Carbon tax plan risks worst of both worlds: 'Too little to reduce emissions, enough to annoy people'
Issued in news on October 04, 2019 at 17:15:00.
Friends of the Earth sets out three failures and three tests on carbon tax
Friends of the Earth has warned that reported plans for a small increase carbon tax in Tuesday's Budget risk being ineffective or even counterproductive.
Commenting on media reporting that a planned increase in the carbon tax of between €5 and €7 euro a tonne, about a 2c increase in a litre of petrol, has been agreed between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, Friends of the Earth Director, Oisín Coghlan said:
No Fracking. No.
Issued in the blog on October 04, 2019 at 15:05:00.
We put everything into the campaign to fight against the LNG fracked gas terminals this week. And so did our supporters!.Thank you!
The Race Of and For Our Lives
Issued in the blog on October 03, 2019 at 17:14:00.
Busy time in the Coalition kicked off again in September as the new Dáil session began, and as thousands of young people across Ireland came together to mobilise as part of the youth-led Global Climate Strike on September 20th, members of Government, including the Taoiseach, travelled to New York to attend the high-level UN Summit on Climate Change in New York.
‘Preventing irreversible climate disruption is the race of our lives and for our lives’ were the words used by the UN Secretary-General in calling on all leaders to come to New York with statements on how they intend to increase ambition on climate action in advance of next year when the Paris Agreement will come into force.
Celebrities join call to stop fracking terminals
Issued in news on October 03, 2019 at 14:48:00.
For Immediate Release
NGO's both sides of the Pond Call on Government to Stop the Shannon fracked gas terminal
Celebrites Mark Ruffalo and Michael Moore join the plea
50 environmental, climate, medical and justice organsiations from both North America and Ireland have written to An Taoiseach today requesting that Ireland does not propose support for the Shannon LNG fracked gas terminal at the European Commission meeting on Friday October 4th. The letter is also co-signed by actors Mark Ruffalo and Michael Moore which calls on Ireland not to create futher demand for fracked gas from American communities.
“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar must learn that climate leaders don’t support fracking,” said longtime anti-fracking advocate and actor Mark Ruffalo. “If he allows for the approval of this dangerous Shannon LNG fracked gas import facility and other infrastructure at Friday’s EU meeting concerning Projects of Common Interest, he will be both silencing the voice of democracy in Ireland and supporting fracking in America for decades to come.”
The letter states that 'Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is disastrous for climate change, dangerous, and relies on fracking in the U.S. that harms people and the environment'
Health professionals and scientists in the United States have been documenting the public health harms of fracking and related infrastructure for years now. The vast majority of more than 1,500 peer-reviewed scientific studies demonstrate that drilling, fracking, and infrastructure including LNG are dangerous and harmful. In recent months, a renowned newspaper in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, has investigated and found least 67 diagnoses of extremely rare cancers in children in just 4 rural, heavily-fracked counties of the state.
Julia Walsh Campaign Director of Frack Action said “Ireland rightly banned fracking 2 years ago based on damage this it inflicts on the environment and public health. I’ve come here to speak for those of us in the United States fighting for a national ban on fracking and to represent the communities who have been devastated by it. We are asking the Taoiseach and the Irish government not to import US fracked gas, which will lock us into fracking and it’s impacts to public health and the climate,”
Kate Ruddock Deputy Director Friends of the Earth welcomed the debate in the Dáil today on this important issue, and commended the TD's who expressed their opposition to this project. However, Kate expressed disappointment that a vote was not called on whether or not this project should recieve state support.
It is expected that Minister Bruton will propose the Shannon LNG fracked gas terminal and the reversal of the Moffit interconnector will be included on the Projects of Common Interest list tomorrow, and will thus become one of Ireland's highest priorty projects with access to special planning permissions, permits and grant support.
What TDs need to know for the debate on fracked gas imports today
Issued in the blog on October 03, 2019 at 11:25:00.
99% of the gas that would be imported to a planned termnial on the Shannon would be fracked in the USA. The Dáil is currently debating whether the project should get special EU treatment and subsidies. Here's what TDs need to know. (To download a pdf briefing click here.)
The Irish Government are planning to go to Brussels tomorrow to table support with the European Commission for a Fracking Gas Terminal in Shannon 'Shannon LNG' and the reversal of the flow in the existing gas pipe that connects us wiht Scotland, so that we could become exporters of fracked gas across Europe.
Letter to An Taoiseach_No to Shannon LNG
Issued in publications on October 03, 2019.
50 environmental, climate, medical and justice organsiations from both North America and Ireland have written to An Taoiseach today requesting that Ireland does not propose support for the Shannon LNG fracked gas terminal at the European Commission meeting on Friday October 4th. The letter is also co-signed by actors Mark Ruffalo and Michael Moore which calls on Ireland not to create futher demand for fracked gas from American communities.
Don't let the Government bypass the Dáil on fracked gas
Issued in the blog on October 02, 2019 at 07:17:00.
I really need you to email your TD today.
The Government is trying to lock Ireland into importing fracked gas for decades - WITHOUT ANY DÁIL DEBATE.
They plan to send officials to Brussels on Friday to approve special treatment for plans to build gas import terminals on the west coast, against the advice of EU experts, and before the Dáil gets the chance to discuss it.
I'll tell my TD that's not good enough
Yesterday Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil voted against making time to debate a special motion on the issue this week.
October: Gas Webinar Series with the Gastivists Collective
Issued in the blog on September 26, 2019 at 10:54:00.
Gas is a fossil fuel. The narrative around gas being a 'bridge fuel' is simply dangerous and needs to be debunked once and for all. Learn all about the issue, taking action and showing solidarity this October with this exciting webinar programme with the Gastivists Collective!
2nd October 12-1pm CEST / Why gas is bad
> how gas impacts our climate
> how gas is extracted, transported and how it impacts communities around the world
> the tricks of the gas industry
For who? People that are new to gas and want to understand what is all the fuss about it
The Future is Rural Festival - October 4th & 5th
Issued in the blog on September 25, 2019 at 21:34:00.
Celebrating sustainable food, farming and community energy
Come along to 'The Future is Rural', a sustainable rural futures fair on October 4 and 5, in Ballina, County Mayo.
Delivered by Foodture, the Irish Environmental Network and Friends of the Earth, this event includes film screenings, talks, stalls, demonstrations and children's workshops, all focussed on building sustainable rural futures through food, farming and community energy.
In Our Hands: Seeding Change
6 - 9pm, Friday, October 4, 2019
The first part of this event is a screening in the museum's AV Theatre of the award-winning and thought-provoking documentary In Our Hands: Seeding Change. This will be followed by a lively panel discussion with foodies, farmers, activists and experts.
Decision to end oil exploration by Taoiseach is welcome: 'an important signal to investors'
Issued in news on September 23, 2019 at 18:58:00.
Taoiseach's announcement on oil exploration at UN Summit a welcome step
But no room for new gas either says Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth has welcomed the announcement by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the UN Climate Action Summit that Ireland will end the exploration for oil in Irish waters [1].
Commenting, Friends of the Earth Director, Oisín Coghlan said:
"The Taoiseach has sent an important signal to investors that Ireland accepts the majority of fossil fuels have to stay in the ground if we are to contain climate change.
