AGP Executive Report

Coastal Cleanup in Mayo: An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean returns to close the 2026 bathing season, with registrations open until Sept 7 and clean-ups running Sept 18–20; last year saw 500+ groups, nearly 11,000 volunteers and 60+ tonnes of litter removed, with free kit support from Kia Ireland. Energy Transition Equity: Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland is urging Government action in Budget 2027 to protect rural households, proposing a Joint Fuel Enforcement Taskforce, a Solid Fuel Decarbonisation Fund, an EPA compliance database and a public awareness push—after survey findings that compliant retailers are being undercut by illegal sellers and enforcement is weak. River Life Under Pressure: A Dublin councillor is calling for urgent action after dead fish reports across rivers, linking drought and heat to stressed waterways and pointing to fertiliser and slurry runoff plus dairy processing impacts as major drivers. Protect Killarney Swimming Spots: Lochanna Beo is pushing for official designation of popular Killarney bathing areas to unlock stronger protection, safety gear and regular water quality monitoring, with submissions due Sept 25. Local Green Space at Risk: Campaigners in Kinsale oppose plans to remove a community orchard at Sáile and replace it with two full-size astro-turf pitches, warning of habitat and wildlife loss.

Climate & Water Regulation: Wallonia blocked Google’s water-permit tweak for an AI data centre, rejecting a plan to pump 600 cubic metres an hour from the Sambre River because it would worsen stress on already critically low flows during drought. Energy & Infrastructure: Chambers Ireland warns Ireland risks missing climate benefits without “systemic” infrastructure change, citing bottlenecks in energy, water/wastewater and transport plus planning delays. AI Data Centres & Efficiency: Trane Technologies and Eaton announced a reference design for AI-factory power and cooling, aiming to cut copper use and installation costs while boosting efficiency. Biodiversity & Pollinators: A critically endangered silver-sided nomad bee was spotted in Co Offaly for the first time in 26 years, adding to Ireland’s rare bee records and feeding into the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan monitoring. Agriculture & Climate Impacts: The Irish Farmers Association says 2026 tillage margins are “beyond serious” after depressed grain yields, with losses on rented land projected across key crops. Road Safety: Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the wrong-way M9 crash that killed five teenagers, calling it reckless behaviour “done for likes” on social media.

Agri-Biodiversity Research: Teagasc has opened a new PhD looking at how agrivoltaic solar PV systems affect biodiversity and soil health, including comparisons of sheep grazing under panels versus no grazing, with fieldwork in Meath and Wexford. Drought Pressure on Farms: The Irish Grain Growers’ Group is urging livestock farmers to use stored Irish grain and high-quality straw to buffer fodder shortages as dry weather bites, with Teagasc set to report on fodder supplies to Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon. Heatwave Water Impact: Uisce Éireann confirmed a June boil-water notice for about 8,000 households in West Cork was triggered by River Ilen water temperatures rising, linked to operational issues at Ballyhilty Waste Water Treatment Plant. Wildfire Tech & Response: An interview highlights the push to get wildfire information into firefighters’ hands in usable formats, stressing collaboration with emergency protocols as wildfire risk grows. Weather Watch: Met Éireann forecasts 25C in places alongside heavy rain bursts, with a mixed week ahead. AI & Compliance: Ireland’s AI Office and EU AI Act literacy rules are spotlighted as organisations adopt AI in everyday decisions, including people-related processes.

Climate delivery gap: Ireland’s emissions cuts are slipping across every major sector, with less than three-and-a-half years to go and no single area on track to meet legally binding targets. Retrofit slowdown: A review of recent Climate Action Plans highlights missing momentum on home retrofits and heat-pump delivery, with the latest plan gaps leaving households exposed. Weather risk: Met Éireann warns of a sharp shift from recent heat toward heavy showers and persistent rain, with western areas including Galway facing the worst of it. Flooding abroad, lessons for Ireland: Heavy rain alerts in Fiji underline how fast downpours can turn into flash flooding, traffic disruption and dangerous road conditions. Heat and insurance pressure: Europe’s heatwaves are widening the insurance protection gap, leaving businesses exposed to losses that don’t get covered. Farming under stress: Farmers are urged to prioritise safety during drought conditions, as fatigue and accident risk rise while keeping animals watered and fed. Biodiversity and hedgerows: Clare County Council opens a €25k community hedge-cutting grant to support roadside hedgerows for wildlife while improving road safety. Nitrogen rules under strain: Calls grow across Europe to adjust slurry spreading “closed periods” as extreme weather disrupts the timing farmers can realistically apply nutrients. Data centres and power: Ireland’s regulator is pushing requirements for some data-centre connections to link demand to dispatchable generation or storage, as grid strain and reliability concerns mount. Eco housing idea: A Monaghan project is promoting environmentally friendly homes and workplaces built around traditional settlement patterns, aiming for lower-impact living near Dublin.

Nitrogen & Dairy Farming: Teagasc-backed research led in Ireland shows restrictive-duration grazing can cut nitrogen leaching by 40% and ammonia losses by 24%, with findings presented for the Nitrogen Conference in Japan. Heat, Drought & Food Security: A new report on Europe’s heatwaves highlights a protection gap for businesses and the wider economic hit; in Ireland, farmers in Roscommon say dry conditions are delaying second-cut silage and squeezing fodder reserves. Farm Inputs Under Pressure: DAFM data shows over 1 in 5 steers slaughtered in Ireland in the first half of 2026 graded “O-” or below, affecting bonus eligibility and pointing to quality pressures in the beef chain. Local Climate Action: Roscommon Agricultural Show hosts a “Decarbonising Zone” expo focused on biodiversity, water quality and reducing food waste. Coastal Wildlife & Safety: The Irish Coast Guard reports a shark bite off Ardmore, with a helicopter rescue and transfer to Cork University Hospital. Energy Policy Lessons: Eurofound analysis of Europe’s energy price spike response finds governments pairing short-term relief with longer-term moves to diversify supply and cut dependency.

Wildfire & Evacuations: An evacuation order near Okanagan Lake by Vernon was partially lifted after the Bradley Creek wildfire, with specific streets and roads removed from the order while Westside Road stays closed for repairs. Flood Risk: Fiji remains under a heavy rain alert, with flash-flood and slippery-road warnings for multiple islands, including cautions for Irish crossings. Ireland Weather & Drought: Met Éireann warns of a sharp shift from hot, dry conditions to cooler, showery weather next week, but farmers in the south and east still face serious drought impacts and rising costs. Water & Farming Rules: Ireland’s nitrates derogation is extended for 2026–2028, allowing higher stocking rates for about 7,000 dairy farmers under tighter nutrient-storage and slurry rules. Wildlife Conservation: Fota Wildlife Park in Cork welcomed a male Indian rhino calf—only the second of its kind born in Ireland—plus a public naming contest. Home & Garden Practicalities: A natural rat-deterrent guide highlights using onions and garlic around entry points instead of harsher methods. Energy Costs: A column argues Ireland’s electricity prices remain among the highest in the EU and pushes for faster solar rollout.

Wildfire risk and dry conditions: Cork is heading into the weekend with little to no rain expected (Met Éireann chance of rainfall 10% or less), keeping wildfire danger high even as temperatures stay in the low-to-mid 20s. Weather shift for late August: Met Éireann is flagging the week of Aug 31–Sept 6 as the key period for Ireland’s seasonal turn, with mild but more unsettled conditions and only marginally higher precipitation. Atlantic storm timing: Weather models are pointing to a sharper change in the final week of August, with a major temperature drop and more rain as low-pressure systems take over. Heritage at Risk: OPW is offering free admission to 50+ heritage sites as National Heritage Week 2026 opens, with the theme focused on what’s vulnerable and under threat. Energy and housing: A new age-friendly, A-rated housing scheme opened in Castlerea, while Ireland is also exploring nuclear power in a SEAI study to inform a future Government white paper. Biodiversity and land: A wildflower-seed guide warns against chasing “Instagram-perfect” meadows and stresses patience, local suitability, and avoiding non-native mixes that can harm pollinators.

Heat and drought pressures Ireland’s rivers: Inland Fisheries Ireland warns prolonged dry weather and pollution are combining into “lethal” conditions for fish, investigating six major fish kills in six weeks plus more pollution incidents, with high temperatures and low flows cutting survival chances. Farm safety under strain: ICMSA flags a “frightening surge” in farm accidents and tragedies, urging farmers to keep safety front and centre as fatigue grows while managing water and feed in extreme conditions. Water infrastructure push: Uisce Éireann has submitted plans to upgrade the Staleen Water Treatment Plant in Co Meath to make supplies more resilient for homes and businesses in Meath and Louth, benefiting over 70,000 customers if approved. Drought hits farming economics: Farmers warn that ongoing heat and dry spells, plus higher input costs, could lift meat and even vegetable and potato prices; they also point to live exports changes as adding pressure. Wildfires across Europe: A continent-wide wildfire surge linked to intense heat and dry weather has forced evacuations from Croatia to France and Germany, stretching emergency services. Local heritage focus: National Heritage Week events are ramping up across counties including Westmeath, with “Heritage at Risk” highlighting biodiversity concerns.

EU Packaging Overhaul: New EU rules kicking in from 12 August push reuse, refill and return, including asking takeout customers to bring their own reusable containers and restricting familiar single-use items like disposable cups and plates. Solar Power Milestone: Ireland hit a new grid-scale solar peak of 1,258 MW just before 1pm on 11 August, with solar covering about a third of national usage during the surge. Heat and Weather Watch: Met Éireann and climate communicators warn that a “heat low” can distort forecasts during extreme temperatures, making conditions change fast and confusing maps. Water and Wildlife Response: Coast Guard Rescue 115 returned to Shannon after an airlift to Inishmaan was rerouted due to deteriorating weather, while RNLI volunteers saved 25 people after a sailing vessel took on water off Mayo. Farming Under Pressure: Reports note drought and heat are squeezing European milk output, with Irish output down in June as grass growth is hit. Nature-Friendly Farming: Lough Neagh Partnership’s decade of shoreline farm schemes is continuing, backing farmers to shift toward more nature-friendly practices. Energy Storage Progress: Mayo County Council approved SSE’s revised Mullafarry battery plan—80MW/320MWh with a four-hour duration—pending SSE’s final investment decision. Traveller Heritage: Ireland launched its first Traveller Heritage Strategy to protect oral history, music and craft skills, with funding and a Traveller-led working group at its core.

Water Crisis & Policy: DCU’s Fiona Regan warns Ireland can’t treat the hosepipe ban as a short-term fix, calling for a national emergency response and long-term water resilience planning as restrictions may be extended. Heat & Farming Impacts: A dry spell is halting grass growth in parts of eastern and southern Ireland, with dairy farmers reporting major feed costs and already feeding into winter rations. Drought Risk, Fatality: A Cork farmer has died after trying to source water for animals from the River Bandon, with the HSA launching an investigation. AI, Data Centres & Climate Pressure: A UN report says AI-driven data centres are straining electricity, water and land, with major growth projected by 2030. Local Water Safety: Calls are growing for more consistent lifeguard hours during hot spells, after incidents highlighted uneven beach cover across councils. Coastal Rescue: 25 people were rescued after a sailing vessel struck a fish farm and took on water near Clare Island, Co Mayo. Renewables Skills Push: Ohk Energy is opening a careers night as it ramps up hiring for solar PV, batteries and heat-pump related trades.

Heat & health: Met Éireann has a Status Yellow heat warning in place for Leinster and Co Tipperary until Friday morning, with highs around 27–31C and reminders about heat stress, poor sleep, water safety and animal welfare. Farm biosecurity: Irish farmers are being urged to stay alert as Bluetongue rises in the UK; with Ireland in peak midge season, IFA reps say vaccination is the best protection and clinical cases are a worrying shift. Local food sustainability: Cork’s Cork on a Fork festival (14–16 Aug) spotlights sustainable food systems, local biodiversity and hands-on ways to improve food security. Wildlife & climate impacts: A New Forest heathland fire in hot, dry conditions is a stark reminder of how quickly vegetation can burn in Europe’s heat. Community & heritage: National Heritage Week events at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park (15–23 Aug) include free craft showcases and a talk on heritage at risk. Rural tourism funding: Airbnb has doubled its Rural Tourism Fund to €200,000 for locally led projects in Outdoor & Activity, Heritage & Arts, and Hospitality & Food.

Heat Alert: Met Éireann reports 30C recorded in Carlow and Dublin, with Tipperary and all of Leinster under a high temperature alert and more warm, mostly dry weather expected. Drought Impacts on Farming: Milk production is down year-on-year in June, but advice says farmers shouldn’t panic; grass growth is also being squeezed by soil moisture deficits, with supplements and summer crop strategies increasingly used. Water & Wildlife Stress: Inland Fisheries Ireland is investigating major fish kills near Kells and Trim after hundreds of brown trout died, with water and fish samples taken and the public warned not to consume dead fish. Coastal Safety: A Waterford angler was airlifted after a blue shark bite off Ardmore, with the Coast Guard and RNLI responding. Waste & Recycling Backlash: Dublin City Council says “bin scavenging” linked to the Deposit Return Scheme is costing almost €1,000 a day due to damaged bins and extra litter. Forestry Debate: New reporting highlights a push for productive forestry to meet carbon goals, but with trade-offs for biodiversity. Data Centres & Local Power: A proposed data-centre moratorium hearing is set for Calvert County, reflecting growing community and governance friction around new infrastructure.

Data & Climate Risk: Allianz Commercial says the global data centre insurance market could more than double to £17.8bn by 2030 as AI drives rapid build-out, with insurers increasingly exposed to natural catastrophe and climate risk—about 79% of capacity sits in hazard-exposed areas. Irish Power Mix: EirGrid provisional figures show grid-scale solar hit a record 9.4% of Ireland’s July electricity mix (up from 8.2% in June), as wind supplied about 22% and total demand rose to 2,744GWh. Drought & Farming: The IFA warns of an “unprecedented lack of rain” leaving tillage facing a tough harvest and farmers heading into full winter feed mode under heavy cost pressure. Bees & Biodiversity: Dublin beekeeper reports the “best year ever in 20 years” for honey, but drought is cutting pollen collection as plants struggle without moisture. Water & Wildlife: Inland Fisheries Ireland is investigating a major fish kill in Co Meath, with reports of more than 500 fish found dead along a 9km stretch. Solar Eclipse (Tonight): Ireland’s deep partial eclipse is expected to peak around 7pm, with viewing events in places like Knocknagrave Environmental Centre; organisers stress certified eclipse glasses and never direct viewing. Coastal Incident: A man is recovering after a shark bite off Co Waterford, with Coast Guard helicopter and RNLI lifeboats involved.

Data Centres & Climate Accountability: A proposed Amazon data centre in Texas has drawn fire over a permitted plan to emit up to 33 million tonnes of CO2 a year, raising fears it could become the US’s biggest single pollution source despite the company’s climate pledges. Heat & Drought Impacts: Western Europe has logged its hottest June–July on record, with “exceptional persistence of heat” linked to drought, wildfires and low river flows—conditions also echoed in Ireland’s dry spell. Irish Water Stress: Uisce Éireann says Bohernabreena reservoir in the Dublin mountains is badly depleted but not yet at a critical point, while a hosepipe ban could be extended beyond 26 August if dry weather continues. Wildlife & Water Quality: Inland Fisheries Ireland is investigating a major fish kill in Co Meath near Kells, with over 500 brown trout dead across a 9km stretch; the public is urged not to consume dead fish. Local Planning & Opposition: Kildare councillors face renewed pressure over a planned Microsoft data centre campus in Naas, with calls to remove data-centre zoning before any application is lodged. Transport Electrification: EV sales in Ireland are up strongly, pushing the fleet to around 196,000 vehicles, while London’s Arriva has put 72 electric double-deckers into full service using large onboard batteries. Agriculture Under Strain: Fianna Fáil is calling for the fodder and feed security committee to reconvene urgently as prolonged dryness threatens grass growth and silage supplies.

Heat & Water Watch: Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow high-temperature warning for Leinster and Tipperary, with muggy nights, heat-stress and animal-welfare risks, and the hosepipe ban still in place as low rainfall keeps water schemes under pressure. Heatwave Context: Ireland is heading into a warm spell with highs around 28C, plus possible thunderstorms later in the week, before a cooler, wetter change. Agri-Tourism Boost (Inishturk): Planners have approved a sustainable agri-tourism cabin project on Inishturk, adding three guest cabins plus serviced camping to tackle the island’s tight accommodation supply. Housing Pressure (East Mayo): Twenty-four new homes are proposed for Kilkelly, framed as “sustainable” growth support near local services and the Ireland West Airport Knock SDZ corridor. Farming Under Dry Skies: The IFA is calling for the National Fodder and Food Security Committee to reconvene as dry weather may force farmers into early winter feed use. Methane Feed Additives Debate: A new EU study (including Ireland) finds public acceptance of methane-cutting feed additives depends heavily on how information is presented—raising a challenge for dairy climate measures. Biodiversity Moment (Fota): Fota Wildlife Park has welcomed a rare male Indian rhino calf, the second born in Ireland, and is inviting the public to help name him. West Cork Nature Films: Three documentary screenings celebrate rewilding and river life in the region, spotlighting Atlantic rainforest restoration and community ties to the Coomhola River.

Heat & drought across Europe: Copernicus data says western Europe just logged its hottest June–July on record, with record heat and much drier soils feeding drought impacts and wildfire risk—while another hot spell is expected to hit Ireland and neighbours. Ireland weather: Met Éireann forecasts warm, dry conditions turning hotter again this week, with highs around 28–29C in places and rain edging in from the Atlantic; a nationwide hosepipe ban remains in place as heat stress could affect vulnerable people. Urban cooling study: New research highlights how canals can cool nearby neighbourhoods during heatwaves, offering a practical, nature-based option for cities facing hotter summers. Water stress in practice: Yorkshire Water apologised after bursts left some communities with low or no supply, underlining how heat-driven demand and infrastructure strain can quickly become a public issue. Agri-food & climate: Teagasc and EU partners launched a dairy-beef project focused on grass-based systems, aiming to boost pasture access and animal welfare while meeting climate ambitions. Public health & travel: Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre reports tropical illnesses are rising, linked largely to increased travel and NGO/business movement. HSE workplace culture: An internal HSE assessment says immigrant staff are reluctant to report racist abuse because management responses can be ineffective or absent.