Full coverage: Climate change

The publication of the Climate Action Plan and the mixed reaction to COP26 at the end of last year set the scene for an acceleration of climate policy. This two-part series explores the joined-up approach required to harness the power of business in this effort.

Current energy and transport plans show lessons from the hundreds of millions of euros wasted on peat-fired power stations have not been learned. Existing rules provide for the scrutiny needed to avoid this, but government departments simply ignore them.

From the global politics of climate change to the reality of Europe’s geography, Eddie O’Connor is convinced that his new business enabling long-distance electricity transport will play a crucial part in the transition to renewable energy. But he is scathing about Ireland’s ability to support such innovation.

In a special podcast following COP26 and the publication of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, four of The Currency’s writers focused on climate change discuss the vast distance left to cover between official discourse and reality – and its implications for the role of the state.

Humanity’s latest experience of climate change was the Little Ice Age in the 17th century, which resulted in widespread upheaval and loss of life – but also led to the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, with lessons on the role of the state.

As the food group continues its strong recovery, it is selling its historic dairy business back to farmers, distancing itself from controversial expansion in the industry – and providing a price benchmark for a stalled similar plan at Kerry Group.

The latest Climate Action Plan falls short of the Government's own targets, showing that ministers continue to dither on making hard decisions. By default, a growing share of steeper efforts will fall on electricity generation – and there, at least, some action is happening.

It might not be immediately obvious but there is a strong link between the Glasgow climate conference and the Central Bank's mortgage rules. It is time to include energy efficiency and commuting factors into the real cost of a mortgaged property – not to mention their value to wider society.

The Climate Change Advisory Council has laid out what is feasible to cut Ireland’s greenhouse gas emission by half in ten years. It boils down to balancing disruption between the power, transport and heat used by every home and business or the agri-food sector supporting entire rural communities.

German governments do what voters have elected them to do, under the watchful eye of the Bundestag. This previously led to austerity-laced EU bailouts. This time, Germany’s big election issue was the environment.