The year 2022 has been one of both wins and losses when it comes to climate and biodiversity protection across Ireland.
While authorities have made some giant leaps on public transport, protecting seas, retrofitting, the circular economy and renewables - some planning decisions have raised more than a few eyebrows.
We took a look back at the main environmental stories over the past 12 months to see what improvements have been made and where there’s still work to do.
January
A new Hassel report commissioned by the Irish Institutional Property found the 15 minute city concept could improve life in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick and planted a local seed on the idea everything people need to access should be within a 15 minute walk or cycle.
February
A report from the Environment Protection Agency found sickness-inducing E-coli in the drinking water of one in 20 Irish pubs, hotels and schools.
A similar report in December of this year found much more work needs to be done to improve private drinking water supplies, which the Department of Housing says it is working on.
March
An Taisce called for urgent action to protect Ireland’s rivers, lakes, streams, inland waterways and seas from nitrate pollution from slurry and fertilisers, saying Government measures in the Nitrates Action Programme for 2022-2025 don’t go far enough with almost half our rivers and lakes already polluted.
We also learned electricity, petrol, gas and oil prices were about to skyrocket because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Plans to approve seven major new offshore wind farms were launched, with Minister Ryan saying it would help the country ‘put it up to Putin’ if we achieve energy independence.
The launch of our Reach for Zero campaign highlighted how reducing food waste in Irish homes could cut €700 a year off grocery bills ahead of the launch of the new National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap to cut the amount of food thrown away.
We also revealed how Ireland was still the biggest producer of plastic packaging per head in Europe.
April
The country’s first Blueways at the Boyne in Trim Co Meath, Suir Blueway in Tipperary and Lough Derg Blueway which crosses Galway, Tipperary and Galway were announced to attract more visitors to Ireland’s stunning waterways.
VAT on gas and electricity was cut from 13.5% to 9% for six months in bid to reduce customer bills as part of its National Energy Security Framework to secure supply after the Ukraine war.
It was also revealed Fuel Allowance recipients would get an additional €100 to help light and heat their homes while a campaign to help people reduce their energy use was launched.
We also highlighted how half a tonne of unwanted clothes is dumped in landfill across Ireland every minute, according to Oxfam as we continued the Reach for Zero campaign - and how Dublin sea levels were rising faster than predicted.
May
Swimmers were warned about water quality at some Irish beaches ahead of a scorching weekend in the latest Bathing Water in Ireland report while the World Meteorological Organisation warned in its State of the Global Climate report about five extreme weather events in Ireland were related to the escalating climate crisis.
A tiny Mayo school went on to scoop the top prize in a national ‘game changers’ environmental contest and we learned from the latest Walking and Cycling Index from the National Transport Authority report, active travel in Dublin took 330,000 cars off the roads, saving millions in health spending.
June
The Government was slammed over its lack of action on biodiversity as the country’s second ever Biodiversity Conference kicked off at Dublin Castle. It followed news that just six of the promised 31 biodiversity officer posts had been delivered.
UN and EU representatives also addressed the conference.
Head of the Biodiversity of Unit at the EC Directorate General for Environment called on Ireland to address emissions from the peatlands that have been drained for agriculture.
120 new fully electric buses were also announced for Ireland in a game-changing €80 million deal with Co Antrim’s Wrightbus.
New EU proposals were also put forward on halving pesticide use and restoring 20% of Irish land and seas for nature by 2030.
We also revealed the plight of thousands of unweaned calves and older animals exported from Ireland on ships, in what was called a ‘cruel trade’ - the issue is now before the courts.
July
The EPA told how hundreds of septic tanks were risking human health and environment across the country - with over half those they inspected failing regulations.
A Land Rover ad featuring Diarmuid Gavin was banned over ‘greenwashing’ complaints.
Wind Energy Ireland revealed how accelerating renewables could save Irish households €600m, saying existing strategies to roll them out needed to be ‘stepped up’.
The community living in the shadow of Aughinish Alumina took their fight against its expansion to the Dail - the extension was later approved despite environmental concerns.
August
After ongoing debate in summer about agriculture’s calls for a lower than proposed emissions reduction target, the Government reached a deal on sectoral emissions ceilings for most sectors of the Irish economy.
Ireland must reduce its overall greenhouse gas output 51% by 2030 and after months of uncertainty revealed the targets.
Chair of the Climate Advisory Council, Marie Donnelly, said the numbers didn’t add up to the 51% needed - adding “they only get to 43%”.
A decision is yet to be made on reductions through land use but is expected early 2023.
Actor and activist, Mark Ruffalo, threw his weight behind a campaign against plans for a liquified natural gas facility called Shannon LNG over concerns it could see fracked gas shipped to Ireland from the US.
And academics gave the Government a C in its 2022 report card for keeping its own climate and environmental promises - falling from C+ in 2021.
September
Officials launched an investigation after the remains of hundreds of calves were found dead in south-east Limerick and concerns were raised about calf mortality in Ireland.
Irish Doctors for the Environment slammed Bord Bia’s €8m meat and dairy trade mission to Asia, warning Ireland does not have a secure food system and should grow more sustainable plant produce.
63 tonnes of waste were collected along Irish beaches in one weekend by volunteers and experts outlined a range of options to secure Ireland’s energy supply to 2030 which did not include plans for a fixed LNG terminal on the Shannon.
Birdwatch Ireland and RSPB NI revealed 63% of Irish bird species are in “serious trouble” compared to almost 50% globally.
October
It was made illegal to hunt, injure or interfere with threatened basking sharks in Irish waters by Ministers Malcolm Noonan and Charlie McConalogue.
Aughinish Alumina was given €2.1m in public funding to treat a ‘red mud’ dump near the Shannon three years after the European Commission ruled €10m in tax breaks for the firm were “illegal”.
104 Irish parks and community gardens won Green Flag awards in a record year.
New solid fuel regulations intended to improve air quality and people’s health were rolled out, banning the sale of turf, smoky coal and wet wood.
The Government was urged to step up and stop raw sewage entering Irish waterways after the EPA revealed how human activity was threatening water sources in a worsening situation.
November
Irish leaders arrived in Egypt for the international UN climate summit COP27.
Then Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, pledged €10m to other countries ‘suffering’ as a result of climate change. Ireland was praised for its plans to put solar panels on every school in the country and Mary Robinson called for an end to subsidies for fossil fuel firms.
The country’s COP27 team, lead by Minister Eamon Ryan who headed EU negotiations on a loss and damage funding was commended for its role in getting the ‘historic’ deal over the line.
Ireland also committed €2 million to the Least Developed Countries Fund, €2 million to the African Development Bank to help African nations adapt to the climate crisis, €2 million to the Special Climate Change Fund for small island states and $1 million to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
December
Minister Malcolm Noonan attended the COP15 summit on biodiversity protection, where Ireland announced its plan to protect 30% of our oceans for biodiversity. They did not sign up to protect 30% of the country’s land for nature.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland said increased oil, coal and car use are risking Ireland’s climate targets.
The Government announced €15 investment in a cross-border blanket bog recovery project and Ireland ‘put it up to Putin’ in the words of Eamon Ryan as seven major offshore wind farms got the greenlight to apply for planning.
The Government’s new Climate Action plan was also unveiled, with Minister Eamon Ryan saying he could not rule out future congestion charges to reduce car use in cities.
It also included plans to ramp up renewables, introduce a new green electricity tariff by 2025 to incentivise households to use cheaper renewables and phase out and end the use of coal and peat in electricity generation, retrofit 500,000 homes, fit 680,000 renewable energy heat sources and change building regulations to push for ‘nearly zero’ new builds.
A plan to significantly reduce chemical nitrogen as a fertiliser, incentivise and grow organic farming to 450,000 ha, expand biomethane and energy production and improve herd genetics to reduce emissions and improve productivity was also included.
There was no mention of reducing herd numbers or reducing emissions from aviation.
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