Dublin’s climate is changing and this poses significant risks and challenges to all of those living in the region. In response to this, South Dublin County Council has produced the Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024 in association with Codema (Dublin’s Energy Agency) and the Dublin Metropolitan Climate Action Regional Office (CARO).
The Climate Change Action Plan, approved by the Elected Members of the Council in May, is recognised as a key enabler of on-going public sector leadership, in implementing and influencing climate action at the local level.
The Climate Change Action Plan identifies the main climate risks facing South Dublin County and includes both the Councils’ and the current levels of greenhouse gas emissions across the South Dublin County Council area. It includes four targets for the Council to reach in the coming years:
- A 33% improvement in the Council’s energy efficiency by 2020
- A 40% reduction in the Councils’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
- To make Dublin a climate-resilient region, by reducing the impacts of future climate change-related events
- To actively engage and inform citizens on climate change
Through the Climate Change Action Plan, South Dublin County Council has put forward 130 actions that are either ongoing or planned within the Council, under five key areas – Energy and Buildings, Transport, Flood Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions and Resource Management.
CCAP is aligned to the Government’s ‘Climate Action Plan 2019 To Tackle Climate Breakdown’.
The leadership role of local authorities across Ireland, in tackling
the climate crisis, is recognised in the National Plan, together with
stimulating local level action across other sectors and by the general
public.
The public consultation for the Climate Change Action Plan was held
through a series of events and workshops between 11 February and 25
March this year. South Dublin County Council received a total of 73
submissions during this period.
Councillor Vicki Casserly, Mayor of South Dublin County Council, said, “I welcome the publication of the South Dublin County Council Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024, which marks a significant step forward in the Council’s efforts in combating the causes and impacts of climate change. In rolling out this Plan, the Council will continue to demonstrate local leadership, across a range of action areas, with the aim of supporting other sectors in carrying out their own climate change efforts, in particular citizens, businesses and community groups across South Dublin County. I look forward to the implementation of the Plan, in collaboration with my colleagues in South Dublin County Council and the other Dublin local authorities’.
Daniel McLoughlin, Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council, said, “The publication of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan marks a key milestone in an on-going partnership between Council staff, elected members, Codema, the Dublin Climate Action Regional Office, and a range of other stakeholders. The Council is committed to continued climate action, across the key areas of adaptation, mitigation and public engagement. I also wish to recognise the continued Government support in this area, through funding mechanisms such as the Climate Action Fund, which the Council has already availed of for the Tallaght District Heating Scheme. The ongoing undertaking of a range of climate actions will enable South Dublin County, to contribute to reaching national and European energy targets to 2030, 2050 and beyond.”
For further information, please see www.sdcc.ie/climatechange or contact the South Dublin County Council Communications Unit at [email protected]
Additional information can be found on each of the Climate Change Action Plans for all four Dublin local authorities at www.dublinclimatechange.ie
Codema is Dublin’s Energy Agency and was set up as a not-for-profit limited company by Dublin City Council in 1997 under the SAVE II Programme of the European Union. It was one of 14 local energy agencies set up around Ireland to help local authorities meet their energy performance targets through professional development and implementation of good and best practice. It works with the four Dublin local authorities. Codema’s role is defined around the core function of supporting the local authorities in their own sustainable energy use. A second role is engaging with EU and SEAI funded energy programmes to bring innovation to the Dublin region. A third and increasingly important role is to increase energy awareness among the citizens and energy stakeholders in Dublin. Over the years, these three strands have become increasingly intertwined and integrated into a comprehensive local and regional service for energy and climate change.
The Dublin Climate Action Regional Office (CARO)
The Dublin Climate Action Regional Office (CARO), established in
2018, is one of four regional climate change offices that have been set
up in response to the National Adaptation Framework 2018 (NAF). Under
the NAF, sectoral adaptation plans are to be developed and implemented
that will affect the work of the DLAs. As such, the Dublin CARO will
liaise with respective government departments, to align actions
undertaken by the DLAs with other sectoral climate plans.
The role of the Dublin CARO is to:
- Assist the local authorities within the region in the implementation and monitoring of their own Climate Change Action Plans.
- Develop education and awareness initiatives for the public, NGOs and other agencies engaged in driving the climate action agenda, and contribute to the National Dialogue on Climate Action on a local and regional basis.
- Link with third-level institutions in developing a centre of excellence for specific risks – in the case of the Dublin Region, this will be for urban climate effects.
- Liaise and interact with the Dublin energy agency, Codema.
