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CLIMATE ACTION & ENERGY

  • When it comes to landuse, what are the key actions we can take to reduce the impacts of climate change?

    The United Nations has identified Climate Change as the defining issue of our time.

Global Overview

Climate change is recognised as a significant global environmental problem. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere have risen to record levels, not present in three million years. Evidence of this can be seen in the changes to our average temperature, sea level change, rainfall intensity/patterns, increased flooding/extreme weather events, impact on biodiversity/food production. As populations, economies and standards of living grow, so does the cumulative level of GHGs emissions. Carbon Dioxide is one of these greenhouse gases, which is released through human activities, such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels, as well as natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions.

Rise in Carbon Dioxide Levels graph

Irish Context

All aspects of Government policy are now underpinned by a commitment to Climate Action. The National Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2019, sets out a course of action over the coming years to address Climate Change. The CAP recognises the role that land use and spatial planning can play in providing for population growth in a compact, connected and sustainable way to reduce our carbon footprint.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 led to a statutory National Adaptation Framework, published in 2018, setting out the national strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of positive impacts through a whole of government approach.

What is Climate Action?

Climate Action includes the two approaches necessary to tackle climate change. Mitigation to reduce current and future GHG emissions and Adaptation to take actions that will reduce the impacts that are already happening.

South Dublin County Council Response

Adoption of a ‘Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024’, with 5 Key Action Areas.

 

The Role of the Development Plan

In terms of climate change and land use planning the Development Plan plays an important role in influencing a reduction in GHG emissions By guiding the sustainable growth of the county, encouraging more compact mixed-use development and greater use of sustainable transport options such as cycling, walking and public transport, restricting development in areas that are at risk of flooding and protecting the natural landscape and biodiversity.

The county should aspire to becoming as low a carbon county as possible and make every effort to increase energy efficiency and unlock renewable energy potential. Therefore, there is a recognised need to build on previous County Development Plan energy and climate action policies, focusing on more evidence based and spatially appropriate policies.

Working together through proper planning we can reduce our impact on climate change in order to contribute towards the development of sustainable and resilient communities.

Drainage
Consideration must be taken into account for water run off, there is extreme flooding in times of rain in Saggart village since the development of Mill race and other estates. The drainage systems...
Climate Action, Fossil Fuels and Public Participation
As part of the Climate Action Charter, South Dublin County Council is committed to driving forward meaningful climate action. This encompasses processes for carbon-proofing major decisions,...
The Role of Wind Energy and a Regional Approach to Planning
The South Dublin County Council notes under 'The Role of the Development Plan' that "The county should aspire to becoming as low a carbon county as possible and make every effort to increase energy...
Key priority for climate action
All elements of the County Climate Action Plan should be included and given priority in the new CDP.  Also, priority should be placed on every aspect of increasing the tree cover in the...
Quality of open space in New Developments
Consideration should be given to promote the goals of the SDCC Biodiversity plan when assessing the quality of open space provided for in new developments in the region. Too often for open space, the...