In March 2022 former Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon refused permission for the planning application for a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facility and waste incinerator at Hightown Quarry, beside North Belfast. The planning decision was made following over 5,000 objections submitted by the local community, and a wide range of political representatives from MPs to Councillors. It will increase the market for waste disposal and discourage recycling. Waste technology, waste composition and recycling policies had all moved on since the project was first conceived 15 years ago, and it should be abandoned once and for all - not blindly pursued with public money. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60893249 The planning refusal followed a long running campaign by the No-Arc21 group who represent residents around the Mallusk, North Belfast and South Antrim areas, who are opposed to the controversial project. This planning application was refused by a previous Environment Minister Mark Durkan, and successfully challenged in the Courts by No- Arc21. There is comprehensive and widespread political opposition to the project from all political Parties in South Antrim and beyond. Alternative do exist and if this Incinerator goes ahead it will reduce recycling and result in millions of tonnes of CO2 being emitted and accelerating climate change. This challenge is a flagrant waste of public money and resources can be better targeted to increase recycling to 70% by 2030 as per the Climate Change targets on Waste Management. During the current inflationary pressures that many households and workers are facing at present, councils should not be wasting more money on a legal case which questions local Ministerial powers to make such decisions. Over £20 million has been spent on the "Waste Monster" to date, how many pot holes, hospital beds, pay rises for key workers etc. could have been sorted in the over eight years of this white elephant. Bin the Burner

Emo Park is a wonderful free amenity for the Irish people. It was gifted to the state for this purpose. New and worrying developments are now taking place which include fencing and padlocks. This is sealing off beautiful open areas which were previously free for all to access and enjoy. The natural beauty of Emo Park is being destroyed by these developments which appear to have the ultimate aim of charging for entry.

To ensure the future of the planet and allow us to sustain

The latest UN commissioned report on climate change has issued a code red for humanity. Our window for acting is rapidly closing. Please include your IMC registration number.

In 2019, the Irish Government demonstrated strong leadership as the second country in the world to declare a climate emergency [1], now it’s time they started acting like we’re in one. As thousands of scientists and communities around the world are saying [2], supporting  any new major oil and gas infrastructure would lock us into fossil fuel energy for 30-40 years and jeopardise our ability to fulfil our current and future climate action commitments and meet critical global warming limits Renewable energy is the future and Ireland has taken major steps towards a cleaner, greener future by banning fracking and new offshore drilling licences for fossil fuels. But right now, ignoring public sentiment and government-commissioned reports [3], the new government plans to move ahead with polluting commercial LNG developments in Ireland [4]. Fossil fuel companies have long been planning to build multiple Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, a particularly climate-damaging and polluting fossil fuel on the Irish coast; including in Kerry [5], Cork, Mayo and Louth [6]. https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=11LDz8VwM-XVKenh_1CGNZJahCrZPtfc&usp=sharing?showEmbed=true These companies will continue to seek ways to sidestep and undermine our national efforts to create a fossil fuel-free future [7] in order to sustain their record-breaking profit margins [8]. We need to stop them once and for all by preventing the development of any new LNG infrastructure in Ireland.   With data centre electricity consumption at 21% in 2023 [9], it’s clear that this dirty fuel would be used to facilitate further growth of the energy-hungry data centre industry [10].  When we take action together, we take leaps towards a healthy planet. Working in solidarity the climate movement achieved a nationwide ban on offshore drilling - let's do it again and Keep Ireland LNG Free! What is LNG and why is it so dangerous? LNG is fossil gas which has been turned into a liquid to be transported around the world on tankers. At every stage of its production, it leaks methane, making it hugely climate-damaging [11]. On a full life-cycle basis, it is as devastating for the climate as coal or oil, with scientists indicating the emissions footprint of LNG exceeds that of coal by 33 per cent over a 20-year period [12]. LNG is often obtained by fracking, which we banned in Ireland in 2017 because of its appalling environmental and health impacts - including birth defects, respiratory disease and increased cancer rates in local communities [13]. However, if LNG infrastructure is developed in Ireland, we would be unable to control whether the gas arriving in Ireland is fracked or not. LNG terminals could also cause significant health impacts and even pose a risk to life for Irish communities due to air pollution and potential gas leaks and explosions [14]. Increasing our nation’s reliance on LNG fossil fuel energy will further expose us to energy insecurity and price rises, deepening the already severe cost of living crisis. The most secure source of energy for our future is indigenous renewables supported by storage [15], demand reduction and demand management. Renewables are already cheaper than fossil fuels [16] and LNG would threaten investment in renewables by flooding the market with dirty energy [17]. Take action - Keep Ireland LNG Free! Sign the petition to Taoiseach Micheál Martin asking him to keep Ireland LNG free. Visit www.lngfree.ie for more information and actions! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] Paul Cunningham, ‘Ireland becomes second country to declare climate emergency’ (RTÉ, 10 May 2019) [2] Fergus Green, Olivier Bois von Kursk,Greg Muttitt, Steve Pye, ‘No new fossil fuel projects: The norm we need’ (2024) 384(6699) Climate Policy 954-957 [3] Caroline O'Doherty, ‘Campaigners say Taoiseach’s plans for gas storage facility are not based on latest analysis’ (Irish Independent, 14 February 2025) [4] Daniel Murray, ‘Government moves towards commercial LNG facility in departure from Green policy’ (Business Post, 16 Feb 2025) [5] Alan Healy, ‘High Court overturns An Bord Pleanála's refusal on Shannon LNG terminal’ (Irish Examiner, 30 September 2024) [6] Not Here Not Anywhere, ‘Stop LNG in Ireland Summary Briefing’ (2021)  [7] Daniel Murray, ‘Shannon LNG terminal can go ahead if planning is granted, Varadkar says’ (Business Post, 30 January 2022)  [8] Shaina Sadai, ‘Fossil Fuel Companies Make Billions in Profit as We Suffer Billions in Losses: 2024 Edition’ (The Equation, 17 April 2024)  [9] Central Statistics Office, ‘Data Centres Metered Electricity Consumption 2023’  [10] Radio Kerry News, ‘8 new data centres part of new plans for Shannon LNG’ (23 June 2021) ; Kevin O’Sullivan, Data centre boom under AI growth in Ireland threatening climate targets, report warns’ (The Irish Times, 10 December 2024)  [11] Kevin Anderson, John Broderick, ‘Natural gas and climate change’ (2017) University of Manchester [12] Robert W. Howarth, ‘The greenhouse gas footprint of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exported from the United States’ (2024) 12(11) Energy Science & Engineering 4843-4859 [13] Environmental Integrity Project, ‘Troubled Waters for LNG: The COVID-19 Recession and Overproduction Derail Dramatic Expansion of Liquefied Natural Gas’ (2020) [14] Rainforest Action Network, A Bridge to Nowhere: The Climate, Human Rights, and Financial Risks of Liquefied Natural Gas Export (2016)  [15] Barry McMullin, Paul Price, James Carton, Kevin Anderson, ‘Is Natural Gas “Essential for Ireland’s Future Energy Security”? A Critical Response to the Irish Academy of Engineering’ (2018)  [16] Mark Dyson,  Chaz Teplin,  Alex Engel,  Grant Glazer, ‘The Growing Market for Clean Energy Portfolios’ (2019) [17] Christine Shearer, John Bistline, Mason Inman and Steven J Davis, ‘The effect of natural gas supply on US renewable energy and CO2 emissions’ (2014) 9 Environmental Research Letters

Part of our climate change goals & ambitions.

The Deer Park (Howth Demense) is a place of outstanding wild beauty with historic, cultural and environmental importance that is at risk of being destroyed. If these lands are rezoned for development, the unique characteristic of the Howth/Sutton peninsula will be changed forever. These lands have provided unquantifiable social benefits to locals, Dubliners, people from all over Ireland and international tourists for generations, no more so than during the recent pandemic when it served as a peaceful haven for physical and mental wellness. They are also home to a diverse environment of wildlife, native trees and shrubs which need further protection. Supporters of this cause recognise the need for housing and Fingal has already zoned 40% more land than its target for residential development in the next five years. Land owners must develop land that has already been zoned for this purpose. In addition to this, Fingal's CEO has emphatically said she supports the current High Amenity (HA) zoning of Howth Castle lands and is opposed to the rezoning of these lands. Please show your support to preserve Howth's unique identity and say no to the rezoning of The Deer Park.

The opening of a dog park in this community would give people a place to safely exercise and play with their dogs. It would provide a space to allow dogs off-lead which is essential for dogs to be socialised, safe and learn friendly play. At the moment there is a lack of spaces for dog owners to be able to safely let their dogs run off lead in public parks. Many of us living in the inner city do not have access to large private gardens to give our dogs a run around and we depend on our beautiful parks. However currently letting a dog off the lead in nearly all DCC parks including Fairview Park is a breach of DCC bye-laws, which can even result in a fine or prosecution! Dogs that are well socialised and exercised are healthier, happier, and less aggressive in behaviour. They are less likely to bark or be destructive or aggressive if they are able to expend pent-up energy during regular play or exercise off the lead. Well socialised and stimulated dogs tend to be much better behaved, happier dogs and dog owners, and this would mean much less rehoming of dogs and dogs surrendered to shelters. A dog park in this area similar to that in St. Annes Park is would be a great step in solving this issue and make the park a happier, safer place for everyone! This petition will be sent to Councillors in Dublin City Council to demand they build a dog park to serve the community. Please send the onto everybody you know who might be interested!

Fracking and drilling pollutes our water, and damages our health. It is expected that the petroleum licencing policy that Minister Lyons will propose to the Executive could open the door for the approval of outstanding drilling and fracking applications in Fermanagh, and in the five council areas of Belfast, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid Ulster, Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon, Lisburn and Castlereagh. There is no time for legislation to be passed on fracking and drilling in this Assembly term. It must be stopped at the Executive.

The Limerick Greenway, which opened in July and cost €10M euros, is now the most successful greenway in Ireland with over 250K visitors already. The greenway traverses a green plain under Rooskagh Hill. This region has huge potential for tourism and could create a multiple of the estimated 200 jobs created in Mayo on the back of their fabulous greenway. It is similar in size to Limerick and visitor numbers are comparable. A dual carriageway through the plain and the greenway will stunt any further growth in amenities and jobs. We believe Limerick County Council; Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport have chosen it not because it is the best route to alleviate traffic congestion in and around Newcastle West but purely because they think that it is achievable in the time frame that they must spend the funds promised and also allows them to circumvent future restrictions from the EU in relation to climate control. We want to raise awareness of this flawed decision and try and reverse it before it is too late. The process to date has evolved side by side with the Covid pandemic and the authorities have been able to move swiftly without entertaining any real democratic questioning. Zoom calls with pre-prepared scripts has been the order of the day. The whole planning, implementation and engagement of this process has been rushed and expedited. Most local politicians appear to be repeating the same mantra as the council and there is a clear democratic deficit here. It is left up to ordinary citizens to voice their concern through the media and other channels such as this petition. https://www.facebook.com/protectlimerickgreenway [email protected]

Already quarrying has destroyed 150 meters of the Iron Age linear earthwork known as the Black Pigs Race or Dyke. There is also a prehistoric enclosure and pre-famine potato ridges on the Mountain.

The more young people who sign in support, the more we can pressure our decision makers to implement these demands.