CLARE’S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE ALREADY AT THE FOREFRONT OF CLIMATE ACTION IN IRELAND AS THEY PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN DELIVERING ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION MEASURES. THEY ARE THEREFORE ENTRUSTED TO OPERATIONALISE THE AMBITIOUS NATIONAL CLIMATE TARGETS AND POLICY AT LOCAL LEVELS, AND TO ASSIST IN THE DELIVERY OF THE NATIONAL CLIMATE OBJECTIVE.

The Clare LACAP will specify actions the council will implement to meet its public sector commitments and contribute towards the national climate objective. The LACAP will adopt a two-pronged approach (Figure 4) by adopting an inward (organisational) and an outward (community) focus on building resilience to the negative impacts of climate change and in tackling the causes of climate change.

Organisational Focus

These actions focus on delivering climate action across Clare County Council functions and services. Clare County Council are accountable and responsible for the management and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions produced for day-today activities and protecting and enhancing the resilience of its people and infrastructure against the negative impacts of climate change.

Community Focus

Clare County Council has a leadership and influencing role to drive climate action amongst the local community. This can be achieved by coordinating, facilitating and advocating for climate action, such as through spatial planning and infrastructure provision. There is also a need for local economic and community development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas while also allowing communities to adapt and build resilience. Clare County Council can also use their position to coordinate and work in partnership with national and regional stakeholders to facilitate and enable the delivery of appropriate climate initiatives and infrastructure.

Organisational Community

• Managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the local authority organisation while ensuring essential functions and services are delivered

• Protecting and enhancing the resilience of the local authority’s human and infrastructural assets against the negative impacts of climate change

• Influencing sectors, business, communities, and individuals in the delivery of local climate action

• Coordinating and working in partnership with other stakeholders to facilitate and enable the delivery of climate action

• Advocating for climate action by raising awareness, communicating and engaging on climate related issues and responses

Ensuring A Just Transition

As we develop towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy, we must ensure that this transformation is equitable and grounded in the principles of a just transition. A just transition involves

“maximizing the social and economic opportunities of climate action, while minimizing and carefully managing any challenges”.2

Fundamentally, a just transition ensures that the benefits of the emerging green economy are shared fairly and support those who may be impacted, ensuring no one is left behind. Local authorities have a significant role to play in safeguarding communities during this process, supporting local business development, research, tourism and heritage projects, and opportunities for reskilling.

Vision

What does a Just Transition look like in County Clare into the future?

Mission

While Clare County Council’s Vision Statement defines where it would like to lead the County, a mission statement speaks to its grounded purpose in delivering and mainstreaming effective climate action. This action-oriented mission statement helps guide representatives and stakeholders of Clare County Council in coordinating their work towards the defined Vision.

The indicative Mission for Clare County Council is: TO FACILITATE AND DELIVER EFFECTIVE AND MEASURABLE CLIMATE ACTION TO ENABLE A JUST TRANSITION TO A LOW CARBON AND CLIMATE RESILIENT FUTURE WITHIN COUNTY CLARE WHICH RESULTS IN SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, INCLUSIVITY AND SERVICE ACCESSIBILITY ACROSS URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

The most effective way of reaching our goals is to make sure ‘everyone rows in the same direction’, and this destination is summarised in a unified vision of the future that supports ambitious climate action. Given the wide role that Clare County Council has, it is important to have a unifying vision which reflects a desired and shared perspective of the future in a climate resilient and climate neutral society, that will unite all key stakeholders and inspire action.

The indicative Vision for Clare County Council is: CLARE IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN CLIMATE ACTION SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE, LOW CARBON, CLIMATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES

Does the vision and mission encapsulate the future direction of County Clare with regards to climate action?