Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan launched a new, first of its kind campaign and fund specifically for climate engagement to support and inspire people to take and talk about the climate actions that can improve their local areas.
The campaign, called Climate Actions Work, will focus on encouraging and supporting climate engagement and communications actions. A national radio, print and social media campaign will also get underway to amplify climate actions that are already happening and encouraging more people to get involved. Further detail on this campaign can be found here.
The fund is welcoming applications under three strands:
- Community Awareness
- Community Engagement, and
- Community Activation
Grants of from €2,500 up to €10,000 are available under the different strands. Applications are open from 2 September and close on 4 October. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their applications by the end of November.
For more information on this fund please click here.
ENDS
Climate Actions Work is a national programme of engagement on climate action. It enables people and communities across Ireland to be part of the conversation about climate change. The Climate Actions Work project includes:
- An expanded programme of engagement activities and events, building on the National Dialogue on Climate Action
- Funding and resources for community groups to support climate communications and engagement at a local level
- An interactive map of regional activities that are happening in your area will be available soon
- A national communications campaign to tell the story of community climate actions that are already making a difference
The programme builds on and expands the programme of engagement that has been happening over the last number of years as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action. The programme also utilises research carried out under the Climate Conversations consultation to identify key barriers to climate action in communities across Ireland. This evidence-based approach ensures that the actions undertaken as part of the programme address climate literacy, education and awareness.
The Community Climate Action Programme comprises a national Climate Action Fund allocation of €24 million and €3 million provided by the Government’s Shared Island Fund to support cross-border and all-island community climate action initiatives.
This landmark climate funding programme, administered by local authorities, provides amounts of up to €100,000 to larger local projects over an 18-month period.
Under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 local authorities must prepare Climate Action Plans for their areas. These plans will align with the latest national climate action plan and adaptation framework.
Local authorities play a crucial role in advancing climate policy locally. Their climate action plans will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, and ensure that national climate policy is effectively implemented at the local level.
The national fund is providing up to €22.1 million between 2020-2024 to support a diverse range of projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Just Transition region. The fund is coming to an end this year with most projects either closed or in the final stages of delivery.
The EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027 continues to provide for investments of up to €169 million for the economic transition of the midlands region up to 2027. The programme includes three complementary investment priorities which are designed to enhance the regional economy, address existing deprivation and rural depopulation, and place the region on a pathway to a more diverse and resilient economy based on climate neutrality.
- Priority 1: Generating employment for former peat communities by investing in the diversification of the local economy
- Priority 2: Supporting the rehabilitation and restoration of degraded peatlands and regeneration and repurposing of industrial heritage assets
- Priority 3: Providing former peat communities with smart and sustainable mobility options to enable them to benefit directly from the green transition
The Government is taking climate action – protecting nature, preparing for the impacts of climate change, and transforming our heat, energy, and transport systems.
Ireland’s Climate Action Plan lays out a roadmap of actions which will ultimately lead us to meeting our national climate objective of pursuing and achieving, by no later than the end of the year 2050, the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy. It aligns with the legally-binding economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings that were agreed by Government in July 2022. Read our latest Climate Action Plan.
Ireland’s Climate Action Plans provide specific actions that government departments, agencies and public bodies will take across sectors, together with a timeline for the completion of each action.
Progress Reports on the Climate Action Plans are prepared by the Department of the Taoiseach and published each quarter to track progress made by Government.
This is important for accountability between successive annual Climate Action Plans. Read Climate Action Plan Progress Reports.
The public sector will take a leading role in helping to achieve the country’s climate goals after Cabinet’s approval of the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate 2023.
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has also developed a Public Sector Climate Action Strategy 2023-2025, in collaboration with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency, departments and State agencies. The strategy aims to put the public sector on a clear pathway to achieving at least a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
For more information on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate and the Public Sector Climate Action Strategy 2023-2025, visit Public Sector Climate Action.