Friends of the Irish Environment v. Shannon LNG

In May of 2025, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) filed for judicial review of the proposed 600 megawatt Shannon LNG power plant before the High Court of Ireland. The plaintiff alleges that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) produced by the developer contains “critical failures.” These insufficiencies center around inaccurate climate impact assessments, as the FIE contends that the EIS significantly underestimates the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, upstream and downstream emissions, and methane leakage associated with the project. The complaint specifically alleges that the project does not comply with EU taxonomy criteria for sustainable activities, specifically with lifecycle emissions thresholds pursuant to the EU’s sustainable finance regulations. Based on the flawed EIS, FIE claims that permitting the project breaches obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act of 2021 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive. Proceedings occurred in late May of 2025, and a judgment from the High Court is now pending. Meanwhile, in 2025, Shannon LNG reactivated and submitted a broader application for the entire Shannon Technology and Energy Park, with a decision expected in September of 2025.