COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, May 13, 2024
QUESTION NO.31
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive as we approach the end of the term of this Council, to confirm his ongoing and future plans to deal with the huge challenge of Climate Change; will he understand the importance of this issue and will he make a detailed statement?
REPLY:
SDCC's Climate Change Action Plan 2024-2029, was adopted by this Council in February 2024. Responding to the continuing challenges presented by climate change, the Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 lays out South Dublin County Council’s (SDCC) course of action over the five-year lifetime of the plan, with these next five years being vital for meaningful climate action.
The plan is centred around actions that collectively address the four key targets of this plan, which are framed by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and the National Climate Action Plan 2023:
• 50% improvement in the Council’s energy efficiency by 2030;
• 51% reduction in the Council’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030;
• To make Dublin a climate resilient region, by reducing the impacts of future climate change-related events; and
• To actively engage and inform our communities on climate action.
The CAP sets out measures/actions to reduce our impact on the climate and prepare South Dublin residents and businesses to adapt to the effects of climate change. It is ambitious in its targets, in considering actions where the local authority can influence, co-ordinate/facilitate and advocate for climate action in wider society. A full overview on how the CAP actions will be progressed and delivered is documented in the Implementation Plan which was presented at the April 2024 Council meeting.
A full progress report on the actions from CCAP 2019-2024 was given in the recent Climate Change Plan Annual Report 2023.pdf
A dedicated climate action website www.southdublinclimate.ie is maintained and showcases climate action delivery in the county, spotlights on our key responses to the climate crisis, and a latest news section on local, regional and national climate change responses. We want to inspire climate action and the website is a place for citizens to find out what they can do to make a difference.
Climate Newsletter: Citizen engagement via the website is complemented by a quarterly citizens climate newsletter, which details current Council climate action on a specific, rotating thematic area. The Climate Team works with the Communications Unit to promote our website news articles and newsletters via our social channels.
Dublin Climate Action Week (DCAW) is delivered regionally in partnership with Fingal County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Dublin City Council, the Climate Action Regional Office (CARO), and Codema, Dublin’s Energy Agency. The week offers a range of events which aim to inform citizens, increase awareness and highlight the need for urgent climate action by all sectors of society. Specific workshops and engagement days are also delivered to communities, 3rd level, and schools to build climate engagement throughout the year.
Furthering citizen engagement, in Q3 South Dublin County Council will distribute the Community Climate Action Fund, worth €1,073,000. This fund is crucial to activate climate action outside of the direct control of the Council to address the wider emissions profile in the county.