Environmental Pillar

🌿 Irish civil society are at COP17 with our largest ever delegation. At a time when multilateralism, science & nature restoration are under pressure, civil society presence matters more than ever ‘Taking Action for Nature’ requires progress on funding, rights-based conservation & perverse subsidies

Every additional fraction of a degree & additional year of warming above 1.5 degree increases climate impacts & risks, such as the deadly floods, heatwaves & wildfires that have plagued many nations this year. We need fast, deep & sustained emissions reductions www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Today is the deadline Help send the message that we can't allow polluters to dictate law. Many EU leaders are bending to pressures to weaken our vital health and environmental protections. Clean air, clean water and healthy ecosystems can't be compromised. www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

Take action to save Europe’s environmental laws. The #HandsOffNature petition closes today, 20 October. Be a voice for nature. Sign the petition www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

Last 24 hours: Add your voice to Hands OFF Nature before the petition closes! More than 1 million Europeans have already signed, sending a clear message: my health and nature are not up for sale. Sign the petition now: www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

More than one million people have said #HandsOFFNature. Join them in demanding that our European leaders defend the laws that protect people and nature. It will take you one minute to say 'My health and nature are not up for sale’. Sign the petition www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

As the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Bill 2026 goes to Committee Stage, the Environmental Pillar says that robust and comprehensive SLAPP legislation is necessary to protect activists, campaigners & media www.environmentalpillar.ie/robust-and-c...

Behind the EU’s ‘simplification’ agenda, crucial environmental safeguards are being quietly dismantled. Join nearly one million people who have said #HandsOffNature. Sign now the petition now. Don't let polluters speak for you. Give nature a voice! www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

In 2019 the Dáil declared a “climate and biodiversity emergency”. In the 2027 Budget there is very little sign that this emergency, now surely much more evident than ever, is being addressed.The Irish Times view on Ireland’s climate policy: rhetoric sounding hollow www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...

Environmental law is being unravelled at EU level & nature needs your voice! We demand that our European leaders defend the laws that protect people & nature, not bow to polluters & vested interests. Speak up for nature – sign the Hands Off Nature petition www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

No extra funding for nature, carbon tax U-turn – the Government is clearly walking away from its climate, nature & energy security commitments in Budget 2027. Great to see coverage of our reaction to Budget 2027

@fintankelly.bsky.social nails when it comes to how this budget failed nature and wildlife in terms of funding, while money can always be found for other sectors

We demand that our European leaders defend the laws that protect people and nature, not bow to polluters and vested interests #HandsOffNature

Stop Climate Chaos & Environmental Pillar wrote to Minister O’Brien ahead of the Informal Meeting of EU energy ministers setting out priorities for energy affordability, energy efficiency & renewables & energy security by cutting dependence on fossil fuels www.environmentalpillar.ie/app/uploads/...

Protect our health, water & biodiversity from pesticides! Policymakers, scientists, civil society & key stakeholders will discuss how EU legislation can best safeguard health, water quality & biodiversity at a public conference in Europe House, Dublin on Oct 6 www.pan-europe.info/events/confe...

@envpillar.bsky.social met with Minister Jack Chambers to outline our pre-Budget asks - investment in nature restoration, funding a fair transition from fossil fuels, investment in renewables & retrofit schemes, support for public & active transport & sustainable funding for civil society groups

We’re calling for a Budget that matches Ireland’s climate and nature commitments. Budget 2027 is an opportunity to invest in measures that protect people & ecosystems, restore nature, provide warm homes, deliver clean energy & enable sustainable transport www.environmentalpillar.ie/budget-2027-...

Today is the 2nd anniversary of the Nature Restoration Law coming into effect 🎂 As fires & drought cause havoc across Europe the necessity for Nature Restoration is clear. We need to see an ambitious Nature Restoration Plan from government including dedicated funding & action on public lands.

Thank you Katie Mellett at the Irish Times for getting in touch and setting the record straight. @fairseas.ie @irishenvnet.bsky.social @envpillar.bsky.social

In our submission on Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan, we highlighted the need for ambitious nature restoration on public lands, including lands owned by the Defence Forces such as Curragh Camp, Glen of Imaal, Kilbride Camp and Finner Camp.

Ireland has ambitious targets under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation to re-establish native woodlands. To support this national effort we've mapped key native woodlands with potential for ambitious restoration using public lands Read more: www.environmentalpillar.ie/app/uploads/...

Public land must lead the way in Nature Restoration 🦡 Restore Nature: Native Woodlands project - identifies where public lands can support the expansion of Ireland’s most important remnant woodlands. All that's needed is vision and political will 🌱🌳 www.environmentalpillar.ie/app/uploads/...

Ireland has ambitious targets under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation to re-establish native woodlands 🌱 From Killarney to Glendalough, Glengarriff to the Avoca Valley we have mapped key native woodlands with potential for ambitious restoration using public lands 🌳 Red more: l1nq.com/21qjl5y

Ireland could be a trailblazer in introducing a national-level Universal Basic Income, according to a new publication Universal Income and Wellbeing Economy produced for the Environmental Pillar’s Circular and Wellbeing Economy Hub by Feasta & Equal Right www.environmentalpillar.ie/ireland-coul...

Marine Protected Area legislation to safeguard our seas is long overdue and the publication of the Heads of the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill is very welcome news. But it's just the start - now we need to see robust legislation enacted to restore ocean health

We have submitted our recommendations for Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan — over 300 actions calling for real political leadership, proper funding, and transparent delivery to restore farmland, rivers, coasts, forests and towns for nature and communities. files.constantcontact.com/4a14a939001/...

Members of the Environmental Pillar joined colleagues from Sustainable Water Network at the Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs to discuss the key challenges in relation to water quality throughout the country and the root causes of pollution, as well as outlining potential solutions

With your help we ensured that the Nature Restoration Law was adopted. Now help us ensure we secure an ambitious plan to #RestoreNature. Be a voice for nature - make a submission to the public consultation on the Nature Restoration Plan www.environmentalpillar.ie/have-your-sa...

Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan is a generational opportunity to restore nature at scale, and you have a chance to influence it by emailing a submission to the public consultation. 📩 We've joined up with @envpillar.bsky.social to identify 9 key priorities to help 👇 swanireland.ie/take-action/...

Make difference for Ireland’s nature! The public are being asked for their views on Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan, which is a generational opportunity to restore nature at scale. Find out how you can be a voice for nature: www.environmentalpillar.ie/have-your-sa...

Ireland must accelerate investment in reliable public transport and EV infrastructure to reduce emissions and exposure to fossil fuel shocks, says Climate Change Advisory Council www.climatecouncil.ie/news/press-r...

"Water quality will not improve unless nutrient pollution is reduced. Right now, there is no clear sign of long‑term reductions in nutrient levels, making it unlikely that we will see meaningful improvements in water quality anytime soon." www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Ireland should invest in nature, retrofitting and food and energy security to mitigate against current and future shocks, the Environmental Pillar will tell the Government at the National Economic Dialogue www.environmentalpillar.ie/prudent-inve...

Environmental Pillar calls on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment to challenge European Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall on the Commission’s ‘simplification agenda’ and its overall deregulation direction. www.environmentalpillar.ie/environmenta...

During Ireland's Presidency of the EU, the Govt will be leading member states’ work on a Circular Economy Act to reduce & prevent waste. But 2 in 3 people don’t think the Govt is doing enough on waste at home to show leadership on the issue at EU level. Full poll results here: bit.ly/EP050626

Ireland Thinks asked people how big a difference EU policy can make to issues. Environmental issues came out strongly with 68% saying it makes quite a difference or very big difference to protecting nature & water quality, 61% saying the same for reducing climate & air pollution bit.ly/EP050626

More than three quarters of people say the introduction of a new EU-wide windfall tax on the excess profits of energy companies should be a priority for Ireland’s EU Presidency. 7 in 10 people say reducing our dependence on fossil fuel energy should be a priority. Full poll results: bit.ly/EP050626

To mark World Environment Day, we asked Ireland Thinks to measure public opinion on the EU’s role in environmental protection. 8 in 10 Irish people think the Govt should use its upcoming Presidency of the EU to strengthen or uphold EU environmental protections. Only 1 in 8 people want them weakened.

Public want the Government to use Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the EU to uphold or strengthen environmental protection, reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels & tax the extra profits oil companies are making because of the US-Israeli assault on Iran www.environmentalpillar.ie/public-want-...

The political will to properly regulate this damaging sector clearly doesn’t exist within Ireland, so we are very grateful to the European Commission for stepping in - Ireland referred to Court on peat cutting www.environmentalpillar.ie/environmenta... (Photo: Irish Peatland Conservation Council)

Share your views on Ireland’s draft National Nature Restoration Plan. Your feedback will help shape the next version of the plan. The closing date for submissions is Tuesday, 30 June 2026. www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

The European Commission is proposing to weaken pesticide rules. Weaker pesticide regulations put our future at risk. Instead, we need real protection of health, water & environment. This is your chance to speak up. Write your message to decision-makers www.environmentalpillar.ie/for-health-b...

New Government rules imposing an as–yet undisclosed cap on recoverable legal costs in successful environmental judicial reviews will be catastrophic for environmental and climate protection www.environmentalpillar.ie/new-rules-on...

New rules by the Government to impose an as–yet undisclosed cap on the legal costs that applicants who win their judicial reviews relating to the environment can recover is very concerning and represents a really serious blow to public accountability and the quality of environmental decision-making.

Great to be at the launch of the Independent Advisory Committee report on nature restoration. And many thanks to our colleague @fintankelly.bsky.social for his contribution to the report. Investing money now in nature will save multiples in the future and benefit all

Today’s launch of the IAC recommendations underlines that nature restoration is a common cause uniting all of Irish society, writes @fintankelly.bsky.social. The government must now match the leadership shown by farmers, fishers, NGOs, and communities nationwide. greennews.ie/united-for-n...

Nature restoration is a common cause uniting all of Irish society. Environmental Pillar welcomes IAC recommendations and urges Government to fund the plan www.environmentalpillar.ie/nature-resto...

Simplification of EU environmental regulations will harm society and the environment - Environmental Pillar tells European Commission Director General Eric Mamer that strong regulation & better implementation is needed to deal with climate & nature crises www.environmentalpillar.ie/simplificati...

An Ireland Thinks poll has found 56% of Irish people think the “Government is not doing enough fast enough to cut Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels”, compared with just 21% who think the Government is doing “too much, too fast” www.environmentalpillar.ie/majority-of-...

400,000 voices and counting, and growing louder every day! Sign the petition and help us say #HandsOffNature. Polluters are pushing to weaken the laws that protect our air, water, and wildlife behind closed doors. Speak up📝 Sign the petition: handsoffnature.eu Photo: Barry Z Levine