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Cork City has been awarded a prestigious Mission Label by the European Commission for its strong leadership and very ambitious climate action plans that have been subject to a robust evaluation process.
The Mission Label award ceremony took place in Vilnius on May 7, in the presence of Mrs Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.
In its official award letter, the European Commission said the Mission Label is an endorsement of Cork City’s climate action strategy and “it should help facilitate access to EU, national and regional funding as well as to private investment by boosting confidence in the soundness of your city’s plans”.
Since Cork was designated one of the European Union’s (EU) 100 Mission cities, it has been at the forefront of demonstrating how local authorities, public bodies, business, third level institutions and civil society can work together to tackle emissions.
Its participation in the EU Mission is also a strong signal of the city’s ongoing commitment to climate action. Nearly two thirds of people living in Cork City strongly agree that Cork must transform into a more sustainable place to live and work, according to research by Cork City Council’s Climate Action Unit.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle described the Mission Label as a “powerful lever for change”.
“This award is European recognition of our ambition to have a city with top-class public transport, a vibrant, greener city, with safe, new and attractive amenities, more energy-efficient buildings, and a city that is easier to get around on foot or by bike,” he said.
“We have developed our approach to climate action in a holistic way to encourage innovation, new ways of working, new partnerships and new social and economic opportunities”.
The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said: “Having encouraged Irish cities to participate in the EU Mission for 100 Climate Neutral Cities, I am delighted that Cork and Dublin have achieved this milestone. The Mission Label affirms Cork’s strong leadership on climate action and its partnership approach to addressing the climate challenge”.
Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, said: “While the challenges we face are significant, moments like this remind us of the strength and resilience within us. The awarding of the EU Mission label to Dublin and Cork is a powerful symbol of our shared hope and determination to build a better future – one where we continue moving forward and taking meaningful action to protect our people today and for generations to come".
Cork City Council Chief Executive Valerie O’Sullivan said: “Not only is climate action an environmental necessity but decarbonisation is also a key driver of competitiveness. Countries and cities that are best able to do this will reap benefits from economic growth, in sectors including energy, clean technology, construction, finance and other”.
“The Mission’s Capital Hub can support the development of investment-ready projects, helping to connect projects to sources of finance and thus enable delivery for our public and private sectors” she added.
The EU Mission model requires commitment to action from a range of public, private and community stakeholders, working together in a whole-of-city approach. The Climate Neutral Cork Leadership Group, a multi-stakeholder body, was formed to lead the transition process in Cork City over the next five years.
A spokesperson for Comhairle na Óg, who are part of the Leadership group said: “ We are really proud that Cork has decided to become part of this Mission. Our seat on the Leadership Group gives young people a very powerful voice in making change locally and setting that as an example for climate-change organisations and local bodies internationally.”
Members of the Leadership Group are:
- Cork City Council
- Comhairle na nÓg
- Munster Technological University
- University College Cork
- Cork Business Association
- Cork Chamber of Commerce
- Health Service Executive, Cork and Kerry Region
- Construction Industry Federation
- Irish Business and Employer’s Confederation
- Iarnród Éireann
- Bus Éireann
- ESB Networks
- An Garda Síochána
- Cork Public Participation Network
- Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- Cork Education and Training Board
A cross-departmental team, the National Mirror Group, has also been established at Government level to co-ordinate the required supports in areas such as transportation and the built environment.
Organisations, businesses and communities across Cork city are already busy making positive changes to their buildings, work environments, neighbourhoods, and to their way of working and travelling. Some of those actions include:
- Cork City Council has retrofitted more than 1,000 social homes to achieve high energy efficiency. It is also building A-rated BER social and affordable houses at, for example, Ardrostig (Bishopstown), Heathfield (Ballincollig), and Crann Darach (Montenotte).
- Solid progress on the implementation of the €3.5 billion Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy including increased opportunities for cycling and walking, improved rail connectivity and urban bus network, to reduce 46,000 tonnes of road related emissions annually.
- Bus Connects is set to increase bus services by 53%, electrify the bus fleet and improve frequency and reliability.
- The route selection and design of a 17 km light rail system is progressing.
- Flood relief infrastructure has been delivered or is to be delivered in Togher, Douglas and Glanmire and the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme is progressing.
- Iarnród Éireann has begun the expansion and electrification of suburban rail and is advancing planning for urban light rail.
- Cork City Council has constructed more than 70 km of safe cycle routes and greenways around the city and a major new pedestrian bridge from Grange to Tramore Valley Park.
- An additional 20,000 A-rated new homes are to be built to achieve the city’s goal of compact growth, as described in the Cork City Development Plan 2022–2028.
- Cork Docklands will deliver A-rated homes for over 20,000 people on a 147-hectare site that builds in green space, active travel, nature-based drainage solutions and other climate-friendly features.
- Cork community organisations are delivering €860,000 of climate action projects.
- The NTA selected Cork City as a pilot location for Smart Mobility Hubs, in part because Cork City is a member of the Mission
- Retrofit of Cork City Council sports and leisure facilities.
- A review of all policies and procedures, including enhanced green public procurement procedures.
