Colm Duffy
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colmduff.bsky.social
Colm Duffy
@colmduff.bsky.social
330 followers 640 following 270 posts
Father|Environmental Scientist|Software Engineer|Nature Lover |SciFi/Fantasy fan 🖥️ 🐍 🌎 🌳 🐕 🇮🇪

Currently University of Galway.

Former: University of Limerick/James Hutton Institute.
Posts Replies Media Videos
colmduff.bsky.social
Our global food system alone would push us past 1.5, even if we eliminated fossil fuels tomorrow.

Here are some reflections after "digesting" EAT-Lancet 2.0

medium.com/greener-toge...
A Global Food System Worth Fighting For.
The multifaceted pressures on our food systems are growing, but our willingness to face them is not.
medium.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:12 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
"During the talks the Irish delegation said EU states could not be “unfairly penalised” for missing the approaching targets, or have resources that could be invested into the green transition redirected to paying huge fines."

if you have the resources!?

www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
EU states agree deal on 2040 climate target
Compromise deal gives EU states more flexibility to meet ambitious 2040 climate targets
www.irishtimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:02 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
Our poster for the IAMC 2025 Digital Poster Festival explores national-to-catchment integrated assessment with GOBLIN & GeoGOBLIN, linking land use, climate, water, biodiversity & economy.

🔗 zenodo.org/records/1746...

#IAMC2025 #Climate #LandUse #NetZero #AFOLU #Water #Biodiversity
November 1, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Reposted by Colm Duffy
swimsure.bsky.social
In their Letter to the Editor published in the Irish Times @irishtimes.com, the scientists set the record straight by rebutting multiple errors in John FitzGerald's opinion piece last week:
"Framing the debate as a false dichotomy...distracts from the real choices"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...
Screenshot of the first half of a letter published in the Irish Times – Letters to the Editor, October 26th, 2025. Text reads: "Climate change and farming Sir, – In his recent article “Cutting the entire cattle herd to reduce emissions makes no economic sense,” Prof John FitzGerald usefully acknowledges the scale of change required in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. However, his article misrepresents our recent study, National temperature neutrality, agricultural methane and climate policy: reinforcing inequality in the global food system. First, FitzGerald writes that “some of these scientists also argue that Ireland should essentially end all livestock production”, and implies that this is advocated in our study. That is incorrect. Our study does not call for ending livestock farming. Nor does it make any recommendations about its future structure or scale. Second, FitzGerald suggests our work advocates a per-capita methane quota. It does not. We presented per-capita methane as a diagnostic to illustrate disparities in methane emissions across countries. The study does not propose a quota or trading scheme. Our study highlights the risks and uncertainties created for Irish society by the Climate Change Advisory Council’s (CCAC) proposed “temperature neutrality” approach to carbon budgets, which defines climate ambition around a moving target that depends on uncertain future global emissions. It also exposes the underlying value judgments embedded in this framing, which undermine climate ambition, global fairness, food security and land use policy. Arguments that hide the scale of the climate challenge behind a flawed national “temperature neutrality” target, and the false premise that Ireland’s agricultural sector is economically optimised and feeding the world, have become increasingly common. However, they avoid the clear-headed, strategic decisions needed to set Irish farmers up for success in a rapidly changing world. 2 Text: "From a global food security perspective, Ireland exports around 90 per cent of its animal-sourced food products, yet less than 1 per cent of those exports reach low-income, food-insecure countries. Domestically, fewer than half of Irish farms are economically viable, despite the sector receiving billions in public subsidies. Post-2030, Irish taxpayers will be paying billions of euro to purchase carbon credits from overseas to compensate for missing EU climate targets. Continuation of business-as-usual sells both Irish farmers & society short by failing to invest in our land’s potential to deliver healthy & sustainable food, bio-based materials, energy, carbon removals & ecosystem services. Our study does not present an extreme position. Instead, it calls for ambitious, Paris Agreement-aligned land use policy with clear targets, enabling Irish society to steer the AFOLU sector toward a sustainable transition pathway. The potential for a positive, resilient, & diversified AFOLU sector is clearly shown in scenario modelling contained in the yet-to-be-released Land Use Review Phase 2 report completed in May this year. The question is not whether farming will dramatically change over the coming decades, but how that change can be managed to deliver the most robust, sustainable, & secure outcomes for Irish society. Framing the debate as a false dichotomy between a flawed climate target and an “end to livestock farming” distracts from the real choices involved in shaping a more sustainable, resilient, & vibrant AFOLU sector. The climate, Ireland’s farmers, & society as a whole, are best served by ambition, scientific rigour & robust debate on real choices, not by shifting goalposts, or the mischaracterisation of legitimate research & researchers as extreme or anti-farming. – Yours, etc, Dr COLM DUFFY University of Galway, Dr RÓISÍN MORIARTY University College Cork, Prof HANNAH DALY, University College Cork DAVID STYLES associate professor, University of Galway
October 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
Our response to Prof FitzGerald calls for scientific rigour, ambition, transparency and a good-faith public debate on the real choices facing Irish society.
hannahdaly.ie Hannah Daly @hannahdaly.ie · 13d
Our letter in response to John FitzGerald's article last week, which made several incorrect claims about our research, including that it calls for Ireland to "end all livestock production".

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...
October 28, 2025 at 8:08 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
New Zealand’s adoption of a “no additional warming” methane target marks a turning point, but not a good one.

It dilutes global effort when ambition must rise.

Pleased our work is cited in this @irishtimes.com article.

#climatechange

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Ireland urged not to follow New Zealand in changing methane targets
New Zealand’s government to rewrite its climate law and row back on emissions commitments
www.irishtimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
As a PhD student at University of Galway, Catherine Connolly lent her support to our Fossil Free campaign.

In 2019, she gave me a reference that I am still grateful for

On Oct 24th, I’ll be voting for the candidate who shows empathy, kindness, and a people-focused sense of justice.

#IrishPolitics
October 14, 2025 at 9:59 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
When we need strong leadership the most.

This is so weak.
hannahdaly.ie Hannah Daly @hannahdaly.ie · Oct 10
The full quote as reported:

“I don’t think we can mitigate for climate change,” he said.
“This might be controversial, because I believe in addressing climate change....
joenoonan.bsky.social Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · Oct 9
“I don’t think we can mitigate for climate change.”

- Mícheál Martin, Taoiseach.

www.independent.ie/business/tec...
October 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
🌍Worried about you climate impact?

💰Are those annual NCT repairs hitting your wallet?

⚡Thinking about EVs?

⚖️I compared my old Corolla to a new EV.

medium.com/sustainable-...
Life After Diesel: Going Electric in Ireland?
A €1,200 repair bill on my 13-year-old Toyota Corolla made me ask the obvious question: is it time to ditch my diesel?
medium.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:19 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
This just heartbreaking....

Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead
Every name on a list compiled by health authorities in Gaza of the child victims of Israel’s offensive
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:45 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
On the 17 September, a JOC (CEE) heard testimony on Temperature Neutrality (TN).

We made a submission otlining the risks of adopting TN and calling for the release of the Land Use Review 2 report.

This submission:
📄 doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

Background paper: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Pitfalls of Adopting Temperature Neutrality as a Climate Target
This record contains the formal submission from Dr Colm Duffy and Dr David Styles (University of Galway) to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, dated 11 September 2025. ...
doi.org
October 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
Well done @thinkorswim.bsky.social.

This is a bloody great read, had to pick my jaw up off the floor a few times!

If you ever write an autobiography, I will definitely read it.
October 3, 2025 at 9:35 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
Words do indeed matter.

It's just a shame that Rowling only seems to recognise the injury other people's words do to her, without ever sparing a thought for the damage she has done to the rights, dignity and safety of many others.

www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...
‘She is ignorant of how ignorant she is’: JK Rowling responds to Emma Watson rift
The author has rebuffed conciliatory remarks made by the Harry Potter actor, saying Watson has ‘enthusiastically participated’ in the ‘trashing of women’s rights’
www.theguardian.com
September 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
Giving Hamas a prize?

I can assure you, this is not about prizes, and they certainly do not hand out prizes for the starvation of women and children.

If you would rather see people starve than recognise their right to self determination, then you are broken.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Israeli politicians react bitterly to international recognitions of Palestinian state
Experts say move by nations including UK and Australia won’t change government policy and could strengthen its grip on power
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
Are you living with AI Creep?

It is an important part of my workflow, its a notepad, a tutor, and a sounding board, for me at least.

It is reshaping everything from the classroom to our mental health in suprising, and sometimes terrifying ways.

Here is my take.

medium.com/@colmduffy/g...
God in a Box
I’ve been thinking about AI for some time now, and I’ve been experimenting with it in my daily workflow. It is undoubtedly powerful. It has…
medium.com
September 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
Pretty rough viewing at times.

I am staggered by the levels of hypocrisy and self-delusion.

I don't know how you reason with it when the conclusions reached are so unreasonable.

'Our Genocide': How do Israelis feel about the war in Gaza? – video www.theguardian.com/world/video/...
'Our Genocide': How do Israelis feel about the war in Gaza? – video
Reporter Matthew Cassel speaks to Israelis in Tel Aviv, to see what they think of the war, famine and genocide happening next door, and the growing international condemnation against it
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:05 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
I share concerns around tools that, misused, reduce engagement and broader understanding that you get from reading around topics.

But, perhaps there is a way to maximise the benefits and minimise the trade-offs.

There are some different takes in this podcast

open.spotify.com/episode/2bYR...
September 10, 2025 at 9:50 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
Not a lot I disagree with in John's big picture view.
September 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
This looks pretty interesting 🤔

Best I can tell, it's also free.
sdgdavid.bsky.social David Scanlon @sdgdavid.bsky.social · Sep 5
@dcuclimate.bsky.social is running a 6-part online Climate Change Media Masterclass this autumn, helping journalists and media pros strengthen coverage of science, policy, & sustainability. Starts late Sept.

www.dcu.ie/climate/dcu-...
Climate Change Media Masterclass series | Climate
www.dcu.ie
September 6, 2025 at 11:26 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
🪤 Its a trap!?

Does “no additional warming” reinforce systems traps?

I take our recent paper on temperature neutrality and put it through a #SystemsThinking lens — looking at how it reinforces the very traps we need to escape.

#ClimateChange #ClimateMitigation

👉 medium.com/@colmduffy/t...
Through the Lens Systems Thinking
No Additional Warming and Systems Traps
medium.com
September 2, 2025 at 10:17 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
There is nothing defensible about the cruelty being inflicted on, and the engineered starvation of, people of Gaza.

I can’t do much, but, like many other scholars, I have signed the Academics for Palestine pledge.

academicsforpalestine.org
(no title)
Academia Against Apartheid
academicsforpalestine.org
September 1, 2025 at 6:56 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
As if we needed another reminder that we are moving too slowly in terms of climate action.

The ability for us to alter this truly scary future is in our hands .... But not for long.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds
Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout
www.theguardian.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:31 PM
colmduff.bsky.social
Living in the "post truth" era is pretty distressing.

I have as much faith in statement from the US and Israel as I do from Russia.

The truth is, Israel is intentionally starving an entire population. It is in no way antisemitic to point that out.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
France summons US ambassador Charles Kushner over antisemitism allegations
Kushner says in letter to Macron he’s concerned over ‘rise of antisemitism’ and ‘lack of sufficient action’ to confront it
www.theguardian.com
August 25, 2025 at 7:21 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
Sorry to disappoint anyone trying to polarise this.

We’re with farmers and communities, for a just transition built on fair, predictable policy.

“No additional warming” is a moving target and inequitable.

Set clear, stable, just targets to support a just transition.

archive.ph/8gbT3#select...
archive.ph
August 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM
colmduff.bsky.social
Disappointed to see our new paper being framed as an "us against them" fight.

We are contributing our work to the debate on Ireland's future in a respectful, evidenced based way.

There should be no issue with doing so.

www.rte.ie/news/analysi...
Row over 'temperature neutrality' vs 'climate neutrality'
A big academic row has broken out among Ireland's climate scientists over the commitment to a "climate neutral economy" in the country's national climate objective, writes George Lee.
www.rte.ie
August 16, 2025 at 10:30 AM