Explainer: Local Authority Climate Action Plans Public Consultation

The public consultation periods for the 2024-2029 Draft Climate Action Plans from the four Dublin local authorities are now open.

This is an opportunity to share your views on how the local authorities should approach reducing emissions and increasing our resilience to climate change while moving towards a more sustainable Dublin for everyone.

What is a local authority Climate Action Plan?

Every five years, local authorities in Ireland are required to publish a Climate Action Plan, detailing the steps they plan to take to advance climate action in their areas. This is required by law under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.

There are four local authorities in the Dublin region:

• Dublin City Council
• South Dublin County Council
• Fingal County Council
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

All four Dublin local authorities are required to publish their own Climate Action Plans, and run a period of consultation allowing members of the public to comment and provide feedback on their proposals.

What’s in the local authority Climate Action Plan?

The Climate Action Plan sets out the current state-of-play when it comes to emissions in the local authority area (known as an emissions baseline or emissions profile), looking at where emissions are coming from based on current activities. The plan also outlines the risks facing the area as a result of climate change.

Once the emissions profile and risks have been set out, the plans will then outline the steps the local authority will take to address the issue, looking at their mitigation (the things they will do to make the impacts of climate change less severe (e.g reduce emissions) and adaptation (the things they will do to adjust to the current or future changes taking place as a result of climate change (e.g. protect areas from flooding).

These mitigation and adaptation measures will be outlined in the following areas:

• Energy and buildings
• Transport
• Flood and weather resilience
• Nature Based Solutions
• Circular Economy and Resource Management
• Community Engagement

Each local authority is also required to identify a ‘Decarbonising Zone’ and outline their plans for that area. Finally, the Climate Action Plan will detail how the local authority plans to implement, monitor and report on all of their actions.

What is a Decarbonising Zone?

A Decarbonising Zone is an area where communities will work with the local authority to find ways to reduce carbon emissions in their area. This is an opportunity for communities to come up with innovative solutions that address the needs of their area while reducing emissions and introducing more sustainable ways of living, working and studying.

Each local authority must identify at least one Decarbonising Zone (DZ). In Dublin, the DZs are:

• Dublin City Council: Poolbeg/Ringsend and Ballymun
• South Dublin County Council: Clondalkin
• Fingal County Council: Balbriggan
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council: Dún Laoghaire/Blackrock

The Climate Action Plans will explain in more detail why these areas were chosen, the current state-of-play of emissions in the DZ, pathways for reducing emissions and the next steps for developing the DZ plans.

How to take part in the public consultation

As Dublin moves towards becoming a more sustainable and climate-resilient city, it is important that the people living, working and studying here have a say in how we take this journey. The Climate Action Plans are available to view online or in-person at your local library.

You can take part in the public consultation online through the local authorities’ public consultation portals, or by sending in a written submission.

You can view the Draft Climate Action Plans online and submit your response at the following links:

• Dublin City Council Draft Climate Action Plan
• South Dublin County Council Draft Climate Action Plan
• Fingal County Council Draft Climate Action Plan
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Draft Climate Action Plan

There will also be information sessions arranged by your local authority where you can learn more about the plans. Find out more about these sessions at the links above.

The public consultation period is an opportunity for you to share your views on the Climate Action Plans and let the local authorities know what you believe they should prioritise over the next five years.

The public consultation deadline is as follows:

• Dublin City Council: Closes Thursday, 2nd November 2023
• South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council: Closes Friday, 3rd November 2023

To find out more, visit the Dublin Climate Action Week website.