^{Carlow County Council}

^{Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029}

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development ( Amendment) Act 2021  frames Ireland’s legally binding climate ambition, to delivering a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 51% by 2030. This will place the country on a trajectory to achieving climate neutrality by the end of 2050. It  prescribes that each local authority shall prepare and make a plan relating to a period of five years which shall specify the mitigation and the adaptation measures to be adopted by the local authority on a trajectory to achieving climate neutrality by no later than the end of 2050.

The Climate Action Plan 2023,  launched on 21^st December 2022, is the second annual update to the States’ Climate Action Plan 2019 and the first to be prepared under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, following the introduction, in 2022, of economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral emission ceilings. Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out a roadmap to 2025 towards taking decisive action to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net zero, no later than by the end of 2050, as committed to in the Programme for Government.

Carlow County Council Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 has been prepared to facilitate the transition Carlow Town and County to a low carbon and climate resilient County. This will be achieved by delivering and promoting best practice in climate action at local level. This aim is aligned to the Government’s overall National Climate Objective, which seeks to pursue and achieve, by no later than the end of 2050, the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy.

This Draft Plan has been prepared in accordance with the Local Authority Climate Action Plan Guidelines, published by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in March 2023.

The Draft Plan sets out how Carlow County Council will be responsible for enhancing climate resilience, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, across its own assets, services, and infrastructure, to which it is fully accountable for, whilst also demonstrating a broader role of influencing, advocating, and facilitating other sectors, to meet their own climate targets and ambitions. This is necessary to ensure that the environmental, social, and economic benefits that come with climate action, can be fully realised.

In order to ensure evidence-based climate action planning, which is crucial for addressing the urgent and complex challenges of climate change and is essential for informed decision-making, the following reports were commissioned by Carlow County Council.

1. Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) that evaluates the current and future climate related impacts and risks faced by the Local Authority and the community of Co. Carlow.
2. Baseline Emissions Inventory (BEI) that details the current source of Green House Gasses in Carlow County Council and across County Carlow.
3. A specific Decarbonising Zone (DZ) with BEI – A Decarbonising Zone is described as "Spatial area identified by the local authority, in which a range of climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity measures and action owners are identified to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate needs to contribute to national climate action targets”. The spatial area of the decarbonising zone for County Carlow comprises of the District Electoral Division’s (DED’s) of Carlow Rural, Carlow urban and Graiguecullen Urban.

Strategic goals are informed by the key themes that emerged from the issues collated as part of the evidence base and stakeholder engagement processes.

Themes include:

1. Governance & Leadership
2. Built Environment & Transport
3. Natural Environment & Green Infrastructure
4. Communities Resilience & Transition
5. Sustainability & Resource Management

The Goal and Objective of each theme is reinforced by a suite of clear distinct actions which include tracking measures and timeframes for delivery.  

Whilst the plan requires a whole-of-Council approach, the ownership of the Draft Plan is held by the Elected Members and Executive of Carlow County Council. The Climate Action Office will lead the implementation of the Climate Action Plan and Carlow County Council will work collaboratively and in partnership with a range of key stakeholders to support its delivery. The adoption of the Local Authority Climate Action Plan is a reserved function and the final plan will be considered by the Elected Members of Carlow County Council at their meeting in January 2024.

The community of Co. Carlow remain key stakeholders in the delivery of this ambitious plan and Carlow County Council welcome submissions/ observations during this public consultation period.

Council staff will be available at the following locations during the hours 5.00pm -7.00pm to provide guidance on the Draft LACAP and on the consultation process. 

Submissions or observations must be made in writing no later than 4pm on Wednesday 25th October 2023.

The Draft Local Authority Climate Action Plan may be inspected during public open hours at the following locations:

1. County Buildings, Athy Road Carlow, R93 E7R7
2. Tullow Civic Offices, Link Road, Tullow, R93 WP86
3. Bagenalstown Civic Offices, McGrath Hall, Bagenalstown, R21 WR66
4. Carlow Central Library, Tullow Street, Carlow , R93 K126
5. Tullow Library ,Civic Offices, Tullow  R93 WP86
6. Bagenalstown Library, Main Street, Bagenalstown R21 X592
7. Bagenalstown Library, Main Street, Bagenalstown R21 X592
8. Borris Library, Lower Main Street, Borris R95 HF25

Making a Submission or Observation

Written submissions or observations can be made in one of three ways:

1. Online via Carlow County Council Public Consultation Portal https://consult.carlow.ie/en/browse

2. Via Email with “Draft Local Authority Climate Action Plan” in the subject line to climate@carlowcoco.ie

3. In writing (marked “Draft Local Authority Climate Action Plan”) to:

Climate Action Co-Ordinator, Environment and Climate Action Department, Carlow County Council, The Assembly Rooms, 40 Dublin Street, Carlow R93 X3T5

Submissions or observations must be made in writing no later than 4pm on Wednesday 25th October 2023.

Late submissions will not be accepted.

Please consider the following in making your submission:

1. Submissions should be made using ONE method only i.e. online or in hard copy. 
2. Submissions or observations should include your name and address and, where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc. you represent.
3. Written submissions or observations with respect to the Draft LACAP, made within the period stated, will be taken into consideration before the making of the LACAP.
4. Please ensure that no vexatious, libelous or confidential information, including confidential information relating to a third party (in respect of which the third party has not, expressly, or impliedly in the circumstances, consented to its disclosure) is included.
5. All submissions/observations will be subject to the Data Protection Act 1988-2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2014.