Pillar report highlights "illegal and irresponsible" planning

Pillar report highlights “illegal and irresponsible” planning 7th July 2012 – Dublin. Environmental experts have said the development and implementation of the Government Food Harvest 2020 policy would be  “illegal and irresponsible” if it was carried out without a serious look at how it impacts on the long-term well-being of the country. The warning was […]

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Submission on Environmental Analysis of Scenarios Related to Implementation of Recommendations in Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020)

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Download report: Environmental-Pillar-Submission-on-the-Analysis-of-the-Environmental-Impacts-of-FH2020(Posted on July 6, 2012) Summary Food Harvest 2020, as a Government Strategic Policy Document should have been subjected to a screening under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive. This would have inevitably resulted in the need to conduct a number of Appropriate Assessments (AA). During the development of Food Harvest 2020, as […]

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After 14 years of campaigning, the people of Ireland finally have the same environmental human rights as the rest of Europe

After 14 years of campaigning, the final ratification process for the Aarhus Convention has been completed with the deposition of Irish ratification papers at the United Nations in New York yesterday. “The people of Ireland finally have the same environmental human rights as the rest of Europe” said Michael Ewing, speaking on behalf of the […]

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Calls for public awareness campaign following Dáil vote for ratification of environmental human rights convention

There have been calls for the government to raise public awareness of rights granted to Irish citizens following the Dáil vote today to allow ratification of the Aarhus Convention. This international convention upholds the right of every person to have access to information about the environment, the right to participate in decision-making, and the right […]

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Pillar report highlights "illegal and irresponsible" planning

Pillar report highlights “illegal and irresponsible” planning 7th July 2012 – Dublin. Environmental experts have said the development and implementation of the Government Food Harvest 2020 policy would be  “illegal and irresponsible” if it was carried out without a serious look at how it impacts on the long-term well-being of the country. The warning was […]

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Living within Planetary Boundaries – The Safe and Just Space for the People of Europe

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Environmental Pillar Consultation Response to: 7th Environmental Action Programme (7EAP)Consultation Download:Environmental Pillar Submission on the 7EAP  Consultation Response: May 2012 Contents Introduction to The Environmental Pillar – Who are we? 1.      The need for a strong 7th Environmental Action Programme – Stepping back from the Limits of Planetary Boundaries. 2.      Reduction of the EU’s Ecological […]

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Submission to National Climate Policy Development Consultation

Download: Environmental Pillar Climate Submission Contents INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS, RESPONSIBILTY AND CAPABILITY MITIGATION COMMITMENTS GREEN ECONOMY POLICIES AND MEASURES Long-term effectiveness Transition to a low-carbon economy Environmental sustainability Equity Cost-effectiveness Approaches to policies and measures Putting a price on greenhouse gases Subsidies Regulation Information and awareness Incentives Financing LEGISLATION Targets Carbon Budgets National Mitigation Plans Annual […]

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Submission concerning Critical Review of Bord Iascaigh Mhara

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Download:BIM review Submission 10 April 2012 Mr. Nicholas Hoffman Secretary – BIM Critical Review Group c/o Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine National Seafood Centre Clonakilty, Co. Cork nicholas.hoffman@agriculture.gov.ie   10 April 2012 RE: Critical Review of Bord Iascaigh Mhara Dear Mr Hoffman The Environmental Pillar welcomes this opportunity to participate in the critical […]

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Environmental Pillar Submission Our Ocean Wealth

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Download:Environmental Pillar Submission Our Ocean Wealth

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The Access Initiative – National Coalition for Ireland

To An Taoiseach, The Minister for the Environment and the Government of Ireland The Access Initiative – National Coalition for Ireland Further to our letter of 28 February 2012, we, the Environmental Pillar, plus the undersigned environmental organisations, are writing to you as The Access Initiative’s (TAI) national coalition for Ireland.  TAI is the world’s […]

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Rights at Risk at the United Nations

Open Letter to the Secretary General for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), Co-Chairs of the Bureau for Rio+20 and Member-States of the United Nations RIGHTS AT RISK AT THE UNITED NATIONS We – the civil society organizations and social movements who have responded to the call of the United Nations General Assembly […]

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Right to Water Letter

We the undersigned representatives of civil society organizations and social movements, Seeking to protect the United Nations historic recognition of the Human Right to water and Sanitation by the General Assembly and Human Rights Council through resolutions A/Res/64/292  and A/HRC/15/L/14 respectively, Concerned by European Union amendments to the UNCSD Zero Draft text which seeks to […]

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Submission on Property Tax

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Overview of this submission Download:Environmental Pillar Submission Interdepartmental Group on Property Tax 16 thMarch 2012 This document responds to the call for submissions with regard to the implementation of a property tax that is both simple to administer and fair. However the basis for this submission is that the introduction of a Site Value Tax […]

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Consultation Response to the Draft Framework for Sustainable Development for Ireland

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The Environmental Pillar welcomes the publication of this Draft FSDI, and the opportunity to submit a commentary on it. The draft brings together a wide range of important information, referencing some 84 policies, strategies and international agreements and covering most aspects of the three pillars of sustainability; social, environmental and economic. Although the Environmental Pillar […]

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Letter calling for the establishment of a European Whale and Dolphine Sanctuary

 Towards a Pan-European Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary The Environmental Pillar calls upon the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Members States to work together to establish a European Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary throughout European waters.  In this regard the Environmental Pillar calls upon the Irish Government to highlight the 21 year success story that […]

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Three Demands campaign for Rio 2012

To the government of Ireland The Access Initiative – National Coalition for Ireland We, [the Environmental Pillar, plus the undersigned environmental organisations], are writing to you as The Access Initiative’s (TAI) national coalition for Ireland.  TAI is the world’s largest network of civil society organisations and activists working to ensure that people have the right […]

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Coastal Resource Protection and Management Seminar

Seminar organized by the Marine Group of the Environmental Pillar, hosted by the European Parliament offices in Ireland Nov 18th 2011; 9.30 – 4 pm; EP Offices Molesworth Street Dublin   Download: Coastal-Resource-Protection-and-Management-18th-Nov-2011 Contains: Acknowledgements, Seminar programme, Summary, Workgroup outcomes, and List of participants Presentations 1.-Sustainable-inshore-fishery-Ilaria-Vielmini 2.-Razor-clams-Ed-Fahy 3.-NIEA-role-in-MPA-network-Joe-Breen 4.-Climate-change-adaptation-Kevin-Lynch 5.-Seagrass-ID-and-monitoring-Karin-Dubsky 6.-Nessa-Childers-MEP-Speech-EU-Marine-priorities-at-local-level-18-November-2011

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Letter to An Taoiseach regarding proposed incorporation of the Heritage Council with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht

Full text of letter to An Taoiseach Ref: Proposed incorporation of the Heritage Council with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht cc. Minister Phil Hogan, Minister Jimmy Deenihan Dear Taoiseach, The Environmental Pillar, whilst realising the necessity of cost savings across government, is very concerned at proposals to incorporate the Heritage Council into the […]

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Phil Hogan reveals true colours by delaying Climate Bill

The Environmental Pillar expressed disappointment at today’s announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, that a Climate Change Bill is not a priority. This represents a significant backtrack on the Government’s commitment to deliver climate change legislation by 2012. Commenting on behalf of the Pillar today, Tara Connolly, convenor of the Pillar’s Climate […]

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Proposals for the 2012 Budget: A Sustainable Future for Ireland

Download:Prosposals for the budget 2012 Summary The Environmental Pillar, which is a coalition of 27 national environmental NGOs, was established as a National Social Partner by Government in April 2009. In making this submission to Government it recognises that the public are reeling from the shock of the economic and fiscal crises. However it urges […]

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Submission on the Draft Green Public Procurement National Action Plan

There are two fundamental principles that need to be emphasised in developing this action plan in order for it to be both effective and transformative: It should be Sustainable Public Procurement It must involve everyone working in public authorities both in its development and its implementation Sustainable Public Procurement, unlike green procurement, incorporates the three […]

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Hogan’s decision to axe Sustainable Development Council strange and mistaken

Environmental Pillar criticises the abolition of Comhar, the National Sustianable Development Council.  The Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership has expressed disappointment and concern at yesterday’s decision by the minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to abolish Comhar (the National Sustainable Development Council). Commenting on behalf of the Environmental Pillar, Pat Finnegan of Grian, a member of Comhar council […]

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Submission to the Government of Ireland Consultation regarding RIO+20

The Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the development of an understanding of Ireland’s contribution to the Rio +20 Conference on sustainable development. The major outcomes of the Rio Conference in 1992 “The Earth Summit” included the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, and the Sustainable Forest Principles. For the first time […]

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Participatory democracy the story of a trojan horse

  View more presentations from Environmental Pillar Download the Document Participatory Democracy-the-story of a Trojan-horse

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