thomas The EPA report, ‘Science and Sustainability’, has been launched. The report outlines how EPA-funded research has provided significant support for environmental policy and decision making at national and international levels. The EPA provides funding to scientists, engineers and innovators working on research across a range of thematic areas. This research is closely tied to Ireland’s … Read more
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley TD is to initiate a review of how planning laws and policy are being implemented by a number of local authorities around the country. Minister Gormley is to use powers granted to him under planning legislation to undertake the review, which will involve the … Read more
The Lamborghini Murcielago, a vehicle that over the course of a year emits an amount of CO2 equivalent to felling a football pitch-sized forest of trees, has been named the Least Green Car of the Year 2010 by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA). The Lamborghini emits exactly five times more CO2 per kilometre than the … Read more
The European Union’s greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory report, compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA), shows that emissions have not only continued their downward trend in 2008, but have also picked up pace. The EU-27’s emissions stood 11.3% below their 1990 levels, while EU-15 achieved a reduction of 6.9% compared to Kyoto base-year levels. “The … Read more
A new research report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the geology of West Clare is unsuitable for long term carbon storage, a key technology in the fight against climate change. The study, An Assessment of the Potential for Geological Storage of CO2 in the vicinity of Moneypoint, Co. Clare, was funded under … Read more
John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has officially opened his Department’s new office on the Newtown Road in Wexford. There are now almost 200 staff working in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government’s Wexford office, with more due to arrive in the coming months. The impact of … Read more
The five star Dromoland Castle in Newmarket-On-Fergus in County Clare, first built in the 16th Century, is on course to be one of Ireland’s first carbon neutral hotels. Part of the exclusive Dromoland Collection portolio of hotels, Dromoland Castle last year embarked on a pioneering ‘2011 Carbon Neutrality Project’ which is being overseen and managed … Read more
The European Commission has sent a first warning to twelve Member States for failing to submit their plans for managing Europe’s river basins, as required by EU water legislation. The Member States involved are: Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain. The river basin plans are the cornerstone of the Water … Read more
NTR, the Irish and international renewable energy group, is selling its UK-based sustainable waste management business, Greenstar UK, to Montagu Private Equity and Global Infrastructure Partners, the controlling shareholders of British waste management company Biffa, for a gross consideration of £135m (Eur162m). The Greenstar business will be merged with Biffa to create the UK’s biggest … Read more
Over 130 water services contacts with a value of Eur1 billion are currently in progress, while a further 340 projects worth Eur1.8 billion will commence construction in the next three years. The Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, the Government’s three-year plan for improving Ireland’s water and wastewater infrastructure in order to comply with EU regulations, … Read more