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Irish Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Fossil fuels behind over 80% of Irish energy use last year
Ireland relied on fossil fuels for more than 80 per cent of the country's energy consumption last year, despite ongoing efforts to decarbonise, new figures show. Wind and solar power , meanwhile, generated more than 40 per cent of electricity used in the Republic, ranking it eighth out of the world's top 10 countries for its use. The data is contained in a report from global body, the Energy Institute, published on Friday. Fossil fuels accounted for 81.4 per cent of overall Irish energy consumption last year, an increase of 0.7 per cent on 2023. READ MORE The Energy Institute's statistical review of world energy showed the Republic used 148,700 barrels of oil a day last year, up from 147,500 the previous year. Continued reliance on oil and gas to power transport and manufacturing partly accounted for the dependence on fossil fuels, said James Delahunt, head of energy & natural resources, Ireland, with accountants KPMG, which collaborated on the institute's report. He argued that the findings 'underscored the need to prioritise policies' to deliver renewable energy. [ Public 'unsure what big switch to clean energy means and how to play their part' Opens in new window ] Despite the levels of fossil fuel use, Mr Delahunt said the report also confirmed the State was making progress in boosting green energy use and cutting carbon dioxide emissions . 'The statistical review shows that Ireland has the capability and resources to build on the successes delivered in 2024,' he said. According to State body, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland , total greenhouse gas emissions last year fell 2 per cent to 53.75 million tonnes. Tony Lowes, of Friends of the Irish Environment, argued that the Energy Institute's report demonstrated the Government's continued failure to meet legal obligations to make specific plans to cut emissions in line with the Paris Accord. A spokeswoman for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment said that the Government had pledged to cut reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51 per cent from 2018 to 2030. Under the Paris Agreement, Ireland faces fines estimated at up to €26 billion if it fails to cut emissions by that amount in 2030 and reach 'net zero' by 2050.
The National
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Mike Waltz vows to make the UN 'great again'
, President Donald Trump's nominee for US ambassador to the UN, pledged on Tuesday to pursue sweeping reforms at the global body and 'make the UN great again'. Appearing for a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr Waltz criticised the UN for what he described as bloated bureaucracy, anti-American bias, and a record of inefficiency in preventing conflict. 'UN revenue has quadrupled in the last 20 years, yet world peace has not increased in equal measure,' he said. Mr Waltz said he would make it his mission to target the 'waste, fraud, and abuse endemic to the UN system'. He defended Secretary General Antonio Guterres, saying he didn't think the UN chief would have his UN80 reform initiative 'already on the table if he didn't take President Trump very seriously'. 'It's worth remembering that despite budget reductions, the United States remains by far the most generous nation in the world,' he added. He singled out the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and UN-run schools in Gaza for promoting what he called 'anti-Semitic hate'. Mr Waltz also defended Washington's decision not to pay its full assessed dues last year, which left the US among 41 countries in arrears. The US, which is assessed at 22 per cent of the UN's regular budget, remains its largest single contributor. China's share is 20 per cent. US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the committee's top Democrat, expressed concern that reducing US engagement at the UN would allow adversaries, such as China, to fill the void. 'If we walk away from international bodies like the UN, the result won't be reforms that advance American interests,' she said. 'I don't think most Americans want to live in a world where the Chinese Communist Party is driving the agenda.' Ms Shaheen urged Mr Waltz to work with Congress to preserve American leadership. 'We cannot shape these organisations or even push for reforms unless we're at the table,' she said. Mr Waltz said it was 'absurd' that China continued to be treated as a developing nation and received favourable status at the UN. Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group said it was striking that Mr Waltz and Democratic senators agreed on the need to counter Chinese influence at the UN as a top priority. 'Containing Beijing at the UN is a cross-party priority in Washington, but Chinese-US tensions could gum up UN deal-making in future,' he added. Mr Trump's former national security adviser defended his use of a group chat to discuss military plans as he faced accusations of mishandling sensitive information at Tuesday's hearing. The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine said in March that Mr Waltz had mistakenly added him to a Signal group chat that included senior US officials discussing impending American air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The misstep drew widespread criticism and culminated in Mr Waltz's dismissal from the role in May. He acknowledged the error but insisted that no classified material was shared. Mr Waltz said he had followed the same encrypted messaging practices in place under the Biden administration and denied that the chat breached any internal security procedures. 'This was a mistake in contact management, not a breach of national security,' he said. The committee is expected to vote on Mr Waltz's nomination in the coming weeks. If confirmed, Mr Waltz will be joined by Morgan Ortagus at the UN, where she will advise on policy. Until recently, she served as deputy special envoy to the Middle East and was overseeing the Lebanon portfolio.
The National
23-05-2025
- General
- The National
Museums of the UAE: Dubai Police Museum offers fascinating insight into Bugatti-driving force
Discover how it's grown from 29 officers at Naif Fort to the globally renowned body it is today
