Ireland gets first climate camp

Environmental activists have taken up residence outside a peat-burning power plant in central Ireland to protest over the use of the natural resource.


The Shannonbridge power station uses peat harvest from nearby bogs managed by Bord na Móna.

The activists have set up Climate Camp Ireland, claiming that burning peat is an unsustainable way to generate electricity.

Direct action has included filling in ditches dug to drain the bogs for harvesting and waving placards comparing Ireland’s peat bogs to the Amazonian rainforests.

“This is the first step that’s needed to restore our bogs” said activists Molly Walsh.

“People don’t realise that when bogs are drained and dried, they release ample amounts of carbon dioxide, even before the peat is burnt. Degraded peatlands release 0.97 million tonnes of CO2 annually in Ireland.”

Sam Bond

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