 15th to ratify the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada, including its highly controversial mechanism allowing companies to sue an EU member state when they consider their interests are affected by new policies and regulations adopted by a national government. This is a highly significant step which effectively compromises Irish sovereignty and creates a major vulnerability for a country such as Ireland highly dependent on foreign direct investment. Ireland has been able to attract very high levels of foreign direct investment without conceding to such mechanisms, save under the Energy Charter Treaty. Ironically, it therefore is massively exposed if the further elements of the CETA agreement are ratified and come into effect. Accordingly, I am urging TDs to seek a postponement of the vote to enable time for an informed, considered, debate on the merits and implications of ratification, to be held later in 2021.
Over 1000 people met their TDs during TD Lobby for Faster and Fairer Climate Action
Issued in the blog on December 11, 2020 at 13:42:00.
The dedication and commitment of constituents from across Ireland made the day!
Over 1000 constituents from across Ireland met their TDs on 7th December during a mass online Lobby for Faster and Fairer Climate Action. They voiced their climate concerns and demanded that loopholes in the 2020 Climate Action Bill be closed.
Hopeful Chats about Climate Change - Join us for a Webinar
Issued in the blog on December 10, 2020 at 11:37:00.
Talking about climate change can sometimes be hard - talking about it with our children can be even harder!
Join us on Tuesday December 15th at 7pm for a conversation about engaging young people on the topic of climate change and how we can take positive action together.
Register for our Hopeful Chats about Climate Change webinar on 15th December
For the Love of ...Solar Schools
Issued in campaign actions.
Please change the planning exemptions so that schools and community buildings can install solar panels, without the added expense of seeking planning permission. You are now 14 months delayed in introducing this simple change to the planning regulations, and it is having a stalling effect on all school and community solar installations.
Let's talk community energy! Webinar and book launch
Issued in the blog on November 30, 2020 at 11:36:00.
Join us for a webinar this week! We'll be launching this stunning handbook for communities from Friends of the Earth Europe, and and exploring the opportunities for Irish communities in the energy transition in 2021 with Minister Eamon Ryan.
Community energy is key to action on the climate crisis, boosting local economies, and reinvigorating communities. We’ve been campaigning for clean, community energy for a long time. It’s been a tough battle at times but things are finally starting to look bright!
