Chapter 5 I Climate Change and the Environment
Cork City Climate and Environmental Action: Local Strategies & Commitments 5.16 In 2016, Cork City became a signatory to the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, a movement by local and regional authorities to address climate change. This movement now comprises over 10,000 cities that account for almost one billion people. The Council later prepared the Cork City Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP, 2018) as part of our commitment under the Covenant of Mayors and the implementation of the plan remains on-going. 5.17 In September 2019 Cork City Council adopted the Cork City Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Since then, Cork City Council became the first local authority in the country to establish a dedicated Climate Action Committee; the city council invested in the largest fleet of electric vehicle in the local authority sector in Ireland; continues to invest in energy retrofitting of public sector housing; and has invested in infrastructure and pedestrianisation that support sustainable modes of transport. These initiatives and achievements represent progress in city-wide climate action and this Development Plan seeks to build on these successes and facilitate more momentum over the period to 2028 and beyond. 5.18 Cork City Council will work with the Government, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA), the Climate Action Regional Office (CARO), Energy Cork, leading specialists including our universities and our communities to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy actions across the City.
5.12 National Strategic Outcome 8 ‘Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy and Climate Resilient Society’ of the National Planning Framework confirms the role that spatial planning plays in supporting climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
Regional Context
5.13 The Southern Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES, 2020) identifies three priority areas addressing climate change and transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy and Society: Decarbonisation; Resource Efficiency; and Climate Resilience. 5.14 Regional Planning Objective 56 (low carbon economy) requires local authorities to include objectives in statutory land use plans to promote energy conservation, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources while Regional Policy Objective 98 supports the development of a Regional Renewable Energy Strategy. 5.15 The Climate Action Regional Office (CARO) for the Atlantic Seaboard South Region, which is hosted by Cork County Council, assists constituent local authorities to prepare and implement climate change adaptation strategies and it is mandated to support and coordinate the work of the local authorities on climate action across all functions, services and activities.
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Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 I Volume 1
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