I’ve spent months looking into GWP* - a way of measuring methane that has been labelled an 'accounting trick' by some and a fairer way to assess methane by others

This Q&A gets into all the science and spats about GWP* and the current situation in places like NZ and Ireland 🐮

buff.ly/vmZWYtQ

Local Property Tax likely to increase next year Local Property Tax is likely to increase next year for the majority of homeowners.

Local Property Tax is likely to increase next year for the majority of homeowners

Kerry town that banned disposable coffee cups sees project falter amid Government U-turn Two projects in Dublin, inspired by Killarney Coffee Cup Project, now in doubt

Award-winning Killarney Coffee Cup project was set up to get in ahead of the latte levy - but the latte levy isn't coming @voiceireland.bsky.social & Irish Business Against Litter express concern
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

Is it good economics to pay €10 million for an NFL match? Thousands of American tourists have come to Dublin this weekend to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers challenge the Minnesota Vikings in Croke Park.

Thousands of American tourists have come to Dublin this weekend to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Minnesota Vikings in Croke Park. The Government has approved an allocation of up to €9.95m (excluding VAT) to the NFL in order for the game to take place

Should restaurant sector VAT rate be reduced in Budget? When Budget 2026 is announced on 7 October, it will be the first time the current government will have an opportunity to show the people where its priorities lie when money is on the line.

According to estimates from the Department of Finance's Tax Strategy Group, a VAT reduction for food and catering businesses from 13.5% to 9% represents a loss in tax revenue of €675 million. In other words, 45% of that tax cut scope will go to the food and catering sector
www.rte.ie/news/2025/09...

Is it safe to swim outside of bathing season? Bathing season ends tomorrow, meaning for many designated swimming spots around the Irish coast, no testing on water quality will be done until 1 June 2026.

Bathing season ends tomorrow, meaning for many designated swimming spots around the Irish coast, no testing on water quality will be done until next summer www.rte.ie/news/2025/09...

‘It’s dying in front of our eyes’: how the UK’s largest lake became an ecological disaster Signs tout a natural paradise, but pollution from over-farming has left Northern Ireland’s Lough Neagh choked by toxic algae

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Toxins found in flesh of Lough Neagh fish for first time since blue-green algae struck The Food Standards Agency says fish and eels from the beset lake "remain safe to eat"

Blue-green algae linked toxins found in flesh of fish from Lough Neagh for the first time 👇
#pollution #health
open.substack.com/pub/theearth...

Concerns over AI chatbot use by children Eithne Dodd, Reporter, on the use of AI chatbots among school chidren.

School age children are using AI chatbots for homework, information and company
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Crunching the numbers of running for president What are the costs associated with a presidential run?

"Ultimately it's always going to be won or lost on TV."

www.rte.ie/news/preside...

Call for 30km/h speed limit in urban areas

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

YouTube video by Hank Green I am Scared for Ireland...

youtube.com/watch?v=pThc...

How Ireland’s ‘Mediocre’ Milk Powder Made it Big in West Africa In a packed function room in Lagos, Nigeria, the jaunty sounds of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Sir Duke’ start to play. Then, as a giant sparkler and confetti cannon erupt, a curtain slowly parts to reveal a spin...

🔴 NEW: How Ireland’s ‘Mediocre’ Milk Powder Made it Big in West Africa

📝 @brigitte-whl.bsky.social @phoebecooke.bsky.social @shaunacorr.bsky.social with Beloved John @premiumtimesng.bsky.social 👇

www.desmog.com/2025/07/14/i...

EPA identifies 115 risks to Ireland from climate change Disruption and damage to Ireland's energy system and built environment from extreme wind events are among 115 risks the country faces due to climate change, according to the EPA.

Disruption and damage to Ireland's energy system and built environment from extreme wind events are among 115 risks the country faces due to climate change, according to the EPA

Abuse victims retraumatised by family law system - report The Irish family law system causes "secondary victimisation" and "increased vulnerability" to both child and adult survivors of domestic abuse and violence, according to new research.

The Irish family law system causes "secondary victimisation" and "increased vulnerability" to both child and adult survivors of domestic abuse and violence, according to new research.

Plans 'reactivated' for Co Kerry liquefied gas facility Shannon LNG Ltd has "reactivated" its €650 million plans for a Shannon Technology and Energy Park to An Bord Pleanála, in what is the latest twist in a two-decade attempt to build a liquefied natural ...

Shannon LNG Ltd has "reactivated" its €650 million plans for a Shannon Technology and Energy Park to An Bord Pleanála, in what is the latest twist in a two-decade attempt to build a liquefied natural gas facility in Co Kerry.

Calls for Tiktok accountability over 'SkinnyTok' trend RTE's Eithne Dodd reports on the depiction of extreme diets on the controversial Tiktok hashtag 'Skinnytok'.

“It's primarily girls that talk about the impact of this trend, particularly on their self-esteem and the pressure to achieve this perfect, very skinny body, and the messages that they're receiving from influencers”
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Green Goals, Dirty Fuel: Europe’s Fertiliser Industry Bets on Shale This article is part of a cross-border investigation series supported by Journalismfund Europe The coastal city of Freeport, Texas is a dense tangle of metal pipes, tanks and towers. Located 60 miles ...

🔴 NEW 🔴

Green Goals, Dirty Fuel: Europe’s Fertiliser Industry Bets on Shale

📝 Agathe Bounfour & @clarecarlile.bsky.social 👇

www.desmog.com/2025/05/28/g...

Why did US deportees' flight to South Sudan stop at Shannon? Journalist Gillian Brockell first reported that the plane carrying a group of migrants from the United States to South Sudan had landed in Shannon Airport in Ireland. Gillian speaks to Áine Lawlor. R...

The plane carrying a group of migrants from the United States to South Sudan had landed in Shannon Airport in Ireland. Journalist Gillan Brockell called the Gardaí to tell them it was landing in Shannon Airport
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Opposition TDs take issue with Government's badger-culling programme Pádraic Fogarty, ecologist and TJ Maher, Chair of the IFA's Animal Health Committee, debate the need to cull wild badgers as part of efforts to prevent the spread of TB in cattle.

Opposition TDs take issue with Government's badger-culling programme
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Children's Ombudsman dismayed by child homelessness rise The Children's Ombudsman has said he is "exasperated and utterly dismayed" with the rise in child homelessness.

The Children's Ombudsman has said he is "exasperated and utterly dismayed" with the rise in child homelessness.

Plan to control species of turtles awarded funding Hundreds of turtles have been dumped into Ireland's waterways over the past 20 years, after people who buy them for cuteness often later abandon them due to their size and care requirements.

A plan to control invasive North American freshwater turtles has been awarded funding via the Local Biodiversity Action Fund.

Over 80% of badgers culled in government TB programme found to be free from the disease More than 8,000 badgers destroyed by DAFM in a nation-wide crackdown to eradicate bovine tuberculosis were found to be infection free following post-mortems.

So after quite a few weeks investigating Ireland’s culling of badgers to control TB, I found data that shows that a staggering 80% of the protected species killed by the Department of Agriculture were TB free. jrnl.ie/6709659

Call for whole-of-society move away from fast fashion A whole societal effort will be required to move away from fast fashion trends and the high consumption of textiles, a reuse and recycling charity has said.

A whole societal effort will be required to move away from fast fashion trends and the high consumption of textiles, a reuse and recycling charity has said

The free-living honeybee is surviving in Ireland Professor Grace McCormack, project coordinator of the Free-B research project, explains the importance of studying the colonies of the endangered free-living honeybees needs.

The importance of studying the thriving colonies of the endangered free-living honeybees needs

www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Wexford lagoon facing 'ecological disaster', say experts An 'ecological disaster' is unfolding at one of Ireland's largest lagoons, according to experts, with algae blocking out light leading to plants and animals dying.

An 'ecological disaster' is unfolding at one of Ireland's largest lagoons, according to experts, with algae blocking out light leading to plants and animals dying.

Shannon LNG power plant project stalled by legal challenge Planning permission for a power plant that Shannon LNG wants to build has been put on hold after a legal challenge.

Friends of the Irish Environment are taking judicial review proceedings against An Bord Pleanála's granting of planning permission to Shannon LNG
www.independent.ie/irish-news/s...

Real-world geoengineering experiments revealed by UK agency Trials will test ways to block sunlight and slow climate crisis that threatens to trigger catastrophic tipping points

Real-world geoengineering experiments revealed by UK agency @aria-research.bsky.social

- Trials will test ways to block sunlight and slow the climate crisis, which is threatening to trigger catastrophic tipping points

#climatecrisis
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

'Cocoa boys' flock to Nigerian farmlands, drawn by high prices Growing up in Nigeria's cocoa farming area of Ikom in the southeast, Anyoghe Akwa did not see much of a future, so instead he decided to move away, study civil engineering and carve out a career in the construction industry.

'Cocoa boys' flock to Nigerian farmlands, drawn by high prices reut.rs/3Yz3e1z

Galway guide stops tour to rescue beached whale calf A tour guide operator interrupted an outing for his guests to help rescue a beached whale calf in Galway yesterday.

"It was an eventful day," he said. "We didn't expect it along the tour."
www.rte.ie/news/regiona...