Environment - News & Events | Trinity College Dublin

What makes some plant groups so successful?

Irish researchers involved in cataloguing the world’s plant species are hunting for answers as to what makes some groups so successful.

29 May 2024

Environment|Research|Science

Tree of the month - Wollemi Pine

Wollemi Pine is one of three living groups of trees from the Araucariaceae, which is an ancient plant family from the Triassic period. It was first discovered about thirty years ago, and that discovery is said to be the equivalent of finding a small dinosaur still alive on earth.

28 May 2024

Environment|Sustainability

How do we reduce pesticide use while empowering farmers? A more nuanced approach could help

There’s no simple answer that makes pesticides right or wrong – context is key, according to Trinity's Professor Jessica Knapp, writing here for The Conversation.

14 May 2024

Environment|Research|Science

Researchers launch new app providing personalised driving feedback to promote electric vehicle adoption in Ireland

In a bid to revolutionise transportation habits and combat climate change, researchers from Trinity's School of Engineering have unveiled the TRACT EV app, designed to encourage the widespread adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) across Ireland.

14 May 2024

Environment|Research|Science

Ryanair and Trinity extend sustainable aviation research partnership

Ryanair, Europe’s no. 1 airline, announced today the extension to the end of the decade and made a further €2.5 m donation (€4 m total) to fund the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Research Centre.

9 May 2024

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water launches as over 100 stakeholders come together to shape a more sustainable future

The new Co-Centre will deliver solutions to the most pressing challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity decline and water degradation across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

8 May 2024

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

It flickers, then it tips – study identifies early warning signals for the end of the African Humid Period

A newly published study shows that at the end of the African Humid Period (AHP) intense dry and wet events alternated – or “flickered” – regularly over a period of around 1,000 years before a dry climate prevailed around 6,000 years ago.

7 May 2024

Environment|Research|Science

Tree of the Month - Mountain Silverbell

This month we are bringing you one of our newly planted trees in the Physics Lawn, Halesia monticola, commonly known as the Mountain Silverbell or Snowdrop Tree. You’ll find this tree opposite the Loyola Institute, where it was planted to replace the failing Prunus, which is scheduled for removal this year.

24 Apr 2024

Environment|Sustainability

Tá na Gaelcholáistí Eolach ar Aeráid!

‘Caithfimid buíochas mór a ghlacadh le COGG as a dtacaíocht dhiongbháilte chun gaelcholáist a chuimsiú san ábhar tábhachtach seo’ a dúirt Alison Norman, Oifigeach um Oiriúnú Aeráide ag An Taisce.

23 Apr 2024

Environment|Research|Society|Students

Gaelcholáistí are Climate Smart! 

An Taisce, along with Prof. Anna Davies and Dr. Stephan Hügel, from Geography in Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, launched a new Transition Year module called ‘Climate Smart’ with student representatives from Scoil Chaitríona and Coláiste Chilliain.

23 Apr 2024

Environment|Research|Society|Students

Trinity research on Valentia Slate results in its designation as a Heritage Stone

The natural stone, which only occurs in Co. Kerry and which has been used since at least 1816, has recently been awarded the Status of “International Union of Geological Sciences Heritage Stone”. The sustainable stone features on the Rubrics roofs in Trinity.

22 Apr 2024

Culture|Environment|Research

Researchers use willow trees to revolutionise wastewater treatment in rural Ireland

In a groundbreaking initiative, researchers from the Environmental Engineering group in Trinity’s School of Engineering have embarked on a mission to transform wastewater treatment in rural Ireland.

31 Mar 2024

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

ESB and Trinity’s ADAPT and CONNECT research centres to accelerate technology innovation in energy sector

The research involves two main projects with a goal of enabling large energy users to make better energy choices, helping the environment and supporting the Government's green agenda.

25 Mar 2024

Environment|Innovation|Research

Green Week '24 - 'Healthy Planet, Healthy People'

This has been Trinity’s 22nd year marking Green Week. The event started in 2003 to honour the late Professor Simon Perry, who started the College Recycling and Environment Committee, now known as the Green Campus Committee. After his untimely passing in 2002, the Green Campus Committee decided to hold the first Trinity Green Week in his honour, and the College’s Green Week has grown in strength every year since.

19 Mar 2024

Community|Environment|Students|Sustainability

Three secrets to successful climate litigation

Courts around the world are handling an increasing number of climate and environmental cases due to the urgent need to combat worsening warming and ecosystem destruction. Morgiane Noel, School of Law, writes for The Conversation about the secrets to successful climate litigation.

28 Feb 2024

Environment|Society

Secret, undeclared pesticide ingredients may pose a risk to people, pollinators and the environment

Scientists are calling for greater transparency in the full ingredient list of pesticides, arguing that farmers and consumers deserve to know exactly what is in them.

21 Feb 2024

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Trinity researchers secure EPA funding to support sustainability and societal transformation projects

Four researchers from Trinity – Dr Patrick Morrissey, Dr Paul Liston, Professor Margaret Jackson and Professor Pete Akers – have won funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pursue new research projects.

14 Feb 2024

Awards and Funding|Environment|Research|Society|Sustainability

Westport food security project wins community climate action collaboration

A Westport climate action project that will cultivate mini-forests and edible landscapes to enhance food security has been announced as the national winner of a community climate justice project call out by Trinity College Dublin.

14 Feb 2024

Business|Community|Environment|Sustainability

New lab allows scientists to test impacts of climate change in precisely controlled infrastructure

Scientists in Ireland are now able to study the impacts of past, current and future climate change in precisely controlled climatic and atmospheric conditions.

6 Feb 2024

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Silent fields: a cocktail of pesticides is stunting bumblebee colonies across Europe

Trinity's Professor Jessica Knapp writes, along with colleagues, about a recent study and the concerning results it delivered with regard to the plight of some of our precious pollinators.

29 Jan 2024

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Trinity research pivotal in Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment, with heat extremes to become more frequent and severe

Technological advancements will only deliver short-term benefits if Ireland doesn’t take steps towards transformative change according to the report, which saw contributions from Trinity researchers.

25 Jan 2024

Environment|Research|Science|Society|Sustainability

100 trees given away to mark launch of Trinity’s Sustainability Strategy

Key targets of the strategy include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2040 across all categories of emissions.

24 Jan 2024

Community|Environment|Sustainability

Central banks should be fighting the climate crisis – here’s why

Professors Martin Sokol, Trinity, and Jennie Stephens, Northeastern University, argue the case for central banks catalysing a more just, equitable and climate-stable future in this piece for The Conversation.

5 Jan 2024

Environment|Society|Sustainability

Wells and Wellbeing – new book links the water science and traditions behind Irish holy wells

Dr Bruce Misstear, Fellow Emeritus in Trinity’s School of Engineering, recently launched a new book – Wells and Wellbeing, The Hydrogeology of Irish Holy Wells.

21 Dec 2023

Culture|Environment|Science

Darndale urban forest collaboration led by Trinity and Dublin City Council

The Dublin suburb of Darndale has today become the location of a new innovative ‘urban forest’ as part of an EU funded city tree-planting initiative. It has joined Milan, Barcelona and the Romanian city of Brasov as one of four forests being planted in the ‘UForest’ project.

1 Dec 2023

Community|Environment

Why the Fed should treat climate change’s $150B economic toll like other national crises it’s helped fight

Climate disasters are now costing the United States US$150 billion per year, and the economic harm is rising. Trinity's Prof. Martin Sokol co-authored this piece for The Conversation.

30 Nov 2023

Environment|Research|Society

Bees are still being harmed despite tightened pesticide regulations

A new study has confirmed that pesticides, commonly used in farmland, significantly harm bumblebees – Ireland’s most important wild pollinators. In a huge study spanning 106 sites across eight European countries, researchers have shown that despite tightened pesticide regulations, far more needs to be done.

29 Nov 2023

Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability

Trinity tree of the month - the Himalayan Dogwood

November’s tree of the month is the Cornus capitata, or Himalayan Dogwood located in the Provost’s garden. It is just over 11 m tall with a short trunk about one metre in girth. Currently the tree is estimated to store 333 kg of carbon.

29 Nov 2023

Environment|Sustainability

Trinity students and staff attend COP28

The 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is taking place for the next two weeks in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This year, Trinity has gained observer status which means representatives access seminars, panels and networking opportunities, but not the negotiations.

29 Nov 2023

Environment|Society|Sustainability

Trinity to headquarter Climate+ Co-Centre

The new €41.3 million research centre will be the home of research, innovation, and policy development across the interlinked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water degradation on the islands of Ireland and Britain.

28 Nov 2023

Awards and Funding|Environment|Research|Science|Sustainability