A new report launched today (Tuesday 14 January 2020) outlines for the first time the range of actions local authorities have undertaken nationally to tackle climate change and to promote climate action within their communities.
All local authorities to develop new climate action plans as 28,000 employees to be trained in climate action
A new report launched today (Tuesday 14 January 2020) outlines for the first time the range of actions local authorities have undertaken nationally to tackle climate change and to promote climate action within their communities.
The research, carried out by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) has found that half of all local authorities will achieve energy savings beyond their 2030 targets and have invested more than €120m in energy efficiency projects, preventing more than 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from being produced.
Outside of energy efficiency, the local government sector has also been proactive in areas including sustainable transport development, flood risk management, water conservation, waste management, nature-based solutions and public engagement.
The actions outlined in A Profile of Local Government Climate Actions in Ireland were undertaken in the period 2011-2018, ahead of the sector being named as a key driver of change under the National Climate Action Plan and each council signing up to a Climate Action Charter last year.
Future climate plans and training
The recently published Heads of Climate Action (Amendment) Bill requires all local authorities to prepare individual climate action plans outlining the mitigation and adaptation measures the authority intends to adopt.
The research released today shows councils are poised to meet that obligation, according to Paddy Mahon Chair of the CCMA Environment Committee, “Local authorities have been taking measures to reduce emissions and to position the sector to lead in the response to the climate crisis. We have extensive expertise and we plan to build on that now by training all 28,000 members of staff in climate action. This will involve technical training as well as training in leadership, community engagement and behavioural change. That is a measure of very wide view we’re taking and the scale of ambition we have.”
Dr Bernie O’Donoghue Hynes, LGMA Head of Research pointed out that the report provides a snapshot in time that allows for local authorities to learn from each other and to recognise where additional action might be taken, “The research shows that local authorities have been taking a proactive approach to climate and environmental sustainability for some time, prioritising the needs of their areas and basing their response on prevailing risks in their jurisdictions. The research shows what has been done and serves as an important reference for local authorities to examine what can be done,”
- 15 local authorities reported that they are on course to exceed their 2020 target of 33% energy efficiency.
- Between 2011 and 2017, 20 local authorities invested €120m in energy efficiency projects preventing more than 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from being produced – the equivalent emissions produced by 11,000 Irish homes annually.
- All local authorities have mandated the use of LED lighting in new public lighting installations and 30 local authorities have converted some public lighting to LED energy efficient bulbs.
- In addition, the National Public Lighting Upgrade Project will see the upgrading of 280,000 lights to energy efficient LED and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 31,000 tonnes annually.
- 20 local authorities have piloted or are in the process of piloting Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in their social housing.
Summary report: https://www.lgma.ie/en/publications/local-authority-sector-reports/global-issue-local-response-local-authorities-working-on-climate.pdf
