Caroline O&#x27;Doherty

irishtimes.comClimate disasters will force 1bn people to move from their homes by 2050, new report saysOxfam research shows wealthiest contribute most to climate change but escape its consequences

A "brutal unfairness". Jim Clarken of @oxfamireland.bsky.social on the outsize carbon footprint of the rich and the climate catastrophes they can afford to hide from www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comSixty years of fighting hunger yielded results but another food crisis loomsNutrition quality rather than calories is now key to food security but conflict and climate change make the task harder

In Science & Climate in @irishtimes.com, there's a science to feeding the world and it's agricultural and political. Tom Arnold & Cary Fowler analyse what needs to happen..... www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

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irishtimes.comThis one scientific advance could help reduce energy use and bills. The key is the human heartSmall science can beat Big Tech at finding solutions to the real problems facing the planet

.....while @shaunacorr.bsky.social salutes the scientists keeping it simple - looking for practical solutions to sustainability challenges while Big Tech complicates everything.... www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

irishtimes.comArtificial intelligence can’t replace the benefits of nature intelligenceAs AI changes what and how we learn, real world learning will grow in value

.....and @ybuckley.bsky.social hails the importance of fieldwork and the real life knowledge it offers www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

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irishtimes.comThe Irish Times view on food security: time is short to avert a crisisDisruptions to the supply of grain, fertiliser and energy threaten to take a heavy toll

irishtimes.comIreland urges greater efforts to save nature at global biodiversity summitCop17 in Armenia taking place against backdrop of ‘vast decline in nature’ on global scale

'Not just an environmental problem' A brief insight into what's happening at the Cop17 Global Biodiversity summit in Yerevan from Jane Stout of @tcddublin.bsky.social @fintankelly.bsky.social & Minister Christopher O'Sullivan www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comIreland still relies on fossil fuel for almost 80% of energy as demand risesIncreasing flights, traffic and data centre expansion complicating efforts to switch from carbon-polluting fuels

Ending Ireland's dependence on gas and oil is proving painfully slow www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.com‘Sobering’: Carbon emissions from oil, gas and coal continue to riseReport from UN Environment Programme shows emissions growth has slowed but a turnaround is yet to be achieved

World has notional emissions cuts planned to 2030. @unep.org says to have any hope of reining in temperature rise we have to triple those notions. And then deploy carbon removal technologies that don't actually exist. It's beginning to sound a lot like fantasy www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.com‘Grand Canyon-esque’: Atlas of the unseen brings Ireland’s deep sea wonders into the lightProject pieced together maps of the country’s extensive seabed at depths of up to 5km

"It's a wonderful world down there." The work of @marineinst.bsky.social @ucc.ie @geolsurvie.bsky.social makes visible Ireland's underwater canyons, (extinct) volcanoes & ice age remnants www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

irishtimes.comScientists decipher charred ancient scrolls buried by VesuviusNon-destructive scanning of fragile scrolls will provide further breakthroughs in our knowledge of the classical world

...also in Science & Climate in @irishtimes.com, @thatsmaths.bsky.social tells how technology is unravelling the mystery of texts charred by Vesuvius - without physically unrolling the super fragile scrolls... www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

irishtimes.com‘Big tech’s lapdog’: how can Ireland break free from the sector’s malign influence?Resisting data centre sprawl can be a key step in ending the outsize influence of tech firms

....and @jenniecstephens.bsky.social looks at why Ireland was termed "Big Tech's Lapdog" and how corporate capture risks greater environmental harms www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comMet Éireann in scramble to save amateur weather watchers’ network from shutdownAbout 150 private weather stations nationwide feed into the Wow platform, which the UK will soon close

Amateur weather watchers with private stations fill the gaps in official Met Éireann network. Now their platform wow.met.ie is being shut down www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

irishtimes.comBusinesses and producers urged to take stand against staggering level of Irish food wasteGovernment-backed declaration calls for sharing instead of dumping surplus food

Ireland will push for global Declaration on Surplus Food Sharing and Distribution at #Cop31 (and among producers and businesses at home). Inspired by work of @foodcloud.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...

irishtimes.comIndustry greenhouse gas emissions forecast to rise, says climate councilFactory emissions

Delays in producing renewable gas and supporting low-carbon cement as well as expected growth in activity are among the reasons Ireland's industrial emissions are forecast by @ccacireland.bsky.social to rise www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comA Pacific island ‘will be swallowed’ by the sea within decades. Is Ireland paying attention?Ireland and Tuvalu are joining forces in an attempt to hold back the tide of apathy as sea levels rise

In Science & Climate in @irishtimes.com: The UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise, the 2nd Transition Away From Fossil Fuels Conference and the work ahead for Ireland & Tuvalu...... www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comThe Government won’t raise carbon tax again but promises to decarbonise the economy – how?Climate change and energy experts have their say on the reasons for the budget U-turn – and whether they will work

Right policy, wrong time? Views vary on what impact the weakening of carbon tax in the Budget will have on Ireland's overall decarbonisation strategy www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

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irishtimes.comRegulator says ‘forever chemical’ found in Irish cereals should be classified as toxicDepartment of Health disputes validity of tests but waits for directions from European Union

irishtimes.com‘Irish Government is clearly not listening’: Nature groups criticise lack of budget funding for restorationBudget allocates just €6m extra to NPWS despite experts saying €700m needed annually for nature restoration

Minister says a dedicated Nature Restoration Fund is on the way after Budget finds little spare cash for the sector www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2...

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irishtimes.comMinister backs Bord Bia chair after business found using non-Irish meat for second time this yearThe food promotion board got €60.7m in this week’s budget

irishtimes.comCarbon tax U-turn calls Government’s climate commitments into questionEnvironmental groups despair as Budget 2027 sees polluter-pays principle reversed

Had a look at the Budget changes to the carbon tax & reaction to it www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2...

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irishtimes.comFuel excise cuts extended to February as carbon tax is slashed to ease home heating costsBudget 2027 energy measures: Cuts in excise duty on petrol and diesel, due to end this month, are now being extended until the end of February

irishtimes.comCutting fuel taxation in the budget does nothing to cure the diseaseHouseholds need help to break free from home heating oil for good

There may be tweaks to reduce the cost of home heating oil in tomorrow's Budget but @hannahdaly.ie says the only true solution for people's pockets and for climate is to help households ditch the fuel for good - Science & Climate in @irishtimes.com....... www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comDoes Ireland have the will to undo the disaster of plantation forestry?Plans to remove commercial plantation around native forest have stalled for years

......also @whittledaway.bsky.social visits Derryclare in Co Galway where ancient oaks have battled to survive amid commercial sitka plantations and a long-promised, long-delayed nature restoration plan still awaits delivery www.irishtimes.com/environment/....

irishtimes.comHeatwaves, drought and then a tornado: France fraught over extreme weather stressRare supercell twister that ripped through a quiet village exposed common vulnerabilities

.....and @kosull.bsky.social sees the aftermath of a tornado in rural southern France where communities grappling with climate change were already hit by one of their toughest summers to date www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comDoctor AI will see you now – but you may want a second opinionAI promises gains for healthcare but doctors and patients need to keep asking questions

In Science & Climate in @irishtimes.com medics talk to @claireoconnell.bsky.social about where AI is and is not helpful in healthcare...... www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

irishtimes.comIf we don’t listen to the science on climate change, can we at least hear its victims?The stories of people whose lives, livelihoods and cultures have been destroyed should resonate clearly with Ireland’s famine past

.....while @shaunacorr.bsky.social stresses the value of recording and hearing the stories of the victims of climate change.... www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comNature is our most critical infrastructure but it is being positioned as a hindranceGovernment should not only reserve legal designation for fast-tracking built projects but should extend it to nature too

....and @ybuckley.bsky.social asks why so much law and supports surround constructed critical infrastructure when nature is the most critical of all www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comEuropean Commission to put Ireland’s poor climate action record under scrutinyClimate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra says emission reduction targets must be taken very seriously

'Fixing' Ireland's under-performance on climate - EU climate commissioner doesn't accept Ireland can't meet its 2030 emissions cuts target @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu also challenges China, Gulf states & US to stop slacking on climate action & climate finance www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comFlood protection delays leave homes at ‘increased risk’ from extreme weatherClimate Change Advisory Council ‘extremely concerned’ by delays in planned schemes

"Ireland's climate adaptation planning does not match the scale and urgency of increasing climate risks" @ccacireland.bsky.social says delays in flood defences, coastal protection, funding, water security & all-round preparedness leave homes & businesses at risk www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comIs Ireland ready for a monster El Nino? Expect ugly potatoes, transport chaos and widespread disruptionClimate scientists warn the impending super-strong El Niño will have ripple effects worldwide and have implications for more than just the national weather

El Nino means inconvenience for some, life and death struggles for others. Thanks to @icarus-maynooth.bsky.social @concernworldwide.bsky.social Met Éireann and others for insights www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

irishtimes.comIreland and Tuvalu to co-host international climate conference next JulySecond conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels will take place on a Pacific island nation

A little later than expected but Ireland and Tuvalu are to cohost an international climate conference - the 2nd transition away from fossil fuels conference - in the Pacific next July with a preconference in Ireland in the spring www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comIrish summers likely to feature ‘extreme evaporation’ due to climate change, say scientistsEven in wetter summers, drought set to be a perennial problem

More drought - even when there's rain - latest analysis from @wasitusie.bsky.social @icarus-maynooth.bsky.social warns of difficult summers to come www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comEnergy firms seek planning changes to allow onshore wind farms to run indefinitelyLimiting the operation of turbines to 20 to 25 years makes no sense, wind energy companies say

22 Sept

Wind Energy Ireland have published a list of actions they say need Government support to keep wind-generated electricity growing www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comWhen will Ireland finally achieve full fossil fuel phase-out?Transition is under way but the task lacks the timeline and tough decisions to complete the job

Ireland stayed within its first carbon budget & there are some encouraging trends on fossil fuel use so why don't the figures add up to climate action success? Analysis from Brian Ó Gallachóir of @ucc.ie in Science & Climate @irishtimes.com...... www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comIt takes collective climate action to fight climate destructionWorking together on petitions, campaigns and taking a united stance is the way individual effort can have real impact

......also @jenniecstephens.bsky.social examines the role of collective public action in driving lawmakers to act for climate..... www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comWhat have the Irish ever done for maths? On counting it all up - quite a lot, actuallyAnnals of Irish Mathematics and Mathematicians records 5,000 notables who are Irish, worked in Ireland or had Irish doctoral advisers

...... and @thatsmaths.bsky.social looks at how Ireland has made its mark on mathematics worldwide www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

irishtimes.comIrish scientists lay 3D-printed reefs in pioneering bid to restore deep-sea coralArtificial reef project aims to speed up recovery process after decades of damage by commercial fishing ships

"An oasis in the deep sea" Heartening coral restoration project co-led by team from @uniofgalway.bsky.social - although it's sad we let it get to this state in the first place www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comRural home heating oil conundrum – high costs and lack of an alternative from GovernmentKerosene-dependent households need more creative thinking from leaders to ‘level the playing field between the on-grid and the off-grid consumer’

20 Sept

The Government says it will do "something" in next month's Budget for those hit by the soaring price of home-heating oil but what will it do longer-term to free them from oil-dependence? www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comData centre opposed by author Sally Rooney has planning overturned on climate concernsUS firm had chosen Mayo because of electricity constraints around Dublin

17 Sept

US data centre firm wanting to build in north Mayo has planning permission overturned for failing to show it can use renewable energy and being likely to increase carbon emissions www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.comWhite Planet: how a space mission profoundly changed a veteran polar explorer’s view of EarthAfter decades exploring Earth’s frozen frontiers, Eric Philips became one of the first people to see both poles from space

What happens when a polar explorer takes to space? @irishspacegal.bsky.social writes in Science & Climate in @irishtimes.com about one man's extraordinary adventure..... www.irishtimes.com/science/spac...

irishtimes.comSocial media algorithms carefully designed to reward reckless youthful behaviourA video of someone driving at 190km/h on the wrong side of a motorway in the early hours will escalate engagement

....while Stuart Mathieson explains how social media algorithms work - and why the Chinese are careful not to allow their own children use sites they export to the rest of the world...... www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

irishtimes.com‘What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic’Michelle McCrystall is an assistant professor at Maynooth University’s Department of Physics

....and @claireoconnell.bsky.social meets a @maynoothuniversity.ie academic researching extreme weather impacts www.irishtimes.com/science/2026...

irishtimes.comFive Opposition parties unite on climate action, seeking ban on LNG importsSinn Féin, SocDems, Labour, Greens and PBP join 40 campaign groups in calling for Climate Action Plan

Rare alliance backs @stopclimatechaos.bsky.social demands for a ban on LNG imports, a moratorium on data centres, reversal of public transport fare hikes and for climate to be put top of the Government agenda www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

irishtimes.com‘The only people on the streets are here to oppose him’: Thousands protest Trump visitBreakaway group burns US flag before setting off firecrackers and chanting against US troops in Shannon

13 Sept

"A grotesque pantomime" Some strong words and sentiments among the people at the Dublin protest against Trump's visit ‘The only people on the streets are here to oppose him’: Thousands protest Trump visit www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

irishtimes.comHeat from Poolbeg incinerator to be piped under Dodder to homes in Dublin’s DocklandsDublin City Council said it hopes to begin work next year and have properties connected by 2028

12 Sept

It's been a very long time coming but the Dublin city district heating scheme is moving a step closer www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

irishtimes.comKnowledge of heat pumps low and ‘hassle factor’ high, ESRI study showsResearchers say retrofit targets will not be met and there may be a role for alternative fuels

11 Sept

Studies from @esri.ie highlight challenges ahead for decarbonising home heating www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

irishtimes.comElectricity firms seek change in pricing model to promote switch away from gasLevies and network charges on electric bills ‘deterring consumers’ from green choices such as heat pumps

10 Sept

The Ireland Electrified group say a 'spark gap' means a unit of electricity costs three times more than a unit of gas www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

irishtimes.comIrish farming is unprepared for impact of climate change, says advisory councilExtreme weather events being treated as ‘isolated incidents’ rather than fundamental change, says Climate Change Advisory Council

9 Sept

"We cannot keep treating every prolonged wet period or drought as an isolated crisis" @ccacireland.bsky.social criticises Dept of Agriculture failures in cutting farm emissions & helping farmers adapt to climate change www.irishtimes.com/environment/...