Dublin councils launch draft climate plans

Published by Niall Sargent on February 12, 2019February 12, 2019

February 12th, 2019

Local authorities in Dublin have launched draft climate plans to drastically cut emissions and improve energy efficiency across the capital.

The Draft Climate Change Action Plans 2019-2024 also outline how the four local authorities aim to make Dublin a climate and flooding resilient region and also actively engage with citizens on climate change.

The councils have joined with Dublin’s Energy Agency Codema to develop the plans that set out how they will improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions across buildings and the transport sector.

The Dublin-wide aim is to improve energy efficiency in council buildings by 33 per cent by the end of the decade and to also reduce their emissions by 40 per cent by 2030.

Dublin is already Dublin Bay’s average sea level appears to be rising faster than initially forecast and has risen by twice the global average in the last 20 years. The number of days with heavy rainfall has also increased, and the amount of extreme flooding events in the capital has risen in the last 10 years.

Members of the public are invited to make submissions on the plans until 25 March. For details on how to make a submission and to read the draft plans, visit www.dublinclimatechange.ie.

As part of the consultation process, each local authority in the Dublin area will hold public information events this month about how each Council plans to deal with climate issues. These events are fully open to the public.

Green support

The Green Party has rowed in behind the councils, calling on the public to have their say and take part in the events, starting with Saturday’s open day in the Mansion House.

Councillor Claire Byrne, who is co-chair of Dublin City Council’s sub-committee on climate, said that civic engagement will be “key to the success of the plan” that was last updated in 2009.

“Climate change is one of the single biggest threats we face in the coming years… All our futures and our children’s futures depend on it making sure this plans works,” she said.

The Green Party also welcomed the support of South Dublin County Council to the extension of the proposed MetroLink to serve South West Dublin.

The council yesterday voted to unanimously support a Green Party submission in favour of separating the metro from the Luas at Charlemont to serve new stations in Rathfarnham, Knocklyon, Terenure and Rathmines.

The council will now issue a letter to the Minister for Transport Shane Ross TD. Green Councillor Francis Noel Duffy said that the move would help to “alleviate decades-long gridlock” in the region.

“This transport corridor in South West Dublin is one of the worst public transport blackspots in our city with no other easy solutions in sight.

“If Dublin and Ireland see itself standing alongside its international counterparts, a modern accessible city rail infrastructure is needed. We believe our proposal offers that,” he said.

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