COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

MOTION NO.7

MOTION: Councillor Eoin Ó Broin

That this Area Committee asks in preparation for a Low Emission Zone in Clondalkin this committee agrees to examine how LEZ's are currently being applied in French cities such as Lyon (Zones à faibles émissions Lyon) or in other relevant EU urban areas given the delicate matter of high polluting vehicles being restricted in LEZ's there.

REPORT:

A Low Emission Zone is not being proposed for Clondalkin. 

Clondalkin has been identified as a 'Decarbonising Zone' (DZ). As per Action 165 of the National Climate Action Plan 2019, each LA is required to identify and develop plans for one Decarbonising Zone with their administrative area.  This plan is to be included in the statutory Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2024-2029, which is currently being developed.

The Climate Action Plan Guidance provided to Local Authorities provides a good outline of a DZ, as follows:

A DZ is a spatial area identified by the local authority in which a range of climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity measures and action owners are identified to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate needs to contribute to national climate action targets.

DZs are a demonstration and test bed of what is possible for decarbonisation and climate action at local and community levels, to help support and realise national climate ambition. Through a feedback loop of experimentation and evaluation, the DZ should foster a flexible, incremental and community-driven approach to ensure that its objectives can be delivered.

The range of projects proposed should be specific to the emissions and climate characteristics of the spatial area covered by the DZ, and identify appropriate project partners and sponsors while embracing a range of technologies and measures addressing a variety of areas which include:

• Electricity sourcing, • Heat management, • Reducing needs for travel and shifting travel modes towards active and public transport, • Enhanced building energy efficiency, • Carbon sequestration, and • Energy storage and management systems.

Plans for the identified DZ should also consider the economic and social benefits of decarbonising, including just transition and health. A DZ should also address the wider co-benefits of air quality, improved health, biodiversity, embodied carbon, agricultural practices, sustainable land management, lower noise levels, waste, water, circular economy etc., and should integrate with smart data and ‘smart cities’ initiatives (as relevant). Additionally, a DZ can explore the co-benefits of climate adaptation and examine a range of local measures such as climate proofing, afforestation, green and blue infrastructure, reducing heat island effects, citizen awareness, addressing and ageing population and behavioural change.