Climate Actions for Election 2020
Issued in the blog on January 17, 2020 at 16:48:00.
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.
Here Come the Sun - Power to the People
Issued in the blog on March 05, 2019 at 18:01:00.
A new law to force electricity companies to pay small renewable energy generators for their power was debated in Leinster House this week.
It's hard to believe, it doesnt happen already, but small renewable energy generators in Ireland give their electricity to the grid for free if they can't use it all on site immediately.
Kate Ruddock was giving evidence at the Oireachtas Committee meeting along with Paul Kenny from Tipperary Energy Agency, Jim Gannon from SEAI and Michael Manley from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
You can watch the debate online here,
or just Kate's speech here.
"We met Leo Varadkar at Electric Picnic a few years ago.
Friends of the Earth Europe Gatherings
Issued in the blog on March 03, 2019 at 16:22:00.
In February we hosted colleagues & activists from Friends of the Earth Europe and Young Friends of the Earth (YFoE) Europe for ten days of meetings, trainings and networking in Cloughjordan Ecovillage.
We welcomed 30 colleagues from around Europe for the annual Friends of the Earth Fossil Free gathering where shared stories of struggles and success and made plans for the year ahead as we continue to campaign for a fossil free Europe.
Let's hit 20k on our plastic petition!
Issued in the blog on February 19, 2019 at 10:08:00.
We've set the date for our next action to pressure supermarkets to #BreakFreeFromPlastic!
Let's reach 20,000 names on our petition by April 13th, when we will be presenting our petition to supermarkets all across the country.
Repak have argued against #ShopAndDrop saying that supermarkets pay a fee to Repak which pays for the recycling of packaging placed on the market. But the vast majority of plastic we're bringing home is not recyclable - it's going into our general waste bins destined for landfill or incineration.
It's time for supermarkets to ditch excess plastic packaging!
We want supermarkets to;
A once in a generation opportunity to contain climate change: 12 steps to quit fossil fuels
Issued in news on February 05, 2019 at 07:59:00.
Under the Paris Agreement 195 countries have agreed to work to limit global warming to 1.5C. The latest scientific assessment by the UN said this will “require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society”. We have to cut our polluting emissions in half by 2030 and to near zero by 2050, which means Irish emissions have to fall 6-7% year-on-year, every year, from now to 2050. Of course, Irish emissions are rising not falling, and even the Taoiseach has admitted we are a laggard.
Solar Schools Competition 2019
Issued in news on January 16, 2019 at 18:12:00.
The 2018/2019 Solar Schools competition is now closed.
Five winning schools will be announced soon. Watch this space!
The winning schools will get solar panels for their school. They will be able to use free power all day generated directly from their roof, so will really reduce their carbon emissions, and during the weekends and holidays they will be able to sell any power they do not use to our partner 'Community Renewable Energy Supply' (Cres). It's really a win win win for the schools and the climate.
Sadly, not all schools have this opportunity in Ireland. In fact, selling solar power is not an option for most, as there is no requirement for electricity companies to buy solar power generated at small scales.
Carbon tax will only work as part of a 'Green New Deal': 12 steps to a zero carbon future
Issued in news on January 14, 2019 at 20:30:00.
Carbon tax will only work as part of a "Green New Deal"
NGO proposes 12-step programme to quit fossil fuels
Irish Times Times, Ireland Edition Irish Independent RTE: Sean O'Rourke
Friends of the Earth has called on the Government not to increase the carbon tax as a stand-alone policy, but to include it in a comprehensive "Green New Deal" with Government taking the lead on cutting emissions and making less polluting choices affordable and accessible for people. The call comes as Minister Bruton holds a high-level consultative forum on his proposed new all-of-government climate action plan this week, and the special all-party Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action prepares its final report by the end of the month.
Commenting, Friends of the Earth Director, Oisin Coghlan, said:
Beat the VAT increase on coffee. Plus a new series of Eco Eye starts tonight.
Issued in the blog on January 08, 2019 at 06:42:00.
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.
Let’s make 2019 the year we choose a safer, healthier future.
Issued in the blog on January 01, 2019 at 06:20:00.
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.
Minister Bruton's new climate plan 'not yet the revolution he promised'
Issued in news on December 19, 2018 at 16:27:00.
Commenting on the draft National Energy and Climate plan, just published by Minister Bruton, Oisín Coghlan, Director of Friends of the Earth, said:
"Today's draft National Energy and Climate Plan is not yet the 'revolution' Minister Bruton has promised, but I welcome his honesty that this is the case. The Minister has again committed to producing an new all-of-government Climate Action Plan early in 2019 with additional measures to cut pollution in all sectors of the economy and society, and close Ireland's 'emissions gap'.
Friends of the Earth Keep Cup - Reduced Rate This Week!
Issued in the blog on December 11, 2018 at 15:00:00.
Our limited edition Friends of the Earth Keep Cups have been hugely popular since we launched them as part of the Sick of Plastic Campaign this time last year.
To celebrate one year of the campaign we've decided to offer them at a reduced rate for one week only in the lead up to Christmas.
Until now we have been exclusively gifting our Keep Cups to new monthly donors and those who give €100 or more.
But for the next week only, if you donate €50 or more to Friends of the Earth you will receive one of our Keep Cups in time for filling your Christmas stockings!
Why have our reusable cups been so popular?
