The Just Transition Commission Visits Cork

On 23 April 2026, Cork City Council, through its Climate Action Unit, was pleased to facilitate a visit by the Just Transition Commission to communities across the North West of Cork city.

The visit centred on listening to local voices and recognising the vital role of residents, community groups, and local partnerships in shaping a fair and inclusive transition to a climate‑neutral city.

Residents in Churchfield, currently participating in the national social housing retrofit programme, shared their lived experiences of this transition and highlighted both the benefits and challenges they face. In Knocknaheeny, insights were shared from the community undergoing the North West Quarter Regeneration Programme. This engagement was supported by Cork City Partnership and the North West Regional Housing Agency, ensuring residents’ experiences were heard.

The Commission also visited the NICHE Community Health Project, a community-led response to long-standing health inequalities on the North side of the city. Local residents showcased how community action is strengthening social connections, improving wellbeing and creating shared spaces, including the community garden, Knocknaheeny Men’s Shed, and women’s group.

Community‑based food initiatives were highlighted through Cork’s Food Strategy, developed under the EU‑funded FEAST project and the Cork Food Policy Council, alongside work at Glen Resource Centre, emphasising the importance of access to healthy, locally grown food.

Cork City Council also presented plans for the future North West Regional Park, a major project delivering climate, social and health infrastructure in one of the city’s most disadvantaged areas. Projects supported through the Community Climate Action Fund further demonstrated the power of communities to lead climate action.

“Visiting Cork to see first-hand the regeneration and retrofit projects has been hugely encouraging. These initiatives are not just about upgrading buildings, they are delivering warmer, healthier homes that make a real difference to people’s daily lives. It was especially valuable to hear directly from residents and the local community. Their experiences with improved comfort and energy efficiency, alongside honest reflections on remaining concerns, provides essential insight for shaping our work going forward. My sincere thanks to everyone at Cork City Council for facilitating such an informative and engaging visit.” – Ali Sheridan

"Our trip, facilitated by Cork City Council, highlighted the broad range of work on regeneration in the city. From a Just Transition perspective, such work is crucial and shows how urban regeneration can be aligned with achieving decarbonisation. Work in Cork City shows how climate action can be a vehicle for improving living standards and achieving greater social justice" – Evan Boyle

Sincere thanks to Cork City Partnership, North West Regional Housing Agency, Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, Knocknaheeny Youth Canteen, NICHE Community Services, Cork Food Policy Council, Glen Resource Centre, and the North West Regional Parks Team for their collaboration and commitment in making this visit possible.

Ensuring that everyone is brought along on the climate transition is essential  and the voices of our communities are central to shaping a just and sustainable future for Cork City.