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Tara Connolly

@taraconnolly.bsky.social

14K followers 3.4K following 340 posts

All things energy transition, climate justice and safe streets in the EU. Formerly at Greenpeace, Friends of The Earth and Global Witness. Now working at @beyondfossilfuels. Irish immigrant in Brussels.

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · Apr 27

"Honestly, my dear, the 100 euros here is not enough for two days of food". This is part of a message Mohammed sent me this morning.

Please donate if you can to help stop Mohammed and his family from starving while we hope the blockade is ended soon.

www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisre...

Donate to Help Nisreen's Family Rebuild Their Home in Gaza, organized by Tara Connolly

Hi, my name is Tara and I'm Irish, living in Belgium. I'm fundrai… Tara Connolly needs your support for Help Nisreen's Family Rebuild Their Home in Gaza

www.gofundme.com

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 21h

My fantastic colleague @julietphillips.bsky.social has co-written a briefing with @bramclaeys.bsky.social of @regassistproj.bsky.social on how to improve Europe's grid governance.

A quick summary with links below 👇

Beyond Fossil Fuels @beyondfossilfuels.bsky.social · 22h

Electricity grid upgrades are central to Europe's future energy security and competitiveness.
To achieve this, it needs to:
1️⃣ Give national regulators a statutory mandate for the energy transition.
2️⃣ Create independent system operators and planners (ISOPs) to oversee grid planning in the public
🧵1/5

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 1d

When the MEP really, really doesn't want to meet you. 😅

Unfortunately she is fully booked until end of the year.

Kind regards,

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Reposted by Tara Connolly

Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · 5d

So very sorry to learn that Manchán Magan has passed.

He was a rare talent, and a lovely guy, and still had so much more to give.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/2025...

Manchán Magan: writer and documentary maker dies aged 55

Author spoke of terminal illness in recent radio interview, saying he did not feel despair

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Tara Connolly

Drilled @drilledmedia.bsky.social · 7d

In this week's episode, we dig into the psychology of mis/disinformation and why it works so well. We thought we knew a lot about disinformation, and then we talked to these experts!

drilled.media/podcasts/dri...

S14, Ep3 | The Psychology of Misinformation: Why Does It Work So Well?

Investigating the obstacles to action on climate change.

drilled.media

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Reposted by Tara Connolly

Jenny Frecklington-Jones #IStandWithWatermelon🍉🍉 @joneshowdareyou.bsky.social · 8d

Dr Assal Rad—

"UNICEF Spox James Elder is back in Gaza and says the violence is worse than ever.

"A horror show, paid for with US tax dollars."

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 9d

Meanwhile EDF has €50bn of debt but France refuses to stop flogging that dead horse.

www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/...

Night trains linking Paris, Berlin and Vienna to halt as France cuts funding

Some Nightjet services suspended from mid-December after French withdrawal amid public budget crisis Europe live – latest updates

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Tara Connolly

Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 9d

You really ain't seen nuthin' yet

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Environmental damage is putting European way of life at risk, says report

EU officials warn climate breakdown and wildlife loss ‘are ruining ecosystems that underpin the economy’

www.theguardian.com

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 14d

Irish energy folks!

I'm not normally one for self-promotion but I'm heading to Dublin next month for this event and would love to see many of you there!

Text reads: Business Post Energy Summit 2025, Accelerating The Transition to Ireland's Net-Zero Emissions Future. 15th October, 2025 at Croke Park, Dublin.

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Reposted by Tara Connolly

Prof Lisa Schipper 🌍🍉💪 @lisaschipper.bsky.social · 17d

Not great news for a Monday.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 17d

Nations’ plans to ramp up coal, gas and oil extraction ‘will put climate goals beyond reach’

New data shows governments now planning more fossil fuel production in coming decades than they were in 2023 Governments around the world are ramping up coal, gas and oil extraction which will put climate goals beyond reach, new data has shown. Far from reducing reliance on fossil fuels, nations are planning higher levels of fossil fuel production for the coming decades than they did in 2023, the last time comparable data was compiled. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Tara Connolly

Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 19d

Looking forward to a nice weekend?

Nisreen, Mohammed and their children will be spending the weekend setting up their tent on a patch of land after fleeing Gaza City.

The cost to transport a family south was $1,000 plus $300 for a new tent.

Please donate and share widely.

gofund.me/8a4bbeef3

Donate to Help Nisreen's Family Rebuild Their Home in Gaza, organized by Tara Connolly

Hi, my name is Tara and I'm Irish, living in Belgium. I'm fundrai… Tara Connolly needs your support for Help Nisreen's Family Rebuild Their Home in Gaza

gofund.me

4 8

Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 19d

Donate to Help Nisreen's Family Rebuild Their Home in Gaza, organized by Tara Connolly

Hi, my name is Tara and I'm Irish, living in Belgium. I'm fundrai… Tara Connolly needs your support for Help Nisreen's Family Rebuild Their Home in Gaza

gofund.me

4 8

Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 21d

💸 New @re-set.bsky.social report shows how EP Group (€10.3bn) & Sev.en Energy (€0.95bn) have siphoned off public money across Europe. While people paid record bills, coal tycoons cashed in.

👉https://re-set.cz/download/freeloaders_final.pdf

Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 23d

Irish energy folks!

I'll be attending the Energy Transitions summit in Croke Park on 15 October.

I hope to see some of you there?

energysummit.ie/agenda/2025/

2025 Agenda – Energy Transition Summit

energysummit.ie

Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 26d

Watching the left in the US argue about how they should or shouldn't react to Charlie Kirk's shooting instead of pouring every ounce of energy into gun reform at this very moment is really something.

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 27d

The fact this request was even made is another sign of how low the Parliament has slipped.

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 27d

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola rejected a bid by right-wing factions to hold a minute of silence today for slain US conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.

Uproar as EU Parliament declines to hold minute of silence for Charlie Kirk

Right-wing lawmakers pushed for a tribute to the U.S. conservative influencer who was shot dead.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Tara Connolly

Ste McGovern @stemcgovern.bsky.social · 28d

Absolutely bizarre timeline we're in when the president of the European parliament is giving a statement about the death of an American rage bait artist

European Parliament president Roberta Metsola said: “Shocked at the absolutely horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah today. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and young children – who were the bedrock of his life. May they find strength and may he rest in peace.”

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 29d

Totally agree. There's a clear agenda with this think tank and it's most likely to serve the interests of the Collison brothers, not the people of Ireland.

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 29d

Yes, we can differentiate civil society organisations (CSOs) from think thanks. Maybe that label is more useful than NGOs.

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 29d

I mean this one is very simply the Stripe brothers paying for political influence.

And yeah, the names are crap.

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 29d

Don't say it too loudly, the Irish construction lobby might get some ideas from your post 😄

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 29d

Having lived in an apartment in Dublin with no balcony for 4 years, I can say it's not great.

Nowhere to dry your clothes (leading to mold) or get some fresh air.

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · 29d

The think tank set up by the Stripe brothers (ironically named Progress Ireland) is now advocating for removing balconies from the design of Irish apartments to cut costs.

Thankfully @ciarancuffe.bsky.social is a voice of reason against this nonsense.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

The debate: Does every apartment really need a balcony?

Are apartment balconies a waste of space and money - or valuable access to the outdoors for city dwellers?

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Tara Connolly

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 29d

Such crap reporting from supposed EU specialists - the CO2 regulation of vehicles is set out in legislation adopted by Member States' ministers and elected MEPs, not a 'Commission ban' - www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 29d

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened the IAA auto show in Munich today with a critique of the European Commission’s 2035 combustion engine ban.

Germany’s Merz slams EU combustion engine ban

The German chancellor is echoed by conservative politicians and the auto industry in attacking the EU’s 2035 car measure.

www.politico.eu

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Tara Connolly @taraconnolly.bsky.social · Sep 7

See you there?

Belga_English (Belga News Agency) @belgaenglish.bsky.social · Sep 7

Tens of thousands expected in Brussels for Gaza protest

The Belgian capital is once again the setting for a large pro-Palestinian demonstration, with thousands of people joining the second “Red Line for...

www.belganewsagency.eu

Reposted by Tara Connolly

Ellie Mae O'Hagan @elliemaeohagan.bsky.social · Aug 28

I am once again saying that clean energy is inherently cheap, and the reason we don't benefit from that is because the energy market doesn't let us. Great stuff here from my colleague @chrisgalpin.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Heat pumps could halve heating bills with energy system reform, study finds

Steps to make electricity cheaper, such as ending levies, could transform prospects for pumps, thinktank shows

www.theguardian.com

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