Chapter 5 I Climate Change and the Environment
Introduction
5.3 Climate and the Environment is a cross-cutting theme that transcends all chapters of this Develop- ment Plan. The Development Plan seeks to secure compact growth and, in the process, deliver more sustainable, liveable, integrated communities and neighbourhoods. This underlying principle will help bring about climate mitigation by reducing the need to travel and supporting more sustainable transpor- tation choices, maximising brownfield development opportunities and enabling increased investment in green and blue infrastructure, biodiversity enhance- ment, community and recreational facilities, flood protection and renewable/low carbon energy.
5.1 Climate change, the rise in average global temperature and associated extreme weather events owing to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the planet’s atmosphere, is one of the greatest challenges facing society. Its impacts on our environment, society and economy are becoming more frequent and severe year-on-year. Unfortunately, Ireland’s climate is changing in line with international trends and this is projected to continue and intensify into the future. We are now at a crossroads where proactive climate action is required across all sectors to reduce the rate and minimise the impact of climate change. 5.2 Cork City has first-hand experience of the impacts of climate change with flooding, snowfall, heatwaves and storms affecting our communities, businesses, biodiversity, infrastructure and transport network in greater regularity over the last decade. We need to reduce our carbon footprint and put measures in place to make Cork a more climate resilient City.
146
Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 I Volume 1
Powered by FlippingBook