Over €1.1m allocated to 28 Projects by South Dublin County Council

Community Climate Action Programme – South Dublin County Council

Over €1.1m allocated to 28 Projects by South Dublin County Council under the Community Climate Action Programme

Allocation will support a variety of community organisations in areas such as energy, waste, biodiversity and active travel.

South Dublin County Council is delighted to announce that 28 projects have been awarded funding through Strand 1 and 1a of the Community Climate Action Programme. A range of community organisations, from sports clubs to scouts, and charities to social enterprises have been supported to take climate action that has impact.

The projects are emblematic of the many faces of climate action. Work will include changing the energy use of facilities from fossil-fuel based sources, like oil and gas, to renewable sources like solar. The insulation of buildings to keep the heat we make is also featured, as is action to support the better management of our resources, by improving how communities deal with waste. Projects also seek to promote active travel, by providing facilities for bikes and scooters, thus helping to reduce journeys made by car, in addition to the provision and reimagining of local green spaces.

With funding coming from the national Climate Action Fund, the Community Climate Action Programme in South Dublin will seek to try to build on the recent downward trend of greenhouse gas emissions in the State. As we work towards the national 2030 climate targets and implement South Dublin County Council’s own Climate Action Plan 2024-2029, these local community projects form a crucial part of the ongoing response.

Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Councillor Baby Pereppadan said:

“Climate action is of critical importance, and it is great to see the first set of community climate action projects now move towards delivery in South Dublin. The projects take action against both the causes of climate change and its impacts and are showing us the way forward. I want to commend everyone’s efforts in seeking to take positive action against climate change”.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said:

“I am delighted to support these vital local projects under the Community Climate Action Programme, a landmark fund which is making €24 million available to climate action projects across Ireland, alongside a €3 million contribution from the government’s Shared Island Fund. Communities and Local Authorities know best the climate actions that work for their area and can deliver the most effective climate solutions on the ground. I look forward to seeing the transformative effect these projects will have not only in tackling climate change, but in making our cities, towns and villages better places to live and work.”

More information on the South Dublin County Council Community Climate Action Programme is available at: https://www.sdcc.ie/en/climate-action/community-climate-action-programme/

More information on the South Dublin County Council Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 is available at:https://www.sdcc.ie/en/climate-action/climate-action-plan-2024-2029/climate-action-plan-2024-2029.html

Notes to Editor

Government’s Climate Action Fund

The Climate Action Fund was established on a statutory basis in 2020 to provide support for projects, initiatives and research that contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate and energy targets. The fund also supports projects and initiatives in regions of the State, and within sectors of the economy, impacted by the transition to a low carbon economy.

Community Climate Action Programme

The Community Climate Action Programme launched in 2021 and will see €61.5 million from the Climate Action Fund invested in community climate action projects and initiatives, as well as capacity building, over a number of years.

Strand 1 is part of the first phase that sees €30 million allocated across 2 strands. Strand 1, with a pot of €24 million administered by local authorities, provides funding of up to €100,000 for local projects over an 18-month period. Strand 2 included €5 million for an open call, managed by Pobal, for education, capacity building and learning by doing projects, as well as €1 million to Creative Ireland for the Creative Climate Action Programme. Phase 2 of the Community Climate Action Programme will see €31.5 million allocated across strand 1 and 2 with an additional €1.5 million set aside for Creative Climate Action.

Strand 1a Community Climate Action Programme - Shared Island Fund

In July 2022, the government allocated €3 million from the Fund for Shared Island Community Climate Action.

Strand 1a, 'Shared Island Community Climate Action', addresses the same five themes as Strand 1 (community energy, travel, food and waste, shopping and recycling, and local climate and environmental action) with a clear North/South basis and cross-border partnership approach and impact. This will enable communities and Local Authorities to propose to take forward a cross-border project in partnership with organisations in Northern Ireland.

All project allocations are subject to final approval before entering into delivery phase.