Have your Say on Cork City’s Climate Action Plan

21 November 2023

Cork City Council has launched a call for public input to the Cork City Climate Action Plan 2024–2029.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, said “Cork City is experiencing climate change. We need to plan and, crucially, to act now to make Cork one of the most sustainable, resilient and healthiest places in Europe. If we are to thrive as a city, we must all work together. Cork City’s participation in the prestigious EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities encourages us to go even further, to accelerate our journey to ‘net-zero’ through innovative and bold action. I invite you to contribute to the Draft Plan by telling us what you think of it and suggesting ways to strengthen it even more.”

Ireland’s national target is to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and all local authorities are required to develop plans that outline how we can reach a 51% reduction at a local level.

The Draft Plan sets out what Cork City Council will do to reduce emissions from its own buildings and operations. However, because this is a plan for Cork City, it requires actions that residents, businesses, community groups, and public sector institutions will have to take to achieve our vision of a climate neutral and resilient city.

According to the Cork City Council Climate Action Unit team, Cork has an enormous task ahead, with a need to retrofit buildings, reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, protect the natural environment, and adapt to the changing climate. Some of that work has already begun, with the greening of public spaces, the expansion of the cycling network and improvements in public transport networks.   There is also a growing uptake in SEAI grants for renewable energy, a shift to electric vehicles and the award-winning community gardens, but there is still much more to do.

Cork City Council Chief Executive, Ann Doherty, stressed the need for public input, saying that “the Climate Action Plan will be an important milestone in our journey towards a sustainable future. Through a series of workshops during the summer, we listened to a diverse range of voices that have informed the Draft Plan. We know that people living and working in Cork are aware of the risks but are also aware of the health benefits of climate action. We now want to know what people think of the pathway we are suggesting for a safe and prosperous future for the city. This is important so that the transition to a sustainable future works for everyone.”

Your voice counts. The Public Consultation on the Climate Action Plan opens Tuesday 21st November and will remain open until Wednesday December 20th. You can make a submission and express your views on the plan through Cork City Council’s Online Consultation Portal. 

Members of the Climate Action Unit will also host sessions in each of the City Libraries in the week commencing Monday November 27th.  The schedule of times and locations are set out in the table below: