Climate

The Irish and UK governments have signed two memorandums of understanding aimed at increasing co-operation for developing offshore renewable energy, exploring further electricity interconnection opportunities and enhancing security of gas supplies. The first memorandum on Cooperation in the Energy T

A judicial review claiming that Ireland is set to fall short of its legally-binding climate targets has been launched by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) with support from Community Law & Mediation's Centre for Environmental Justice. The environmental group claims that the government has f

Rugby World Cup organisers have threatened legal action against Greenpeace over a new video narrated by Irish comedian Seán Burke which takes aim at fossil fuel sponsorship of major sporting events. The campaign group today released the short video, which highlights the sponsorship of the 202

The Government's slow pace in applying climate policy has been criticised by an independent watchdog in light of the 'existential threat' posed by climate change, The Irish Times reports. The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) warned that unless urgent action is taken and emissions drastically r

An initiative designed to help law firms respond meaningfully to the climate crisis has launched in the UK ahead of London Climate Action Week. Legal Charter 1.5, which has been developed by a group of law firms, consists of a set of core principles that signatories commit to in order to reduce gree

The Northern Ireland office of corporate law firm A&L Goodbody (ALG) has teamed up with RenewableNI to mark Earth Day 2023. Taking place annually on 22 April, Earth Day is widely recognised as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year, as a day

The Law Society of England and Wales has assured law firms that they can refuse to advise clients whose activities conflict with scientifically-supported climate change targets. In "milestone" guidance published yesterday, the Law Society encourages solicitors to "adopt a proportionate approach to c

Northern Ireland's Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a consultation on developing future regulations that will place climate change reporting duties on specified public bodies. These regulations are required to be made under the Climate Change Act (Northe

More than 120 lawyers, including Northern Ireland human rights lawyer Declan Owens, have signed a "declaration of conscience" pledging opposition to fossil fuel projects and support for climate protesters. The declaration, co-ordinated by Lawyers Are Responsible (LAR), calls on "our government and o

A bursary established in memory of the late Arthur Cox partner Niamh Burke will be awarded this year to Sean Murphy from Cavan and Karin Mackey from Mullinahone, Co Tipperary. The Niamh Burke Memorial Bursary fosters and supports study and research in the field of renewable energy. It annually award

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has announced a new partnership with Eco-Schools NI, an environmental education programme for schools across Northern Ireland. Under the new partnership, NIHRC will offer a limited number of workshops to post-primary schools that explore the inter

International law firm Clark Hill LLP has announced the establishment of an offshore wind practice group in Dublin. Aidan Eames, a consultant in the firm since its merger with Eames Solicitors just over a year ago, is leading the new group, which will serve clients investing in the rapidly growing I

Human rights law academic Dr Aoife Daly has been granted nearly €2 million to analyse how young climate activists are claiming and asserting their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Dr Daly, a law lecturer at University College Cork (UCC) specialising in children's right

A suite of green lease clauses for use in commercial leases in Ireland has been published by The Chancery Lane Project (TCLP). Law firms Arthur Cox, ByrneWallace and Mason Hayes & Curran spearheaded the development of the clauses along with other members of TCLP's Irish property working group.

New legislation has been developed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine to strengthen the government's ability to respond to a curtailment of oil supplies. Ministers have approved the publication of the Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2022, w