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Irish Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Minister goes 'f**king mental' at summit over lack of planning since Storm Eowyn
'Fiery' talks with communications stakeholders ended abruptly after Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan walked out over a lack of planning since Storm Eowyn. Sources at the summit, co-chaired by Mr O'Donovan and Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary, said he left the building after giving the groups a dressing down. Storm Eowyn hit on January 24 and 768,000 houses, farms and businesses were cut off from the power supply, while 200,000 had no water. Telecommunications were also impacted, with 281,100 fixed service users (10%) and 1.8 million mobile service users (30%) affected at its peak. On May 21, a meeting was held at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications headquarters on Haddington Road in Dublin. It was attended by Mr O'Donovan, Mr Calleary, and Department of Housing officials. Several groups, including the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the Telecommunications Industry Ireland of Ibec, and ESB Networks, presented. According to the agenda seen by the Irish Mirror, each had 10 minutes to present on resilience, preparedness and emergency planning. Sources said following their talks that Mr O'Donovan was angry as he felt what they had presented 'wasn't good enough' and 'nothing had happened' since Storm Eowyn. An insider said: 'He told them it was unacceptable. It isn't the Himalayas, it's west Cork. 'He told them they hadn't seemed to have learned anything and if this had happened in Dublin, it would have been a very different response.' Several sources described Mr Calleary as attempting to be 'diplomatic', with some saying he also expressed frustration with the groups. One source said the 'fiery meeting' was 'adjourned abruptly'. It added: 'It was very testy because the ministers wanted to know what had been done since the storm and there wasn't really much by way of an update. Both ministers were fairly annoyed and weren't taking any prisoners.' Another source added: 'It has been 16 weeks. He went f**king mental.'
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Millions Across 3 States Told to Close Windows, Limit Outside Activity
Millions of residents in Texas, Minnesota, and Michigan are under air quality alerts this weekend as authorities warn of unhealthy levels of ozone and fine particle pollution. The alerts come as wildfires are burning across Canada, creating harmful conditions and affecting air quality. Smoke and airborne pollutants can be especially hazardous for individuals with respiratory conditions. So far this year, wildfires have scorched over 1.58 million acres in Canada—roughly 40 percent above the 10-year average for this time of year, CNN reported. The air quality issues affecting these three states stem from a combination of factors. In Texas, high temperatures and stagnant atmospheric conditions have created an environment conducive to ozone buildup. In Minnesota and Michigan, strong northerly winds are carrying smoke from the Canadian wildfires, impacting air quality across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Residents in affected areas are advised to check air quality forecasts, limit outdoor activities, avoid exercising outside during peak pollution hours, and use air conditioning systems to keep indoor air clean. Health officials warn that these alerts may extend into the following week if weather conditions persist. In Minnesota, the entire state is under an Air Quality Alert issued by the state's Pollution Control Agency. It remains in effect until 6 p.m. on Monday, June 2. Smoke from massive wildfires burning in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada, has been pushed south by northerly winds, blanketing Minnesota in a dense haze. The Air Quality Index is expected to reach the orange and red categories, indicating unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups and the general population in northern parts of the state. The heaviest concentrations of smoke are predicted for Saturday afternoon, with temporary clearing overnight before more smoke returns on Sunday and Monday. Health officials advise residents, particularly children, seniors, and those with asthma or heart disease, to stay indoors, limit exertion, and avoid opening windows. Running air conditioners with high-efficiency filters is also recommended to help reduce indoor pollution. In Michigan, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared an Air Quality Advisory that will remain in effect through 6 a.m. Saturday. The advisory covers a wide area stretching from Grand Rapids and Lansing to Detroit and the Upper Peninsula. Fine particulate levels from wildfire smoke have reached the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, prompting warnings to limit strenuous outdoor activity and keep windows closed. Health officials in Michigan are urging residents to watch for symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing, especially among vulnerable populations like children, older adults, and those with heart or lung conditions. Residents are also encouraged to use air conditioning systems equipped with MERV-13 or higher-rated filters to help maintain cleaner indoor air. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued Ozone Action Days for the El Paso area, the Dallas-Fort Worth region, and the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area. These alerts run from 6 a.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday for El Paso and Dallas-Fort Worth, and throughout Saturday for the Houston area. Cities such as Downtown El Paso, West El Paso, Upper Valley, Socorro, and Fort Bliss are affected. Residents are urged to reduce activities that produce ozone, such as unnecessary vehicle trips, idling, and outdoor burning. High ozone levels are especially dangerous for children, older adults, and those with existing respiratory or heart conditions, potentially causing throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said, in an advisory shared with Newsweek: "Most of the time, the smoke will be high-flying and dim the sun, leading to vivid sunrises and sunsets and causing a hazy appearance to the sky overhead. "However, there will be episodes where the smoke can reach the lower levels of the atmosphere and affect visibility and air quality. That could be a safety concern for travel in extreme cases and pose health problems for some individuals with respiratory issues." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday: "I am in close contact with [Saskatchewan] @PremierScottMoe as his province responds to the growing wildfire situation. My government stands ready to mobilize federal support wherever needed. "Saskatchewan, as you fight these wildfires and keep people safe, you have our full support." Residents can stay updated through the National Weather Service and the EPA's AirNow websites, as well as through local state agency websites. Related Articles People in 2 States Told to Monitor Themselves for CoughsChildren Warned to Limit Physical Activity in Two StatesSome People in Florida Advised To Stay Inside Amid Warning of Saharan DustTens of Thousands In Minneapolis Told To Stay Indoors on Memorial Day 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
How wildfires in Canada are creating health hazards in the Midwest
Dozens of wildfires in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have spread out of control this week, displacing residents and causing smoke that has made its way into the American Midwest. Wildfire season in Canada typically runs from March to October, and fire activity in western Canada usually has an uptick in May, according to The New York Times. The season is already off to a grim start after a wildfire in Manitoba killed two people and forced the evacuation of an entire town earlier in May. Canada's fire season is earlier than Utah's, which is typically from July to October. The smoke from the fires has been dragged by a cold front into states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. A cold front has pushed the smoke from the Canadian fires across the border into Minnesota's northern region and tribal nations, according to The New York Times. This has generated a reading of red on the air quality index, used by states to track particle pollution. A red reading means it is unhealthy for many people in the general public. Air quality alerts have also been issued across the entire state of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, according to The Weather Channel. The smoke that is blowing into these areas is near-surface smoke, which can be unhealthy to breathe since it is at lower levels. Meteorologists in Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said that the levels of fine particulate in the air would be elevated in the state into Saturday. Those in sensitive groups who may be more susceptible to smoke were advised to take precautions, including adjusting outdoor activity, The New York Times reported. These groups include those with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, pregnant people and outdoor workers. As the fires burn in Canada's prairies in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the two neighboring provinces have declared states of emergency. The premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, issued the emergency order on Thursday, following Wab Kinew of Manitoba who did the same on Wednesday, per The New York Times. Across northern Saskatchewan, a rural region housing several Indigenous reserves, 15 communities have been evacuated. The emergency orders will last for at least 30 days, enabling public safety officials to mobilize resources quickly and get help from other provinces. Firefighting crews from British Columbia and Nova Scotia are already at work in Saskatchewan. Around 17,000 residents of Manitoba are under evacuation orders as fires burn in the north and east areas of the province, per The New York Times. Throughout the weekend, the greatest concentrations of smoke will be in the Midwest and northern Plains; as winds continue to blow, lesser concentrations will move into the South and East. Weather patterns will change Monday into Tuesday, turning winds out of the South and central U.S. ahead of a cold front from the West. Wildfire seasons across the country, including Utah's, are increasing in length, per Axios. These increases are straining fire departments and other organizations that control and contain wildfires. Between 1973 and 2024, the number of 'fire weather' days along most of the Wasatch Front rose by 12 to 15 days, according to an analysis from Climate Central. In western Utah, fire weather days have increased by 34. A 'fire weather day' is defined as 'one with temperatures of at least 45°-55°F (depending on the season), relative humidity within 5% of regional thresholds, and sustained wind speeds of 15mph or more — all happening together during at least two hourly measurements on a given day," according to Axios.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Year-long smog guns made compulsory for Delhi's commercial high-rises: Minister Sirsa
New Delhi: In a first, Delhi has become the first city-state to mandate the use of anti-smog guns round the year on all commercial high-rise buildings, including malls, hotels and office complexes, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Friday. He added that the Department of Environment has issued a directive under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, mandating the installation and operation of anti-smog guns on specified high-rise buildings across the city. "This is the first time Delhi has taken decisive steps using vertical infrastructure as part of its air pollution response," he said. The direction mandates that eligible buildings install anti-smog guns within six months and operate them throughout the year, except during the monsoon period from June 15 to October 1. The directive applies to all commercial complexes, malls, and hotels with a built-up area greater than 3,000 square metres, as well as all institutional and office buildings that are ground plus five floors (G+5) or higher. Residential houses, group housing societies, and individual residential buildings are exempt from this mandate, an official statement said. The direction is rooted in consistent observations for stringent measures to reduce suspended particulate matter and directed the use of anti-smog guns in high-pollution urban zones, said Minister Sirsa. "This step has been taken due to deterioration in air quality observed during the October to January months. The city endured prolonged periods of 'Very Poor' to 'Severe' air quality, significantly underscoring the urgent need for effective environmental interventions," he added. Minister Sirsa said, "For years, this aspect of pollution control was either been advisory in nature or seasonal. What we've done today is historic. For the first time, Delhi has acted with legal clarity to curb a long-ignored pollution source. This is accountability in action." He added, "This government will no longer tolerate half-measures. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the able guidance of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, we are ensuring that pollution control becomes embedded in urban infrastructure." The government direction said each eligible building must deploy a minimum number of smog guns in proportion to its built-up area -- starting from three guns for areas below 10,000 square metres and scaling up plus 1 with every 5000 square metre added to the size. The equipment must be mounted to the building's parapet wall using fixed brackets and not mobile trailers. Each smog gun should be capable of a horizontal mist throw of 75 to 100 metres and produce droplets between 5 to 20 microns in size to effectively target airborne particulate matter like PM2.5 and PM10. Operation must not exceed 1,200 litre per hour or 10,000 litre over an eight-hour day. The smog guns are to be operated intermittently during peak pollution hours -- 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 a.m. -- in short bursts to maximise effectiveness and conserve electricity and water, the official directive said. The equipment should have minimal sound output from blowers and, where feasible, include integrated air quality monitoring sensors. Buildings between 7 and 10 storeys are considered optimal for generating effective ground-level mist dispersion, it added. Implementation and enforcement responsibilities have been assigned to the Municipal Corporations of Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority, the Public Works Department, the Central Public Works Department, NBCC, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, and other construction-approving or land-owning agencies. These agencies are required to ensure full compliance and submit quarterly reports to the Department of Environment detailing actions taken, monitoring outcomes, and penalties imposed where necessary, it said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
P.E.I. government reducing many of its energy efficiency rebates as of Monday
Prince Edward Islanders who invest in some energy efficiency measures will get lower rebates from the provincial government starting Monday, while amounts offered to help pay for insulation and window and door replacement will go up. The province announced the changes to its Net Zero and efficiencyPEI rebates on Thursday, after it paused accepting new applications for some programs earlier in the year. "We're trying to balance fiscal responsibility — staying within the budgets that we have in the division — while maximizing our return on investment," said Derek Ellis, the director of sustainability for the province's Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. That means "moving some investments away from some of the poorer-performing programs from an energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions perspective and over to the higher-performing programs," he said. As a result, the amount of money Island homeowners will get for installing heat pumps, buying electric vehicles and putting in solar panels is set to decrease. The province will also pause new applications for free heat pumps, free insulation and free electric hot water heaters due to high demand, a news release said. The province measures the cost effectiveness of its programs based on dollar spent per ton of greenhouse gas emission elimination, as well as dollar per kilowatt hour saved, Ellis said. "We have a good idea of how [programs] perform over time and have made some changes in response to that," he said. Popular programs The province has seen a lot of uptake on its heat pump and solar panel rebates, Ellis said, adding that the province is happy to continue offering rebates to homeowners on those items, at a lower rate. The heat pump rebate for residential properties is set to decrease from $1,200 to $900 per unit, while the solar panel program will see a change in incentive rate and a rebate capped at $5,000 for solar panels installed on a home, compared to the prior $10,000 cap. People wanting solar panels who were previously approved by the province will get the old amount, while anyone who applied on or after Jan. 8, 2025, will get the new amount if they are deemed eligible. "Incentives and caps for commercial and agricultural clients will remain the same," the news release adds with regard to solar panels. "Rebates on energy-efficient equipment for business, community, commercial and industrial buildings [are] increasing, including air source heat pump rebate increasing from $600 to $900. Rebates are also increasing for selected lighting and for packaged terminal heat pumps." Rebates for the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles have been popular, particularly in Charlottetown and Summerside, Ellis said. While the amount of those rebates are going down, annual registration of those vehicles will still be free. Ellis also said the province will not be making changes to its infrastructure plans to support EVs, citing projects underway to create more fast charging stations in communities across the Island. Some rebates the same or higher Some of the energy efficiency and rebate programs will continue unchanged, including the e-bike incentive, instant rebates on appliances, and the provincial subsidy for home energy audits. As well, the provincial news release says, there will be a "40 per cent increase in rebates for insulation for attics, walls, basements, headers, exposed floors, windows and doors, and air sealing." As for new home construction, the news release said, "incentives will be increased and re-aligned to match national building code tiers, so people will get more money back." Ellis said the province tries to stay in line with the latest trends and best practices to help Islanders minimize energy costs. "Where we can make life more affordable and also reduce energy and GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions, we will always make the case for that, and ultimately the decision-makers here in government will have the final say."
