Report by Grian
EENGO Bonn SB-28 2008 report-1
The official website for the Bonn sessions can be found at:
http://unfccc.int/meetings/sb28/items/4328.php
Monthly Archive for June, 2008
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The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government is currently developing a new policy on architecture, overseen by a Steering Committee appointed in 2007 by the Minister of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley, T.D. The Steering Committee and various associated groups have been working towards identifying important issues that will be key to a future architecture policy.
They have established a website, www.conversationsaboutarchitecture.ie to assist in participation.
The next step is to hear the views of the public on how architecture should develop in the coming years. The Irish Architecture Foundation is coordinating a series of nation-wide public meetings during May and June. These events are open to everyone to attend and will take the form of facilitated, round-table discussions.
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The 2008 Summer School, /Relationships and Representation: Irish Civil Society at the Crossroads/, 18 and 19 June 2008 at the IMI, Sandyford is booking up fast.
To inform debate and dialogue at the Summer School the Centre initiated the development of a paper that examines issues of relationships and representation for the voluntary and community sector in Ireland today. Please click to read the full document
The Summer School is shaping up to be a challenging and stimulating event. With less than three weeks to go and with limited places available, we encourage you to book now. You will find the Programme and Booking Form on our website (www.cnm.tcd.ie/dialoguesummer%20school.php <http://www.cnm.tcd.ie/dialoguesummer%20school.php>)
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The Irish Wildlife Trust and its Forest School Project has been shortlisted by their local AIB Branch (Terenure) in the last phase of the AIB Better Ireland campaign, whereby the winning group with most votes will receive €10,000
*If you would like to vote for the Forest School Idea, of giving children with special needs an opportunity to enjoy a countryside experience with the Irish Wildlife Trust, please text*
*TERENURE** followed by the letter **C** to **53099*
Texts costs 60c,plus standard network charges. proceeds from each text will go to the irish Wildlife trust should we lose to the text voting.
About the Project
A lot of adults remember their childhood with hours spent in a world of make believe. Â On a piece of parkland picking daisies or climbing trees, or in woods searching for treasure or building dens that could protect you from anything.
It is not the same today…!
Children are not able to experience these adventures at a young age, due to the perceptions of danger; the roads, dangerous debris and the unknown elements of the natural environment. Â As a result, children spend more and more time indoors and venture less out into the parks.
The Irish Wildlife Trust challenges this trend, by hopefully enabling children especially with ‘Special needs’ an opportunity to enjoy the countryside in a safe and supportive environment by providing a unique and innovative learning experience we’re calling ‘Forest schools’
If you would like more information, then please feel free to contact:
Andrew Flemming on 087 32 999 36
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Energy Minister Eamon Ryan T.D., has launched a public consultation process on the options for the development of geothermal energy in Ireland.
*Responses invited by 31 July 2008*
Geothermal energy is energy stored in the form of heat beneath the surface of the solid earth. The usable heat most often takes the form of hot water and steam (up to 370°C). Geothermal energy can be reclaimed in two ways, firstly as electricity, whereby a geothermal power plant uses the steam or heat to drive turbine-generators to produce it, and secondly as heat. Different technologies and applications distinguish each type.
Minister Ryan is inviting interested parties to submit their views on the technical, legal and regulatory issues relevant to the orderly development of a proportionate regulatory regime for geothermal energy utilisation.
Announcing the consultation, Minister Ryan said “Climate change an d the EU commitment to the Kyoto Protocol have made renewable energy and consequently, geothermal energy a high point on the agenda of most European Governments. I believe that if geothermal energy utilisation is to develop to a commercially sustainable level in Ireland, a regulatory and administrative regime needs to be developed.
For this reason, I have convened an informal Working Group who will report to me before the end of the year. I will then consider how to further progress this issue”.
Responses are invited before the close of business on 31st July next and can be posted via an online questionnaire at www.geothermalconsultation.ie. Alternatively comments can be emailed, posted or faxed to:
Geothermal Consultation,
Exploration and Mining Division,
Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources,
Beggar’s Bush,
Haddington Road,
Dublin 4.
E-mail: geothermalconsultation@dcenr.gov.ie
Tel: (01)6782513
Lo-Call:1890449900Fax: ( 01) 6609627
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Sustainable Transport submission
Executive summary
This document was compiled by a coalition of environment NGOs working under the auspices of the Environment (Ecological) NGOS Core Funding Secretariat.[1]
The concept of transport as a discrete area of policy making is past. No more can new transport be framed or formed in isolation: since 24 January 2008 Ireland is under an EU obligation to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020. This 20% reduction will become legally binding by the end of the 2008. Subject to international agreements, there is likely to be provision for upward revision up to a 30% cut.
This requirement relates to what is known as the non-traded sector. The non-traded sector is composed of Ireland’s emissions less the 116 installations that are covered by the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme. Transport and agriculture make up close to 70% of the non-traded sector. Even assuming agricultural emissions are cut in excess of 20%, transport emissions will still have to be cut by in or around 15% over a 12-year period. This requires a radical and rapid turnaround in a country in which emissions from transport have being rising at 5 – 7% in recent years. Continue reading ‘Vision 2020 Transport proposal’
