10 August 2019
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Cork City Council has prepared a draft Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for public consultation
The purpose of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy is to:
Ensure a proper comprehension of the key risks and vulnerabilities of climate change
Bring forward the implementation of climate resilient actions in a planned and proactive manner
Ensure that climate adaptation considerations are mainstreamed into all plans and policies and integrated into all operations and functions of Cork City Council.
Fearghal Reidy, Director of Services, Strategic and Economic Development believes this is a major step by Cork City Council in addressing the global challenge that is climate change.
“We, as a society, have to respond to climate change by both mitigating the causes of climate change and by adapting to the current and future consequences of our changing climate. With all national sectors developing distinctive adaptation strategies, it is at the local level as a local authority that Cork City Council can drive this agenda forward through our first adaptation strategy. Following from initial research and consultation within Cork City Council, and through information sharing with our neighbouring local authorities as part of the Southern Atlantic Seaboard Climate Action Regional Office (CARO), we have developed a suite of over 50 actions which will allow to respond appropriately to the climate change challenge.”
Inviting submissions, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor John Sheehan stated that “Climate change affects us all. It is important that as many people as possible have their say in this strategy. This is the first city-wide strategy since the extension of the boundary in the end of May. The members of Cork City Council also established a Climate Change Action Committee to oversee this and other actions designed to improve Cork’s response to climate change. I look forward to reviewing the submissions and listening to the insight of the people of Cork during the workshop. In particular, I will be reaching out to the schools to ensure that the younger generation participate in shaping the future of the City.”
Display Details
A copy of the Draft Strategy may be inspected during the period from Tuesday, 30th July 2019 to Friday, 13th September 2019 (both dates inclusive) during normal business hours at Cork City Council, City Hall, Cork City.
They are also available for inspection at all Council Public Libraries during normal opening hours.
The Adaptation Strategy may also be viewed on the Government Public Consultations Portal at https://gov.ie/consultations
Cork City Council will host a workshop for Community and Voluntary Groups in August and an open-day including workshops for schools and the general public in September, (dates to be confirmed, in local media and social media).