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The Lie of the Land: A Game Plan for Ireland in the Climate Crisis
Shortlisted for Non-Fiction Book of The Year, Irish Book Awards 2025
'Explosive' Irish Times
‘Well-argued and well-written’ Matt Cooper
'A bracing critique' The Currency
A passionate case for reimagining Irish farming and agriculture in the age of climate change, from a respected environmental journalist.
Ireland has tended to think of itself as a ‘Goldilocks’ not too hot, not too cold, and well positioned to ride out the climate emergency. But this is a the effects of climate change in Ireland will be profound, and at the moment we’re not doing nearly enough about it. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Ireland has the wherewithal to dramatically cut its emissions while making itself far more resilient. This book shows how it can be done.
Above all, we must reimagine the ways in which we use the land. The agrifood sector accounts for 38 per cent of Ireland's greenhouse emissions – and just 7 per cent of gross national income. As John Gibbons shows, Ireland's dramatic shift towards the most polluting food sectors – driven by a small number of agribusiness giants and facilitated by the state – benefits the few while imposing huge costs on the many. It doesn't have to be this way, and Gibbons, who grew up on a mixed farm, shows how we can embrace a low-emissions farming model while preserving farmers' livelihoods, making the countryside a better place to live, and delivering something Ireland conspicuously food security.
The Lie of the Land is a bracing critique of the bad decisions that have put Ireland into such a vulnerable position, and a devastating dissection of the wishful thinking and outright dishonesty that have propped up the status quo in Irish agribusiness. It also offers an inspiring vision of how – through a revolution in farming, development of renewable energy (including our vast offshore wind resource), and a dramatic acceleration of moves to decarbonize transport and housing – we can prepare for the new realities of the climate crisis.
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‘An education for anyone baffled by the rows that bedevil climate policy in Ireland and a glimpse at the alternatives to the business - as - usual approach. But mostly, it's a plea for honesty around topics when hiding from the truth has for too long been the national approach.’ Irish Independent
‘Compelling and impassioned … eye opening’ Sunday Independent
‘Read this exposé of malicious planetary negligence and be inspired to act before it’s too late’ Michael Mann
‘Offers some clear ideas for an Irish path into a safer future – the time for climate complacency has come and gone’ Bill McKibben
‘A benchmark book … the inside story from a great author of Ireland's failure to take the threat of climate change seriously’ Prof. John Sweeney
'Explosive' Irish Times
‘Well-argued and well-written’ Matt Cooper
'A bracing critique' The Currency
A passionate case for reimagining Irish farming and agriculture in the age of climate change, from a respected environmental journalist.
Ireland has tended to think of itself as a ‘Goldilocks’ not too hot, not too cold, and well positioned to ride out the climate emergency. But this is a the effects of climate change in Ireland will be profound, and at the moment we’re not doing nearly enough about it. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Ireland has the wherewithal to dramatically cut its emissions while making itself far more resilient. This book shows how it can be done.
Above all, we must reimagine the ways in which we use the land. The agrifood sector accounts for 38 per cent of Ireland's greenhouse emissions – and just 7 per cent of gross national income. As John Gibbons shows, Ireland's dramatic shift towards the most polluting food sectors – driven by a small number of agribusiness giants and facilitated by the state – benefits the few while imposing huge costs on the many. It doesn't have to be this way, and Gibbons, who grew up on a mixed farm, shows how we can embrace a low-emissions farming model while preserving farmers' livelihoods, making the countryside a better place to live, and delivering something Ireland conspicuously food security.
The Lie of the Land is a bracing critique of the bad decisions that have put Ireland into such a vulnerable position, and a devastating dissection of the wishful thinking and outright dishonesty that have propped up the status quo in Irish agribusiness. It also offers an inspiring vision of how – through a revolution in farming, development of renewable energy (including our vast offshore wind resource), and a dramatic acceleration of moves to decarbonize transport and housing – we can prepare for the new realities of the climate crisis.
---
‘An education for anyone baffled by the rows that bedevil climate policy in Ireland and a glimpse at the alternatives to the business - as - usual approach. But mostly, it's a plea for honesty around topics when hiding from the truth has for too long been the national approach.’ Irish Independent
‘Compelling and impassioned … eye opening’ Sunday Independent
‘Read this exposé of malicious planetary negligence and be inspired to act before it’s too late’ Michael Mann
‘Offers some clear ideas for an Irish path into a safer future – the time for climate complacency has come and gone’ Bill McKibben
‘A benchmark book … the inside story from a great author of Ireland's failure to take the threat of climate change seriously’ Prof. John Sweeney
- GenresIrelandNonfiction
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2025
11 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
John Gibbons
90 books4 followersVarious author profiles.
For John Gibbons, the registered sports osteopath, see John Gibbons.
For John Gibbons, professor of linguistics etc., see John Gibbons.
For John Gibbons, the registered sports osteopath, see John Gibbons.
For John Gibbons, professor of linguistics etc., see John Gibbons.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 22, 2025
Things are looking ROUGH.
I liked the sidetrack where he talks about his feud with Pat Kenny. A lot of stuff in here I was familiar with. Worthwhile for detail which was new to me.
3.5
I liked the sidetrack where he talks about his feud with Pat Kenny. A lot of stuff in here I was familiar with. Worthwhile for detail which was new to me.
3.5
November 24, 2025
A comprehensive account of the extent of how miserably Ireland is failing to reduce its carbon emissions-primarily due to the agricultural sector and big business in general; offers realistic alternatives and provides examples in every scenario from other countries as to how this can be done.
A chilling read in the possibilities, or realities it conveys-that are soon to occur if action isn’t taken immediately by us, in pressuring the big bozos who prioritise the economy over people and the planet to move towards alternative energy and food production sources at a much faster rate.
A chilling read in the possibilities, or realities it conveys-that are soon to occur if action isn’t taken immediately by us, in pressuring the big bozos who prioritise the economy over people and the planet to move towards alternative energy and food production sources at a much faster rate.
December 17, 2025
I just finished this powerful & shocking book.
The detail - and copious supporting references - starkly show how we have been deceived & lied to by powerful lobbyists, by farming groups, motor and airline industries.
Govt leadership on the issue is collapsing despite ordinary ppl wanting action - and very many taking action with their own €€€ (domestic PV & heatpump installs, EVs, cycling, retrofits, etc).
Everyone who is concerned for their children and grandchildren should read this and take action - and lobby all local TDs.
The detail - and copious supporting references - starkly show how we have been deceived & lied to by powerful lobbyists, by farming groups, motor and airline industries.
Govt leadership on the issue is collapsing despite ordinary ppl wanting action - and very many taking action with their own €€€ (domestic PV & heatpump installs, EVs, cycling, retrofits, etc).
Everyone who is concerned for their children and grandchildren should read this and take action - and lobby all local TDs.
November 14, 2025
Cogent and concise introduction to environmental issues (in particular climate change, though also touching upon the related areas of biodiversity and water cycles)in Ireland across the agricultural, transport, energy and transport sectors. I found the focus on the agricultural sector particularly informative, as I knew very little about the politics and policies of Irish agriculture.
December 6, 2025
An exceptional read and terrifying examination of how climate change will impact Ireland in many drastic ways if we don't change how we go about many aspects of life and mitigate at least some of the impacts to come. As eye opening as reading David Wallace-Wells' The Uninhabitable Earth with an Irish slant.
October 13, 2025
An essential read for anyone who wants to know the ins and outs of climate action, or rather inaction, in Ireland. It's an easy read language wise but the content will boil your blood with all the corruption!
November 14, 2025
I wish I'd had this book when I first moved to Ireland. It does a good job of outlining the absurdities of Irish climate action. It's not a cheery book, but covers important issues that are too often ignored.
December 6, 2025
A book that should be read by everyone in Ireland!
December 31, 2025
A must-read for anyone interested in or worried about climate change and climate action in Ireland. John pulls no punches and lays out exactly where Ireland has failed and is falling behind in emissions reduction, and how to fix the situation.
Through his years of experience covering climate, as well as his family background in farming, John cuts through the lobbying nonsense to shine a light on how much Irish government climate policy and societal awareness has been captured and mislead by the agricultural industry. Every other failing sector & industry is dutifully addressed with a prescription of how to get it back on track towards Ireland's climate targets, as well as the frank & urgent reasons why this needs to happen.
"This would all be fine were it not for the fact that it is absolute lunacy" is a quote that manages to convey the gravity of the situation and the motivation with which everyone should read this book.
Through his years of experience covering climate, as well as his family background in farming, John cuts through the lobbying nonsense to shine a light on how much Irish government climate policy and societal awareness has been captured and mislead by the agricultural industry. Every other failing sector & industry is dutifully addressed with a prescription of how to get it back on track towards Ireland's climate targets, as well as the frank & urgent reasons why this needs to happen.
"This would all be fine were it not for the fact that it is absolute lunacy" is a quote that manages to convey the gravity of the situation and the motivation with which everyone should read this book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews