The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 strengthens the role of Local Authorities for effective climate action.
It sets out a statutory requirement for each Local Authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan. The Local Authority Climate Action Plans have to be consistent with the most recently approved National Climate Action Plan, and include both mitigation and adaptation measures. A request to each Local Authority to begin preparation of their plans was made by me on 24 February 2023. I launched the statutory guidelines to support Local Authorities in preparing and implementing their local climate plans on 6 March 2023.
The guidelines are accompanied by four technical annexes:
• Technical Annex A: Developing and Implementing the Local Authority Climate Action Plan
• Technical Annex B: Climate Change Risk Assessment
• Technical Annex C: Climate Mitigation Assessment
• Technical Annex D: Decarbonising Zones
As per the guidelines, each local plan must include a decarbonising zone as selected by the Local Authority. A separate annex has been developed to assist Local Authorities with preparing their decarbonising zone. Once the Local Authority Climate Action Plans have been approved by each Local Authority, implementation of the actions listed in the plan, including the decarbonising zones, will commence.
My Department has had no specific, direct engagement with Galway City Council or Galway County Council in relation to the Local Authority Climate Action Plan in 2023.
