Poor air quality contributes to 3,400 premature deaths and costs Ireland up to €6.3 billion a year, according to An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland. “The figures forEuropeas a whole are frightening,” says James Nix, Policy Director with An Taisce. “420,000 premature deaths and up to €790 billion in economic costs due to poor … Read more
Trinity College Dublin has been awarded the prestigious ‘Green Flag’ for the quality of its environment, as part of An Taisce’s Green-Campus programme. The international award is the result of many years of work by students and staff to make the campus better environmentally managed and more sustainable. Green-Campus is similar to the highly successful … Read more
Planning approval has been granted for the £4.5million OASIS (Omagh Accessible Shared Inclusive Space) project that will transform Omagh town centre. The European Unions Peace 111 funded project will open up a part of Omagh that was previously segregated and inaccessible. An interlinked walk and cycle trail will revitalise a large neutral space in to … Read more
Dublin City Council has announced details of a visionary new project for the city centre – the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter. The development will involve the construction of a new and innovative Dublin City Library on the site of Colaiste Mhuire onParnell Square. The new CityLibrary and the existing spectacular Hugh Lane Gallerywill be connected … Read more
A 5p shopping bag levy has been introduced in Northern Ireland. From 8 April retailers and businesses in must charge at least 5 pence for each new single use carrier bag they supply to customers. The levy not only applies to plastic bags but also covers single use bags made from other natural materials. At … Read more
The Welsh Government has launched Natural Resources Wales, a new organisation that takes over the functions of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission Wales. It is one of the first public bodies in the world that will consider social, environmental and economic benefits in the way it manages natural resources … Read more
The European Commission has launched the second call for proposals under the NER300 programme. This major funding programme promotes the commercial demonstration of environmentally safe carbon capture and geological storage (CCS) and innovative renewable energy (RES) technologies. It is a key instrument to combat climate change and spur green growth and jobs in the energy … Read more
Clare County Council has welcomed the announcement by An Bord Pleanala of its decision to approve the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and R494 Improvement Scheme. The estimated cost of the project is Eur40 million. The scheme will lead to a reduction in traffic volumes through Killaloe/Ballina resulting in improvements to the local environment. The … Read more
The EPA has published a new research report that shows there has been a dramatic loss of water bodies in pristine condition due to relatively low intensity activities such as field drainage and one-off housing, as well as pollution. This new research, funded by the EPA and undertaken by a project team led by Bernadette … Read more
Plans to clean up the scrapping of old ships and ensure the materials are recycled in EU-approved facilities worldwide have been revised by the Environment Committee. MEPs propose that the scheme be funded by a recycling levy, in line with the “polluter pays” principle. Owners of EU ships would also face penalties if they sold … Read more