The European Commission is taking Ireland to court over its failure to protect peat bogs, which store massive amounts of carbon. Despite legal warnings since 2019, Ireland has not stopped commercial turf cutting on protected boglands. A recent report from Ireland's own Environmental Protection Agency confirmed widespread violations of EU environmental laws. Peat bogs are critical carbon sinks. When drained and cut, they release stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The EU says Ireland's protections remain inadequate even after Bord na Mona, the state peat agency, shifted to conservation and green energy. The case is especially awkward because Ireland takes over the EU Council presidency in July 2025.
