April 9th, 2018 Take a glimpse into the not-so-distant future of 2050. Electric vehicles have taken over the busy roads of the city and all the buildings have been installed with solar panels. Surprisingly, not a single scrap of litter can be seen on the …
Opinion: Ireland’s failing forestry policy spoils International Day of Forests
March 21st, 2018 Today marks International Day of Forests to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. While we are supposed to use this day to celebrate the benefits that forests and trees can bring, it is difficult not to …
Opinion: The Disaster (Environmental) Artist – Donald J. Trump
February 15th, 2018 It goes without saying that Donald Trump is notorious for his controversial statements. This is also true for his record on environmental issues. For example, he recently claimed – of course, contrary to all scientific evidence – that sea ice is at …
COP23: Prof John Sweeney’s Reflections on Bonn Pt 2
November 17th, 2017 The middle of the second week at COP is when the big names arrive. Prior to this it is the officials who have been spending long days and night poring over the negotiations, hoping to present their political masters with the groundwork …
COP23: Prof John Sweeney’s Reflections on Bonn Pt1
November 16th, 2017 The COP meetings happen in different continents each year to enable countries to minimise their travel distances and also to expose delegates to the particular needs and circumstances of countries as they seek to combat the effects of adverse climate change. This …
Education for Sustainable Development should be expanded nationally
November 7th, 2017 NGOs, educational institutions, trade unions, government and civil society groups share existing best practice in education for sustainable development Alarm bells are blaring. Each week the decibel level rises. Our ears should be ringing as we hurtle headlong into a state of …
Things are starting to heat up for climate deniers and laggards
November 7th, 2017 The first two weeks in November may well prove to be important for global and Irish efforts to tackle climate change. On the international stage, we saw the publication of the US Global Change Research Program Climate Science Special Report and widespread …
Got Toys? Meet the Ingenious App that is every parents dream
November 2nd, 2017 With a three-year-old daughter at home, it is fair to say that toys have gradually taken over my life during the past 36 months. And after yet another agonising experience with a Lego brick wedged to the bottom of the foot, I …
Opinion: The Pine Marten deserves every ounce of protection it gets
October 18th, 2017 There’s always someone looking to persecute the poor pine marten. The latest assault on Ireland’s rarest mammal came from Athlone Councillor Tom Farrell who has called for pine martens to be taken off the protected species list so that their population can …
The Tiny House: A Solution for Ireland’s Housing Crisis?
October 18th, 2017 Is tiny the next big thing? Well, it may be in Kildare after a motion passed at yesterday’s Naas municipal district meeting calling on the Government to permit a tiny house pilot project in Naas. The district will now write to the …