The County Council is seeking public engagement on the draft of its new five-year Climate Action Plan. The plan shows how the Council can work to influence, facilitate and coordinate the climate actions of communities and stakeholders. It also details how the Council will take direct climate action, to meet national targets, in respect of its own activities and assets.
The draft Climate Action Plan 2024 - 2029 is open for public consultation until Monday, November 27th, 2023. The plan details how Cork County Council will work with its communities to advocate for change as well as with national government and state agencies to deliver climate action. It contains defined goals, objectives and actions across the themes of community, biodiversity, natural environment, heritage, land use, economy, transportation, built environment and waste.
The plan also sets out the actions that Cork County Council will take across its own services to meet national emissions targets and to mitigate against the impacts of climate change. This includes the Strategic Environmental Assessment report (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment Natura Impact report (AA).
The priorities include:
- Cork County Council reducing its direct carbon emissions by 51% by 2030
- Cork County Council increasing its energy efficiency by 50% by 2030
- Establishing Macroom as Cork County’s first Decarbonising Zone - a testbed for what is possible for decarbonisation and climate action at a local and community level
- Assisting in the delivery of the climate neutrality objective at local and community levels
- Seeking funding for the plan from internal, external and private sources including the EU and energy performance contracts with third party contractors.
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn said “Climate change is one of the most critical, long-term global challenges of our time and its effects are already impacting Cork County. Storm Babet is a clear example of this, we saw a month’s worth of rainfall in 24 hours causing unprecedented flooding and damage to homes, businesses and roads. We have already seen sea levels in the Cork Harbour area rise by 40 cm since 1842, average rainfall increase and record-breaking summer temperatures. Heatwaves, droughts, flooding and coastal erosion are expected to occur more frequently into the future because of climate change. It is essential that we all work together to minimise the impact and to safeguard the future of generations to come. I’m encouraging individuals, communities and businesses to engage with this plan and to have their voices heard.”
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan added “Cork County Council has a role both as a community leader, in setting an example by adopting our own policies and plans to affect climate change, as well as encouraging and influencing others. As a local authority, we are already well positioned at the forefront of climate action, playing a significant role in delivering adaptation and mitigation measures at local and community levels. This Climate Action Plan builds on what has already been achieved and offers an opportunity to bring together critical stakeholders across communities and all sectors setting out a vision for a climate neutral future.”
Cork County Council will track and monitor progress to deliver on the climate objectives throughout the lifetime of the plan. The Council will also prepare an Annual Implementation programme which will detail the specific projects to be undertaken whilst taking any new national developments into account.
The draft Cork County Council Climate Action Plan 2024 - 2029 is currently available to view with submissions accepted until 4.00pm Monday, 27th November. Submission must be made online by visiting www.CorkCoCo.ie
The public consultation forms part of the second stage of the plan. The third stage will take the submissions into account before the finalised Climate Action Plan is adopted by Council in January. Cork County Council is required by statute to adopt the plan before the 24th of February 2024.
