Kevin O’Sullivan
@kosull.bsky.social
Environment & Science Editor with Irish Times… special interest in climate change, biodiversity, renewables, sustainable food. Co-author of Supergrid Super Solution.
The definitive verdict on ‘no additional warming’/GWP* courtesy of Prof Hannah Daly in The Irish Times ... “a dangerous climate loophole”
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Why ‘no additional warming’ is a dangerous climate loophole
Carbon budgets should be sent back to the climate council with clear instructions to reassess them against Paris commitments
www.irishtimes.com
September 4, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The definitive verdict on ‘no additional warming’/GWP* courtesy of Prof Hannah Daly in The Irish Times ... “a dangerous climate loophole”
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
The amazing story of Ireland’s dolphin population captured by Ken O’Sullivan over 20 years. The footage mstches the great David Attenborough at times … but ultimately it’s a story of vulnerability. Recommend viewing.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Thousands of dolphins may be dying off west coast of Ireland every year, ‘and nothing is being done’
Undersea cameraman Ken O’Sullivan has spent 20 years among the charismatic mammals
www.irishtimes.com
August 25, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The amazing story of Ireland’s dolphin population captured by Ken O’Sullivan over 20 years. The footage mstches the great David Attenborough at times … but ultimately it’s a story of vulnerability. Recommend viewing.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
The summer of 2025 brings some hard climate lessons … nowhere more so than in an overheating Europe.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
What does the summer of 2025 tell us about Europe's changing climate?
Ireland is not immune from extreme weather already hitting Europe
www.irishtimes.com
August 24, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The summer of 2025 brings some hard climate lessons … nowhere more so than in an overheating Europe.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Revealed: Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 long list: “Taking action gives you hope and calms anxiety by showing we can turn things around.”
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Revealed: Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 long list
Nominee places range from the shadows of Croagh Patrick to a once derelict dump site in Dublin’s Liberties
www.irishtimes.com
August 9, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Revealed: Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 long list: “Taking action gives you hope and calms anxiety by showing we can turn things around.”
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
More positives than negatives emerge from UNOC3 … but will Sir David Atennborough be happy? Probably not; political declaration is too weak, especially on destructive bottom trawling.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
World on verge of ratifying key treaty to protect oceans
Failure to significantly scale up protection of oceans from deep sea mining and sea beds from 'bottom trawling' was widely criticised
www.irishtimes.com
June 13, 2025 at 8:32 PM
More positives than negatives emerge from UNOC3 … but will Sir David Atennborough be happy? Probably not; political declaration is too weak, especially on destructive bottom trawling.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
This year’s Robert Boyle Summer School will explore the human brain and intersection with creativity … a great opportunity to spend time in Waterford and Lismore, the home place of the great co-founder of modern science!
www.irishtimes.com/science/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/science/2025...
Robert Boyle summer school to explore the human brain and intersection with creativity
13th staging of event honouring founder of modern science with events in Waterford and Lismore
www.irishtimes.com
May 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This year’s Robert Boyle Summer School will explore the human brain and intersection with creativity … a great opportunity to spend time in Waterford and Lismore, the home place of the great co-founder of modern science!
www.irishtimes.com/science/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/science/2025...
Despite the fanfare when it was first announced, Ryanair pulls plug on providing carbon offset option for its passengers… carbon calculator gone too! www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Ryanair quietly drops carbon offset option for passengers on its flights
Carbon calculator for flight emissions also withdrawn as airline says ‘there was very little interest or uptake from passengers’
www.irishtimes.com
May 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Despite the fanfare when it was first announced, Ryanair pulls plug on providing carbon offset option for its passengers… carbon calculator gone too! www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Chilling encapsulated of 100 days of DT2
www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
Video: Opinion | What Is the Defining Image of Trump’s First 100 Days?
Opinion columnists share the piece of media that most defines the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term.
www.nytimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Chilling encapsulated of 100 days of DT2
www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
Biomethane should have been a no-brainer for Ireland. The road ahead is unclear
www.irishtimes.com/special-repo...
www.irishtimes.com/special-repo...
Biomethane should have been a no-brainer for Ireland. The road ahead is unclear
Clean energy from farm and food wastes is a no-brainer but a new era of Irish biomethane is far from assured.
www.irishtimes.com
April 24, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Biomethane should have been a no-brainer for Ireland. The road ahead is unclear
www.irishtimes.com/special-repo...
www.irishtimes.com/special-repo...
Pope Francis’s green legacy is his radical encyclical Laudato Si’ that upended centuries of Catholic teaching… Ireland can be proud of its stamp on it
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Pope Francis’s green legacy is his radical encyclical Laudato Si’ that upended centuries of Catholic teaching
Published in 2015, Laudato Si’ spoke of our serious moral responsibility to protect the planet
www.irishtimes.com
April 23, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Pope Francis’s green legacy is his radical encyclical Laudato Si’ that upended centuries of Catholic teaching… Ireland can be proud of its stamp on it
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
The bigger picture on why Corio Generation withdrew from Sceirde Rocks wind farm off Connemara’s coast ... and on the need to ensure remaining Phase 1 windfarms get across the line before 2030.
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
Why international firm Corio withdrew from plans for Sceirde Rocks wind farm off Connemara’s coast
Emerging technology, harsh marine conditions and cost pose challenges, but big offshore projects can be done, say experts
www.irishtimes.com
April 21, 2025 at 10:29 AM
The bigger picture on why Corio Generation withdrew from Sceirde Rocks wind farm off Connemara’s coast ... and on the need to ensure remaining Phase 1 windfarms get across the line before 2030.
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
A damning assessment of how Ireland is progressing its transition to clean energy. Fortunately, NESC sets out what we need to do now, next and later … and overcome the strategic fog.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Urgent action needed to ‘clear fog’ and progress transition to clean energy
The Nesc findings would be used to inform ongoing work of Government to deliver the transition
www.irishtimes.com
April 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
A damning assessment of how Ireland is progressing its transition to clean energy. Fortunately, NESC sets out what we need to do now, next and later … and overcome the strategic fog.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Regrettably, the consequences of demoting science…https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/well/utah-fluoride-ban.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
Utah Becomes First State to Ban Fluoride in Public Water
Medical experts warn the move could have consequences for oral health, especially among children.
www.nytimes.com
March 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Regrettably, the consequences of demoting science…https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/well/utah-fluoride-ban.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
Reposted by Kevin O’Sullivan
Scoop: NOAA is suspending its long-running monthly media calls on climate stats and climate change, blaming lack of staff. Some other hints at why are in the story. The data, however, will still be released on schedule, NOAA says. www.axios.com/2025/03/13/n...
NOAA axes monthly climate change briefings, blames staff cuts
The agency was having trouble recruiting scientists to take part in the calls, Axios sources said.
www.axios.com
March 13, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Scoop: NOAA is suspending its long-running monthly media calls on climate stats and climate change, blaming lack of staff. Some other hints at why are in the story. The data, however, will still be released on schedule, NOAA says. www.axios.com/2025/03/13/n...
Trump's hotel and golf course in Doonbeg has encountered multiple planning difficulties, but not in the way he describes them... and they come with a hard lesson for him on climate change.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Trump’s Doonbeg hotel and golf course: Its problematic planning history explained
Doonbeg’s ‘grey dunes’ and presence of endangered snail hampered original developer’s plans
www.irishtimes.com
March 13, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Trump's hotel and golf course in Doonbeg has encountered multiple planning difficulties, but not in the way he describes them... and they come with a hard lesson for him on climate change.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
This is such a tragic development … Concern Worldwide lays off almost 400 staff citing ‘aid funding cuts’
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...
Concern Worldwide lays off almost 400 staff citing ‘aid funding cuts’
Positions at risk in organisation’s Dublin head office but numbers unclear due to ‘fluidity of the situation’
www.irishtimes.com
March 7, 2025 at 10:24 PM
This is such a tragic development … Concern Worldwide lays off almost 400 staff citing ‘aid funding cuts’
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...
With Ireland facing climate fines of up to €26 billion… what actions should be pursued to reduce such staggering penalties?
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Five ways to slash Ireland’s looming multi-billion euro climate fines
Two advisory councils outline gross failures to face up to climate realities
www.irishtimes.com
March 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
With Ireland facing climate fines of up to €26 billion… what actions should be pursued to reduce such staggering penalties?
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
With persistent bird flu, the longer effective collective action fails to kick in, the more opportunities there are to mutate and transmit among humans … a lesson that a certain Mr Trump needs to learn.
www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/...
www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/...
Bird flu ‘could very well become the next pandemic’, says Irish virologist
Department of Agriculture and public health specialists consider risk manageable as no other animal species infected here
www.irishtimes.com
February 23, 2025 at 7:28 PM
With persistent bird flu, the longer effective collective action fails to kick in, the more opportunities there are to mutate and transmit among humans … a lesson that a certain Mr Trump needs to learn.
www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/...
www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/...
Too many governments are slow pedalling on decisive climate action. We can only hope
Irish Government is not falling back into that category.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Irish Government is not falling back into that category.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Failure to submit emission targets to UN indication climate is not priority for Government, says Green Party leader
Ireland will provide joint commitments with EU later this year, Department of Climate says
www.irishtimes.com
February 17, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Too many governments are slow pedalling on decisive climate action. We can only hope
Irish Government is not falling back into that category.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Irish Government is not falling back into that category.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
The scale of ecological damage from oil spills in Niger Delta revealed…including identification of unreported spills #bigoil #africa
www.irishtimes.com/world/africa...
www.irishtimes.com/world/africa...
Widespread ecological damage from oil spills in Niger Delta revealed in international study
Scientists detail scale of devastation to mangroves using satellite imagery, AI and imaging techniques used in healthcare settings
www.irishtimes.com
February 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The scale of ecological damage from oil spills in Niger Delta revealed…including identification of unreported spills #bigoil #africa
www.irishtimes.com/world/africa...
www.irishtimes.com/world/africa...
A great piece of research from UCC pertinent to the era of conspiracy notions that we live in … www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
Critical thinking training can reduce belief in conspiracy theories, study by UCC psychologists finds
‘Well-established programmes to counter conspiracy theories have little or no effect’
www.irishtimes.com
February 13, 2025 at 8:38 AM
A great piece of research from UCC pertinent to the era of conspiracy notions that we live in … www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
Hard questions on resilience have to be asked in this era of increased climate disturbance … especially with power, water and telco utilities www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Storm Éowyn: Can Ireland’s electricity, water and phone networks cope with extreme weather?
‘We’re not resilient to today’s climate,‘ says expert as State and utility companies face greater pressure to prepare for stormier weather
www.irishtimes.com
January 31, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Hard questions on resilience have to be asked in this era of increased climate disturbance … especially with power, water and telco utilities www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Trump will play havoc on energy with knock-on consequences for climate and a planet in a vulnerable state… BUT there are ways around this. Clean tech revolution can happen without him.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Trump’s blunderbuss strategies on climate and energy may backfire in ways he has not envisaged
Pulling out of Paris Agreement was predictable theatre, but resulting temperature and emission rises will push Earth to dangerous tipping points
www.irishtimes.com
January 27, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Trump will play havoc on energy with knock-on consequences for climate and a planet in a vulnerable state… BUT there are ways around this. Clean tech revolution can happen without him.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
McKibben at his best! open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
How We Make Progress Now
Part 1: Some Limits We Need to Work Around
open.substack.com
January 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
McKibben at his best! open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
More evidence that Ireland needs to change where fish farms are located if it wants to save its wild Atlantic salmon stocks www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Escaped salmon a major threat to future wild fish due to genetic contamination, investigation finds
With 20% of male escapees sexually mature and capable of breeding with wild Atlantic salmon, threat to wild stocks ‘is particularly concerning’
www.irishtimes.com
January 23, 2025 at 12:32 PM
More evidence that Ireland needs to change where fish farms are located if it wants to save its wild Atlantic salmon stocks www.irishtimes.com/environment/...