“Offaly County Council is committed to climate action and to protecting the environment through leading by example and supporting our local communities in their efforts to build capacity and become more resilient to climate change” outlines Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney as the Council publish their draft Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029.
The County Council is seeking public engagement on the draft Climate Action Plan, which has special focus on the themes of community, biodiversity, natural environment, circular economy, transportation, built environment and sustainabilityas well as identifying projects across the Council’s service delivery and implementing 114 actions under these themes.
The draft plan includes actions which aim to reduce Offaly County Council’s emissions across its own infrastructure and assets by 51% by 2030 and create pathways towards enabling sectoral emission reductions across the county.
Key priority areas are:
- Corporate Buildings
- Corporate Fleet
- Decarbonising Zone in Tullamore
- Communities
- Sustainable Energy
Cathaoirleach Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick confirms “Our plan sets a roadmap for how global climate challenges can, and must, be met at a local, community and County level. I am confident that Offaly will achieve the ambitious targets set for the public sector to achieve a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and to increase energy efficiency to 50% by the year 2030.”
This Plan encompasses all forms of climate action including mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity enhancement and sets out actions which will “encourage and support our local communities to strengthen their capacity and resilience to climate change through funding and other supports which Offaly County Council will provide” added Cllr Tony McCormack, Chair of Climate Action, Environment, Water and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee with Offaly County Council. Cllr McCormack concluded “It is important the citizens of the county engage with and make submissions on this draft Plan to ensure our county takes positive action and is recognized as one of the leaders of Climate Action in the Country.”
Tom Shanahan, Director of Services with Offaly County Council outlined “the draft Offaly County Council Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029 is now open for public consultation and staff from our Climate Action team will host various drop-in clinics in Tullamore, Edenderry, and Birr to allow people to ‘Have Your Say’ and shape this plan. Please visit www.offaly.ie/climate-change-action-plan-consultation for further information and follow us on our social media channels for further updates relating to Climate Action events happening throughout the county.”
