Full coverage: Environment

Dublin's proposed ban on the demolition of large buildings is intended to reduce carbon emissions. It will increase carbon emissions, increase housing costs, lengthen commutes and reduce walkability.

Farmers and politicians are flocking to this week’s Ploughing in an atmosphere of distrust after the nitrates derogation was repealed. The missed opportunity to turn excess farm waste into biogas illustrates poor joined-up thinking in national policy.

I am going to park the soft talk, guilt and greenwashing and get on with it. I’ll see precisely what can be done by a small company to make a positive environmental impact, and I’ll be back here in six months to tell you how we got on. The truth, without any green varnish.

Tonnes of CO₂ and percentage changes in greenhouse gas emissions don’t make much sense in themselves – until you visualise them against the available carbon budgets set in Irish law.

As EU ministers including Ireland’s adopted the proposed Nature Restoration Law last week, speakers at Alltech’s Dublin conference promoted technology instead of restrictions to achieve environmental goals in agriculture. This debate is far from over.

Aisling Ryan leads Ryans Cleaning, a family-owned business that cleans up after concerts, race meetings and major events. The Tipperary businesswoman talks about sustainability, expanding internationally, and the nature of family businesses.

Tax and Brexit used to be at the top of the diplomatic agenda between Ireland and The Netherlands. Ambassador Adriaan Palm says environmental issues now take up most of his time, with Dutch companies targeting the new Irish offshore wind market.

Entrepreneur Pat Alley has spent three years fighting on multiple fronts. Yet his enthusiasm for Trifol, a potentially game-changing business that turns end-of-life plastic into wax, remains undimmed.

Having raised €5m to date, the Dublin-based environmental data analytics start-up is about to add flood defence monitoring to its existing products monitoring the presence of contaminants in a range of situations. Its founder Stephen McNulty is on this week’s podcast.

As the government continues to throw hundreds of millions at fuel and electricity bills, piecemeal measures become increasingly unfair and inefficient. Targeting and environmental nudging would get more bang for the same buck.