An Taisce

‘Worst not over’ warns Met Éireann as Storm Chandra floods homes and businesses in Wexford, Dublin and Wicklow Met Éireann says risks ‘persist for the rest of the week’ amid more rainfall and slow drainage

Late last year the government designated 466 rivers as 'highly modified', meaning they will continue to be dredged for the purposes of agriculture, ensuring towns and villages face greater flood risk

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/34/climate-environment-and-energy/

Open call for submissions on Gov's Heads of bill for the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve - closes Fri 30th Jan 2026

This is the State's development not the commercial #SLNG facility

www.oireachtas.ie/en/committee...

Heads here: tinyurl.com/3b36rkcd

#Climate #ClimateJustice #EULaw #Energy #Gas

Weakening of pesticide protection standards is unlawful - Legal opinion criticises draft EU legislation The European Commission's planned abolition of pesticide protection standards is unlawful. This is shown by a legal opinion published today. The legal opinion, commissioned by the Aurelia Foundation, ...

The @ec.europa.eu's planned abolition of #pesticide protection standards is unlawful. This is shown by a legal opinion published today.
www.pan-europe.info/press-releas...

Calling all young writers and poets! 🌊 🏄 ⚓

National Marine Creative Writing Competition is now open for entries! The theme this year is “A message from the waves”.

The deadline for entries is Friday, 27th Feb 2026.

➡️https://greenschoolsireland.org/marine-writing-26/

@deptcee.bsky.social

UN Treaty Protecting the High Seas Enteres into Force | FairSeas 'Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction' (BBNJ) Treaty enters into force, marking a significant step forward in global ocean governance.

Thanks to huge effort on the part of campaigners and international governmental cooperation, the biggest part of the ocean just got its biggest win ever!

fairseas.ie/2026/01/26/u...

#FairSeas

The climate change bill is skyrocketing — but with bold adaptation now, Europe can protect lives, strengthen economies and become climate resilient.

Worsening climate impacts could cut EU GDP by 7% by end of the century. But Member States are responding, introducing national adaptation policies ...

⏰ Accepting applications until 18:00 today!
⤵️
Details + application instructions: iwt.ie/nature-advoc...
@irishenvnet.bsky.social @envpillar.bsky.social

This February discover events, consultations, environmental reports and useful resources in our newsletter. Subscribe now to get updates straight to your inbox on the 1st of each month. Sign up here: lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/2WG0qeJ

Energy lies at the core of a double challenge: leaving no one behind and protecting the Planet

The connection between clean energy, socio-economic development, and environmental sustainability is crucial in addressing issues faced by vulnerable communities worldwide.

#InternationalDayOfCleanEnergy

'Rise and Shine'- more hope, less doom! 🌼 💌 🌏🌞

Read about how the EU microplastic ban regulation is driving industries to develop biodegradable alternatives to eliminate microplastic particles by 2035, here: happyeconews.com/eu-microplas...

#PositiveNews #ClimateWins #ClimateAction #Sustainability

🔌☀️ On this #InternationalDayOfCleanEnergy, a reminder: #CleanEnergy must be fair energy.

Across Europe, many households still face energy poverty — not only because of rising temperatures or inefficient buildings, but due to deeper social and structural factors.

Our insights show that: (continues)

📢 CAO deadline is just over a week away

A reminder that UCC is launching a new BSc in Sustainability this September. It's designed for students who want to dedicate their education and career to shaping how we respond to the great sustainability challenges we face

More info: www.ucc.ie/en/ck010/

In meeting no.1 of 2026, at the last minute, the Commission flooded expert group with Big Meat & Dairy interests, mislabelled as “experts”.

This underhand move badly erodes trust.

Civil society engaged in good faith. Democracy, science & the public interest must come first❗

Full press release ⬇️

Worth a look: stark new UK Govt report shows how global ecosystem degradation and collapse threatens their national security and prosperity.

Critical ecosystems are now at risk of collapsing.

This report comes as a critical warning to us all.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...

High Court action against legal fees cap expected Minister for Environment wants to cap State legal payments to €65,805

1400 submissions on the JR costs cap & the majority appear to be questioning the legal validity of this.

But instead of, you know, actually listening to the public, instead the Gov is said to be 'bracing for a legal challenge'. How about they just don't do it?!

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/co...

Plan to slash legal costs in environmental cases is against EU law, say lawyers Plan to slash legal fees payable in environmental cases is ‘contrary to EU law and Constitution’

"The [Law] [S]ociety said a “sustained political campaign” in the lead up to the proposed scales had faulted the justice system for delays in housing and infrastructure delivery, but no evidence was provided to support that."

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Great webinar from GLOBE Ireland is for anyone interested in rainfall, flooding and how it affects us — suitable for both primary and secondary school students.

Speakers: Prof Mary Bourke TCD, Andrea Portier, a scientist with NASA GPM mission & Matt Roberts, a hydrometeorologist with MET Éireann

The Clean Coasts Grants scheme 2026 is now open for applications to all groups that have been registered for at least 6 months.

Groups should have received an email with all the info needed to apply.

Questions?
Just email cleancoasts@eeu.antaisce.org for more information!

#CleanCoasts

This #WorldWetlandsDay, join us & @cleancoasts.bsky.social for a webinar on 'Winter Bird Migration' with Alena Kunkel from @breedingwaderseip.bsky.social.

Learn about some of the birds who spend winter in Ireland, their journey & importance of conserving their homes.

➡️https://tinyurl.com/3cmhwaev

Decline in number and quality of saltmarshes in Ireland Saltmarshes are in decline all over the world, including in Ireland, which is seeing the size of its wetlands decreasing as well as a significant decline in the quality of the ecosystems.

Fantastic work done by amazing groups safeguarding these habitats, interviewed are incredible An Taisce volunteer Rebecca Jeffares on Booterstown Nature Reserve Dublin & in Cork, Jim Wilson on Harper's Island Wetlands. Clean Coasts is a proud supporter of their projects.

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

The Irish Times view on Ireland’s climate targets: backsliding must end Plans are being made, but they are manifestly inadequate to meeting the State’s targets

Irish Times view on Ireland's climate targets:

'Plans are being made, but they are manifestly inadequate to meeting the State's target of halving. greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and they are also running later and later.'

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...
@irishtimes.com

Thanks so much to @cosaingalway.bsky.social for sharing this!

From RTÉ News in 1985:
An Taisce publishes a major survey of medieval Galway, which was the most comprehensive survey of medieval Galway ever undertaken. Emer Colleran organised the survey as Environmental Officer of Galway An Taisce

Booterstown Bird Sanctuary Booterstown Bird Sanctuary

Astonishingly, in 1989 a motorway was planned to be built through Booterstown Bird Sanctuary in Dublin, held in trust by An Taisce.

This RTÉ clip from the time shows An Taisce's John O'Sullivan and playwright Frank McGuinness defend vital importance of the sanctuary.

www.rte.ie/archives/col...

Delaying the 2026 Climate Action Plan is deeply concerning. Efforts are already way off-track & the CAP is the main tool for closing the delivery gap this decade. Saying we must wait for post-2030 carbon budgets is conceptually backwards - delay now makes future targets harder and more expensive.

🌊 2026 is the year we defend water 🌊

The Water Framework Directive is the EU's law to protect our rivers, drinking water and health. But corporate industry interests (Big Agriculture, Mining, Chemicals) are trying to kill it.

Time to resist, stand up, and defend the Water. Framework. Directive 💧✊

poster showing headshots of experts speaking at the webinar and QR Code to register. Background is blue with a picture of the earth from space and clouds.

Join us on Tuesday, January 20th at 11am UTC for this years Expert Webinar! We will be joined by scientists from NASA, MET Eireann and @tcddublin.bsky.social. You can register here: eeu-antaisce-org.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

#citizenscience #climateresilience #rainfall&flooding #theGLOBEProgram

Game-changing international marine protection treaty comes into force | United Nations 16 January 2026 - Officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the legally binding UN treaty covers the ocean zones that lie beyond national ...

The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, a legally binding UN treaty covering ocean zones that lie beyond national waters is now in effect.

It is the first legally binding ocean instrument to provide for inclusive ocean governance

www.un.org/en/desa/game...

A sincere thank you to all who were able to add their voice in response to the latest attack on our collective access to justice, along with phenomenal support from our wonderful members, volunteers, colleagues, allies, & fellow eNGOs on this critical issue.

www.antaisce.org/submission-f...

The registrations for An Taisce National Spring Clean #SpringClean26 are now open.

Join Ireland's biggest anti-litter initiative and make a difference!

Just click the link to get involved:

🔗 nationalspringclean.org/register-now/

#nationalspringclean
#volunteersmakeadifference

Still possible to do a very short email before 5.30pm deadline. Please let your voice be heard.

Submissions can be sent by email to aarhus@dcee.gov.ie