News Update 29.01.2025

• The Irish Examiner reports that the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) doubts the government’s ability to meet its EV sales targets, citing slow public transport improvements and limited consumer behaviour changes. With only 110,000 EVs currently, over 100,000 new EVs would need to be sold annually to reach the 2030 target of 936,000.?https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41563129.html?

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• In a report by RTé, Bank of Ireland is financing ￡98m for the Inch Cape offshore wind project in Scotland, which will power over half of Scottish homes. This 1.1-gigawatt wind farm is the bank’s largest green energy investment. The bank aims to support a net-zero economy by 2050, with green lending targets of €15 billion by 2025 and €30 billion by 2030.?https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0129/1493568-bank-of-ireland-invests-l98m-in-scottish-offshore-project/?

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• Outlined by The Irish Times, the aftermath of Storm éowyn has left nearly 142,000 homes and businesses in Ireland without electricity. The EU is sending 17 generators to assist, with 13 from Poland’s ‘rescEU’ reserve and 4 from Denmark. Crews from Austria and Finland are also helping restore power. The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre is closely monitoring the situation and remains in contact with Irish authorities.?https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/01/28/storm-eowyn-aftermath-power-cuts-updates/?

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• Euronews reveals that a new study found that human-caused climate change worsened the Los Angeles wildfires by reducing rainfall, drying vegetation, and increasing drought conditions with strong Santa Ana winds. Conducted by 32 researchers from World Weather Attribution, the study shows climate change made the fires 35% more likely.?https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/01/29/a-perfect-storm-how-climate-change-made-the-la-wildfires-more-likely-and-more-deadly?

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• Politico highlights that the EU’s latest sanctions package against Russia will not include a full ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, despite pressure to do so. Instead, it will restrict Russian LNG from entering EU terminals not connected to the EU’s gas system. The package also targets aging oil-exporting tankers and Moscow’s aluminium exports. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-lets-russian-gas-slip-again-in-new-sanctions-package/?

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