COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 12, 2007

MOTION NO. 13

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

That this Council will prepare and adopt a policy and guidelines on adaptation measures to combat anticipated effects of climate change in the County, dealing with such matters as water supply, flood plains, open spaces, and that such a Climate Change Adaptation Policy and Guidelines be included in the draft of the next County Development Plan.

REPORT:

The Planning and Development Act 2000 requires that a Development Plan shall, so far as is practicable, be consistent with national plans, policies and strategies, which relate to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area covered by the Plan. In addition, Development Plans should have regard to any guidelines issued by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which would have a bearing on proper planning and sustainable development. Many national policies, plans and guidelines have arisen from Ireland’s international obligations e.g. the Kyoto Protocol (1997) committed the developed world to begin taking action in relation to climate change while the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro (1992) endorsed the concept of sustainable development. Thus the County Development Plan 2004-2010 at Section 1.2.1.ix refers to the National Climate Change Strategy (2000) which provides an integrated co-ordinated framework for achieving the national target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2012.

The Development Plan, therefore seeks, for example:

• to ensure that the settlement strategy for the County is sustainable by minimizing sprawl and increasing density,
• to encourage more sustainable work/live options
• to provide for the development of renewable energy sources
• to provide for and promote alternative and sustainable forms of transport – public transport, walking, cycling etc.
• to encourage and support sustainable and energy efficient construction
• to retain and develop the green structure of the county
• to retain bio-diversity within the county
• to minimize waste and increase re-cycling
• to minimize extraction of water
• to avoid building in areas prone to flooding (cf. the OPW flood maps) etc.

As part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (which was adopted by the Council in July 2005) a policy document was produced on climate change. A precautionary policy was adopted in regard to climate change and the principal recommendations were as follows:

To design future schemes to cater for:-

1. A 20% increase in river flows for all return periods up to 100 years.

1. A 10% increase rainfall intensities.

1. A 450 mm rise in sea levels.

These recommendations are contained in the Greater Dublin Regional Code of Practice for Drainage Works which is available on the Council’s website

In the recently published National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 the Government is committed to developing a national adaptation strategy over the next two years as part of a comprehensive policy position on climate change. This central government strategy will provide a framework for the integration of adaptation issues into decision-making at national and local level. When this national adaptation strategy is available it will set the framework for the adoption of a common approach by the various local authorities throughout Ireland and will also inform the framing of the new County Development Plan 2010-2016. In the meantime the Council will continue to develop its policies and objectives and implement them in relation to the development of a more sustainable county.