Sea Ice Loss is Weakening Ocean’s Ability to Mop Up Atmospheric Carbon

New research suggests that melting sea ice is weakening the Arctic Ocean’s ability to capture and store atmospheric carbon. The study, carried out at the Catlin Arctic Survey’s Ice Base in March and April 2010 by a team at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, focuses on the efficiency of an important biological ‘pump’ … Read more

World’s First Energy Management Systems Standard for UCC

University College Cork (UCC) has become the first third level institution worldwide to be recommended for ISO 50001 Standard (Energy Management Systems). ISO 50001 is an international standard that enables organisations to establish the systems and processes necessary to improve energy performance, including energy efficiency, use, and consumption. UCC was the first third level institution … Read more

NIRIG Policy Workshop

The Northern Ireland Renewable Industry Group (NIRIG) is pleased to be holding a Northern Ireland Policy Event on Thursday 26th January, 2012 in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast. NIRIG represents the collective voices of IWEA and Renewable UK in Northern Ireland. The workshop will consider the actions required by industry, government and others to deliver the … Read more

Contrasting the concerns over climate and ozone loss

On November 7, ozone and climate scientists met in Washington, D.C., to discuss whether the history of stratospheric ozone protection offered a useful case study about how to catalyze global action on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Their simple answer: No. Ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons — or CFCs — represented a special case. Such swift global … Read more

EPA reports decrease in Ireland's greenhouse gases in 2010

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 0.69 million tonnes (1.1%) in 2010 to 61.64 million tonnes. Greenhouse gas emissions decreased in the Transport and Waste sectors and increased in other sectors: Agriculture, Energy, Industry & Commercial, and Residential. Greenhouse gas emissions from the Transport sector are 10.1% lower in 2010, reflecting the continued economic downturn … Read more

EU Wind Power Makes Step to a 30% EU Emissions Cut Possible

European wind power production will meet a massive 31% of the emissions reduction required by the current EU climate target. According to a new report by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) by 2020, the EU wind industry will avoid 342 million tonnes of CO2, equivalent to 31% of the EU’s target of reducing emissions … Read more

Ireland powers ahead with electric car infrastructure

A local authority and one of Ireland’s biggest power firms is installing more electric car charging points as part of the Government’s drive to get 10% of vehicles electrified by 2020. ESB ecars and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have officially launched an electric car charge point near the council’s offices on Marine Road in Dún … Read more

National Climate Policy Review

The Government has released the promised review of National Climate Policy. On foot of the policy set out in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-12, Ireland is on course to meet its binding commitment for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol in the compliance period 2008-12. However, beyond 2012, Ireland has clear and challenging greenhouse … Read more

Greenhouse Gas Emission Allowances For the Aviation Sector

The EPA has published the allocation of Greenhouse gas emission allowances for the aviation sector under Irish administration as part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The EU is in the process of extending Emissions Trading to international aviation. From January 1st 2012 flights landing or departing from airports within the territories of the EU … Read more