Environment and Climate Change

The County Development Plan must ensure that a balance is achieved in terms of land use and development and the protection of the environment. The necessity to transition to a low carbon economy cuts across all policy areas and will be addressed throughout the Plan. Environmental considerations will also inform the drafting of the County Development Plan through the preparation of environmental assessments which will be carried out in tandem with the Plan.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a statutory formal process carried out in order to fully incorporate environmental considerations into the plan making process with a view to promoting sustainable development. The process seeks to provide a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of the plan. It is a separate parallel process carried out in tandem with the preparation of the County Development Plan.

Appropriate Assessment

The EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) seeks to protect a number of habitats with flora and fauna of European importance by designating these as Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas collectively known as Natura 2000 sites. Carlow has three of these sites (River Barrow and River Nore, Slaney River Valley and Blackstairs Mountain) and it is a requirement of the directive that an Appropriate Assessment be carried out on the implications of any plan or project for the protected conservation sites. The draft County Development Plan will have to be screened to ascertain whether it would be likely to have any significant impacts on any Natura 2000 site.

Flood Risk Assessment

The EU Floods Directive and the “Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities” set out the requirement for a development plan to be accompanied by a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. These guidelines state that inappropriate development that cannot meet the “Justification Test” should not be considered at the plan making stage. The Council will carry out a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment of the policies and objectives of the Draft County Development Plan. This assessment will provide a broad assessment of flood risk within the county and inform strategic land use decisions.

Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015 Ireland became 1 of 193 signatories to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 agreed global goals for a sustainable future to be achieved internationally by 2030. Within the 17 Goals there are 169 measurable targets for each Country to assess their progress. Carlow County Council as a SDG Champion acknowledges its role in the promotion and achievement of the goals. It is recognised that strong policy measures aligning to the targets set out in the Goals will ensure that County Carlow will develop sustainably in the protection of the Biosphere, Society and Economy.

Carlow County Council acknowledges that sustainable development will protect our planet and people, promote peace and partnership and ensure continued prosperity.

Water Quality

Water quality is a key issue that affects everybody and its protection is the responsibility of all sections of society. Ensuring that our local natural water bodies are clean and well protected is critically important to our health and wellbeing. A healthy catchment provides high quality drinking water and supports local livelihoods such as agriculture, food production, tourism and water based recreational activities (walking, swimming, angling and water sports). It also sustains and supports water-dependent ecosystems (plants, animals, fish and insects) that depend on clean, healthy waters to survive.

Figure 3: Pressures impacting on Water Bodies that are “At Risk”

Water quality trends for water bodies (rivers, streams, lakes, etc) nationally show a net decline of 4.4% over the period 2013-2018. In County Carlow the current position is as follows:

The National River Basin Management Plan 2018 – 2021 published in 2018 seeks to ensure full compliance with the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This requires;

The National River Basin Management Plan summarises the significant pressures where waterbodies are at risk of not meeting Water Framework Directive objectives. Figure 3 shows the frequency of significant pressures on “At Risk” water bodies. While agriculture is the most prevalent pressure, it is also the largest land use. The significant pressures impacting on the 1,460 water bodies that are At Risk of not meeting their objectives include agriculture (53%), hydromorphology (24%), urban waste-water (20%), forestry (16%), domestic waste-water (11%), urban runoff (9%), peat (8%), extractive industry (7%) and mines and quarries (6%).

A targeted approach is being taken focusing on identified risk areas (catchments) known as Priority Areas for Action. The targeted catchments in County Carlow include all or part of the following rivers:

High status objective sites are waterbodies that are at pristine and near pristine condition, or have been at this status in recent years, and support important species such as Atlantic Salmon, or support economic and recreational activities associated with unspoilt areas These waterbodies across Europe are under significant threat. There are two areas within County Carlow (the headwaters of the River Burren and the headwaters of the River Clody). They require additional care, and developments in these areas need to reflect their sensitive nature.  A network known as the Blue Dot Catchments Programme has been set up to support the protection of these sensitive water bodies. A targeted programme of measures is being developed for these waterbodies.

Climate Change and Adaptation

In line with global trends, Ireland’s climate is changing and scientific consensus is that more changes are on the way. It is accepted that action is required in terms of both mitigating the causes of climate change and in adapting to the inevitable consequences of our changing climate.

Carlow County Council has adopted a Local Authority Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 in accordance with the provisions of The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and the National Adaptation Framework (NAF), 2018. Climate action will continue to be driven by the need to limit global temperatures, improve energy efficiency, increase energy consumption from renewable sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, replacement of fossil fuels of high embedded carbon products with sustainable alternatives such as bio-based products and also enhancing carbon sinks.

The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Carlow is based around nine thematic areas with high level goals identifying the desired outcomes which are further supported by specific objectives and adaptation actions. The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy represents a proactive step by Carlow County Council in the process of adaptation planning to build resilience and respond effectively to the threats posed by climate change. Climate change adaptation and mitigation is an overarching consideration that will inform policies and objectives throughout the plan review process with increased emphasis on reducing the impacts of climate change  at a local level through settlement and travel patterns, energy use and protection of green infrastructure.