2 May 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Politics
The Green Party in Cork is proposing that a Climate Action Committee be established in both local authorities in Cork following the local elections in May.
The party claims that the scale of the crisis is such now a response is needed by every part of society and that local government is best placed to enable, encourage and lead the radical change needed to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
Green Party candidate for the Cork City South Central ward, Dan Boyle, said that there is a need for proper initiative to be taken in the local authorities with regards to climate change, rather than just supporting any moves taken on the national level.
“If we are to have any hope of matching state action with individual and community support on the climate emergency, we need bodies like this to identify and implement necessary action at a local level. We no longer have the time nor the expectation that the right things will happen from ‘up high’. Never has there been a more obvious time for Thinking Global Acting Local.” said Mr. Boyle.
Cllr. Malcolm Noonan, Green Party spokesperson for Local Government and councillor for Kilkenny City West, said that the four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) were under-resourced and would benefit from supporting structures at local county level.
“This in our view would create a whole of local government approach, share best practice and even healthy competition between local authorities to deliver on targets. Coupled with this, the role of local government must be expanded to provide micro financing for community owned renewable energy or even establish local energy supply companies, in their own right. We should have a more direct role in transportation and mobility policy other than maintenance of roads,” Cllr. Noonan said.
