Personal website of Prof. Hannah Daly, University College Cork https://hannahdaly.ie/ At a Time of Climate Crisis – Carbon budgets are a physical reality, not political slogans - Column for the Irish Times, January 1st 2026 Ireland has become very good at talking about climate ambition. We have targets, plans, sectoral ceilings, and a strong climate law. And yet, when you look closely at many of our most consequential decisions, it is hard to escape the sense that... Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800 https://hannahdaly.ie/2026-01-02-ignoring-physics/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2026-01-02-ignoring-physics/ Reaction to the CRU policy in relation to data centre connections - The CRU’s new decision on data centre connections is notable because it lays bare a deeper problem in our climate governance. To its credit, the decision explicitly acknowledges that the growth of data centres poses a material risk to Ireland’s ability to meet its carbon budgets. It also openly states... Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0800 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-12-12-CRU-data-centre-policy/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-12-12-CRU-data-centre-policy/ An Taisce climate event for President Connolly - I had the enormous honour of participating in an event for President Connolly on the climate and biodiversity emergency, organised by An Taisce. The event was called “Snapshots on climate change and its impacts on our welfare” and the President gave a powerful opening address about her vision to be... Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0800 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-11-19-an-taisce-president-connolly/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-11-19-an-taisce-president-connolly/ Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy - Last month, I was invited to a meeting of the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy as part of their deliverations on the carbon budgets recommended by the Climate Change Advisory Council last December. I will not go into the full details of what was proposed, but I led,... Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-10-07-engagement-on-carbon-budgets/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-10-07-engagement-on-carbon-budgets/ At a Time of Climate Crisis - Solar is the world’s new superpower - Column for the Irish Times, October 2nd 2025 While the political drama of the energy transition has centred on the United States this year, and whether Donald Trump will succeed in derailing it, something quieter but more consequential is happening elsewhere. Solar energy is becoming the world’s new energy superpower.... Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-10-02-solar-let-the-sun-shine/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-10-02-solar-let-the-sun-shine/ This week, I participated in the first Overshoot Conference hosted by IIASA. I’m looking forward to a full writeup of the conference outcomes because it became clear that while we are entering climate overshoot, and the urgency of action is never clearer, the concept of returning to 1.5C “from above”... Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-10-01-overshoot-conference/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-10-01-overshoot-conference/ Invited talk to SEAI board - In September, I was very grateful to be asked to give a talk to the board of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Download my talk (PDF) The “no brainer” view of sustainable energy For those of us who work in this field, sustainable energy often feels like a no-brainer.... Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-09-08-SEAI-board-talk/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-09-08-SEAI-board-talk/ At a Time of Climate Crisis - GWP* risks backsliding for methane-intensive sectors - Why ‘No Additional Warming’ Is a Dangerous Climate Loophole Column for the Irish Times, September 4th 2025 “No additional warming”: it sounds like an ambitious climate target. In fact, this idea that now risks becoming the foundation of Ireland’s long-term climate strategy would allow Ireland to continue emitting high levels... Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-09-04-GWP-star-temperature-neutrality/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-09-04-GWP-star-temperature-neutrality/ Article for the Macroom Historical Society - When I think about climate change, I don’t begin with melting glaciers or distant conferences. I think about my grandfather, who left the cement factory in Limerick in the 1970s to become a self-employed plumber. The oil shocks had pushed Ireland to diversify how we powered and heated our lives.... Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-09-01-from-turf-to-tomorrow-macroom/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-09-01-from-turf-to-tomorrow-macroom/ At a Time of Climate Crisis - There are serious questions over the sustainability of hydrotreated vegetable oil and the industries that are promoting its use - Column for the Irish Times, August 7th 2025 “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” This aphorism frequently comes to mind when I reflect on climate solutions. Problems don’t come more complex or urgent than climate change, and sadly there is no shortage... Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-08-07-HVO-climate-quick-fix/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-08-07-HVO-climate-quick-fix/ At a Time of Climate Crisis - Focusing solely on the feasibility of 1.5 risks paralysis; instead, debate should centre on how to reduce warming and prepare for large-scale carbon drawdown - Irish Times Column, July 3rd 2025 What happens to the Paris Agreement once the world breaches 1.5 degrees of global warming? This question, long debated in climate circles, has now become unavoidable. In 2024, the hottest year ever recorded, global temperatures averaged 1.6 degrees above pre-industrial levels. One year doesn’t... Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-07-03-1.5-degrees-overshoot-what-now/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-07-03-1.5-degrees-overshoot-what-now/ At a Time of Climate Crisis - A pioneering Donegal project shows how long-duration energy storage will play a role in Ireland’s clean energy futuredrawdown - ### Irish Times column for June 2025 One of Ireland’s most exciting and important energy projects is quietly being developed at a remote outpost in Donegal, not far from Malin head. FuturEnergy Ireland, a joint venture between Coillte and ESB, has been granted planning permission to build Europe’s first iron-air... Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-06-02-rusting-batteries/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-06-02-rusting-batteries/ At a Time of Climate Crisis - Promises are easy to make but harder to keep - Irish Times column for May 2025 A few short years ago, the global climate movement surged with optimism. Millions of young people marched, corporations made bold climate promises, and political leaders spoke urgently of a looming crisis demanding immediate action. Today, the wind has left the sails of this movement and... Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-05-02-waning-momentum/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-05-02-waning-momentum/ At a Time of Climate Crisis - The greatest cost of new fossil fuel projects may be the missed opportunity to build clean energy - Irish Times column for April 2025 The current government has committed to radically reducing Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels. Yet forces continue to work against this essential goal. A recent example is the granting of planning permission for a new large power plant on the Shannon Estuary. Fuelled by natural... Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-04-02-sunk-costs/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-04-02-sunk-costs/ Inside Politics podcast from the Irish Times, 11th March - I joined the Irish Times Inside Politics podcast to discuss a recent report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Climate Council, with former Green Party leader and Climate minister Eamon Ryan. I asked ChatGPT to summarise the discussion and to generate a cleaned version of the transcript. Link to... Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0700 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-03-11-inside-politics-podcast/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-03-11-inside-politics-podcast/ The implications are alarming - How Trump is Eviscerating US Climate Action President Donald Trump and his administration are systematically dismantling federal climate action in the United States. Trump’s agenda goes beyond championing fossil fuels—his administration is aggressively targeting clean energy. In 2024, the US saw record-breaking growth in renewable energy, supported by falling costs... Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0800 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-03-03-how-trump-is-eviscerating-climate-action/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-03-03-how-trump-is-eviscerating-climate-action/ If we don’t build resilience into our energy transition, we risk going backwards. - After the Storm: Energy Resilience in a Changing Climate Days and days without heat and water. No oven or microwave to cook a hot meal. Uncharged phones; no internet. Whole towns sold out of bread and gas. No power for medical devices. Storm Éowyn’s hurricane-force winds caused unprecedented destruction to... Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0800 https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-02-01-after-the-storm-eowyn-resiliance/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2025-02-01-after-the-storm-eowyn-resiliance/ Some personal reflections on the upcoming Irish general election, and a plea - How do party manifestos signal the possible shape of climate action in the next government? Read the independent assessment of the climate action pledges commissioned by Friends of the Earth After spending much of the past week going through more than 1,000 pages of 9 political party manifestos, there are... Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 https://hannahdaly.ie/2024-11-26-election-24-climate-manifestos/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2024-11-26-election-24-climate-manifestos/ New journal paper to support carbon budgets analysis - My team published a significant new paper which analyses the implications of overshooting carbon budgets in Ireland. Below I replicate our press release, which was picked up by the Irish Times this morning. Swift energy transition in Ireland is needed to prevent climate and economic costs – new study Most... Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 https://hannahdaly.ie/2024-11-11-paper-implications-of-delay/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2024-11-11-paper-implications-of-delay/ At a Time of Climate Crisis - Political parties need to spell out how they’ll uphold and strengthen Ireland’s carbon budgets - Irish Times, November 7th 2024 - link As we approach a general election, voters and journalists should press political parties on two essential climate questions: Will they uphold and champion Ireland’s climate law? And what policies will they implement to deliver the immediate, deep and sustained emissions cuts necessary to... Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 https://hannahdaly.ie/2024-11-04-Irish-election-climate/ https://hannahdaly.ie/2024-11-04-Irish-election-climate/