Ireland's misty landscapes are synonymous with rolling boglands — vast, spongy wetlands that have shaped the island’s culture, economy, and energy practices for centuries. At the heart of a growing environmental debate is peat, the dark, earthy material cut from these bogs and traditionally used to heat Irish homes and power industries.

But in recent decades, peat has become a lightning rod in environmental policy and climate activism. The controversy hinges on two major questions: Should Ireland continue to extract and burn peat? And is peat truly a fossil fuel, as some claim?

 

What Is Peat?

As we have covered more in depth in other blogs, Peat is an organic material formed over thousands of years from the partial decomposition of plant matter in waterlogged conditions. In Ireland, it’s typically harvested from raised and blanket bogs that act like massive sponges across the countryside. When dried, peat becomes a dense, combustible fuel — one that has warmed generations of Irish households and, more recently, fed power stations operated by Bord na Móna (the state-owned peat company).

 

The Cultural Importance of Peat

Peat cutting (or “turf cutting”) is deeply woven into rural Irish identity. Families have passed down the practice through generations, using “turf” for both heat and social cohesion. For many, bogs are more than ecosystems — they are heritage landscapes. This cultural attachment makes government efforts to curtail peat extraction emotionally and politically charged.

 

The Environmental Cost

Peatlands are one of the world’s most effective carbon sinks. They store vast amounts of CO₂ — more per hectare than forests — and disrupting them releases that stored carbon into the atmosphere. Ireland, facing climate targets under EU directives, has been forced to rethink its relationship with this traditional fuel.

Recent years have seen a major shift. Bord na Móna ended peat harvesting for electricity in 2021, and environmental protections have tightened. Still, private turf cutting continues, with exemptions for “domestic use” fueling an ongoing debate.

Is Peat a Fossil Fuel?

Here’s where confusion — and controversy — often arises.

Peat is not a fossil fuel in the strict scientific sense. Fossil fuels — like coal, oil, and natural gas — are formed from ancient biological matter subjected to high pressure and heat over millions of years. Peat, by contrast, forms over thousands of years. It is an early stage in the formation of coal, but it hasn't undergone the geological transformation necessary to qualify as a true fossil fuel.

Instead, peat is classified as a “slow-renewable” or “semi-renewable” biomass fuel. It regenerates, but over centuries — far too slowly to be considered sustainable by modern energy standards. This intermediate status has led to some confusion in policy and public discourse.

Organisations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) often treat peat like a fossil fuel for accounting purposes because of its high carbon emissions and low regeneration rate. But scientifically, calling it a fossil fuel is inaccurate.

The Road Ahead

Balancing cultural heritage, climate goals, and rural livelihoods is no easy task. Peatlands restoration programs are now underway across Ireland, aiming to rewet bogs and revive their natural carbon-absorbing functions. But resistance remains strong in communities where turf cutting is a tradition and an economic necessity.

The future of peat in Ireland likely lies not in fuel, but in conservation. As global temperatures rise and carbon accounting becomes more rigorous, Ireland’s bogs may be more valuable left intact than burned for heating.

Still, the conversation must be nuanced. Dismissing turf cutters as climate villains ignores the complexity of rural life and historical injustice. The peat controversy isn't just about carbon — it's about identity, autonomy, and transition. Understanding that peat is not a fossil fuel is a step toward a more informed and respectful dialogue.

In Conclusion

Peat may no longer power Ireland’s future, but it will always be part of its past. Moving forward, policies must honor both environmental responsibility and cultural memory. Recognizing peat’s unique nature — not quite fossil fuel, not quite renewable — is essential to striking that balance.

We bear all of this in mind when we created our Turf Incense product line, and feel that it is important to carry on this traditional in the emotional sense, allowing the history and memory to be retained all across the world. Its our heritage. 

We partnered with Reforest Nation who aim to Replant trees all across Ireland North and South in an effort to offset any harm our small impact may have.