The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced awards totalling €10 million to fund vital new environmental research. The largest awards have been made to University College Cork and the National University of Ireland, Galway, for projects looking at: recyclable plastics for packaging; and, pesticide management for better water quality. Other awards include research on:

• mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions through diversification of agriculture in Ireland;
• effects of climate change on sea levels around the coast of Ireland;
• impacts of climate change on health and wellbeing in Ireland;
• impact of traffic emissions on air quality in Dublin;
• radioactivity in the Irish coastal environment; and
• greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions from uncontrolled burning in Irish upland areas.

Commenting on the announcement, Laura Burke, Director General, EPA, said,

“Over 100 proposals were received by the EPA Research Programme under EPA Research Calls in 2019 and we are happy to announce today that the most promising projects are now getting underway. Ireland is experiencing complex and systemic challenges which impact on our environment and, by extension, our health. High quality, policy-relevant research is essential to setting out sustainable and low-carbon transition pathways for our society, our ecosystems, and our economy.  It is also critical to informing good decision making.”

The EPA environmental research programme is a Government of Ireland initiative, funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment. The programme funds research that addresses important knowledge gaps about climate change, water quality, air quality, waste management, the circular economy, biodiversity, radiation and sustainable development and provides the evidence base to support high quality policy development and implementation in these areas.  Collaboration with other State organisations is a key feature of the programme.

Dr Alice Wemaere, EPA Research Manager, said,

“Through the EPA Research Programme, we have leveraged a high level of co-funding from various Departments and Agencies, giving an insight into the integrated nature of the environmental challenges facing us. The co-funding model nurtures an integrated, cross-sectoral approach and provides us with the opportunity to strengthen our collaboration with other organisations in addressing key environmental challenges.
“Co-funding is being provided by the Department of Transport, the Department of Agriculture, the Marine Institute, Met Eireann, the OPW, National Parks & Wildlife, and others. The outputs from these projects will provide an evidence base for credible environmental decision-making into the future and we will ensure that they are widely shared for implementation.”

Bord Bia Bloom festival returns this June bank holiday weekend from 28th May to 1st June in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. With planning well underway, Bord Bia Bloom is calling for budding gardeners from Tipperary to submit entries for the popular Postcard garden category. Postcard gardens offer passionate amateur gardeners, garden clubs, community and GIY groups a chance to showcase their talents to over 115,000 visitors attending the event.

The Postcard gardens are small but perfectly formed 3m x 2m plots which can be used to represent a club, locality, special person or character from your community.  Last year schools, communities, day care centres and resource centres from around Ireland brought themes such as autism, mental-wellbeing, climate change and children’s literature to life through flowers, planting, art and woodwork. Longford Town Guild, Irish Countrywomen’s Association received ‘Best in Show’ for their Postcard Garden ‘Fork to Fork’ which demonstrated how we can turn the tide on unsustainable consumption by using the earth around us to feed ourselves.

Kerrie Gardiner, Bord Bia Bloom Show Garden Manager said, “The Postcard gardens are such a special part of Bloom and are a personal favourite of mine! They offer emerging gardeners and community groups a chance to showcase their talents, while also inspiring other amateur gardeners to get out into nature and experience the joy of gardening”. The Postcard Garden application form can be downloaded from BloominthePark.com and the closing date to apply is Monday, 2^nd March 2020.

Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland’s annual showcase of the best of Ireland’s horticulture and food industry is in its fourteenth year, and will once again feature a range of spectacular show gardens, food features, music, fashion, and entertainment for all the family. With Early Bird tickets on sale until the 28^th of February, buy yours today at www.bloominthepark.com, and remember, children go free!

 Follow Bloom on www.facebook.com/BordBiaBloom and join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram via @BordBiaBloom.

5th February 2020:  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting Dr Artur Runge-Metzger, Director of DG Climate Action of the EU Commission, to speak as part of the EPA Climate Lecture Series on Thursday 6th February.  Dr Runge-Metzger, will speak about the European Green Deal, Europe’s new ambitious growth strategy and give insights into how it will deliver EU Climate Neutrality.

The Green Deal aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. The European Green Deal was the first policy paper of the new von der Leyen Commission adopted in mid-December 2019.

Dr Runge-Metzger said:

“The European Green Deal sets out the first set of around fifty major regulatory and supporting initiatives to be kicked off within the coming two years. They will cover a broad array of EU policies in the fields of climate, energy, industry, mobility, agriculture/forestry, environment, sustainable finance, investments, taxation as well as external relations including trade.

No doubt, this will require a major transformation and modernisation of the European economy and society within the next three decades that leaves nobody behind.”

Laura Burke, EPA Director General commented:

“The goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 is both inspirational and challenging.  It is what science tells us is needed if we are to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and avoid dangerous and irreversible climate impacts.  There are challenges but also opportunities and multiple benefits for Europe and Ireland. Ireland’s response has to be clear and robust yet sensitive to societal issues and concerns ensuring nobody is left behind.

Dr Runge-Metzger, is at the forefront of this policy development and we look forward to hearing his insights on the European Green Deal’”.