The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act, 2021 (the Climate Act) 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, within 12 months of the receipt of a request from the Minister; with the request to be made within 18 months of the coming into operation of the Climate Act. Local Authority plans will have to be consistent with national climate plans and strategies, and include both mitigation and adaptation measures, and are to be updated every five years. Local Authorities will liaise with each other in the preparation of these plans.
My Department is working with the Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency to develop appropriate guidelines for the development and implementation of these plans. My Department continues to work with all four CAROs and stakeholders, including representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, on a regular basis, in particular through participation in the National Local Authority Climate Action Steering Group which meets regularly. CAROs continue to work with Local Authorities to both facilitate and monitor implementation of local climate actions undertaken under existing local adaptation strategies, and the climate charter developed under the 2019 Climate Action Plan. My Department also continues to fund the implementation of the Local Authority climate action training programme. This programme is increasing knowledge of climate change and the need for action among all Local Authority staff, and will facilitate both climate mitigation and adaptation at local level.
