New Climate Action Plan for county

A proposed decarbonisation zone for Cavan Town, the establishment of a Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, and a greater consciousness of the impact of invasive species are all set out in a draft Climate Action Plan being drawn up by Cavan County Council.

The decarbonisation zone is among mitigation measures to develop and implement a 'Greening Strategy', with the County Town and its environs considered a “testbed” before being rolled out further, elected members were told at their recent October monthly meeting.

Councillors received a full overview on what is contained in the still draft plan from the council's climate action co-ordinator, Bróna Keating, who said the “framework” is both countywide and Cavan Town specific.

She explained that the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020, published by government in October 2020, required local authorities to develop five-year Climate Action Plans with mitigation and adaptation measures included.

In February of this year, the Minister instructed local authorities to prepare climate action plans and, under the legislation, the authorities must adopt a plan within 12 months.

Reducing carbon emissions

In Cavan's case the council intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its own assets and infrastructure, while also taking on a broader role in influencing, facilitating and co-ordinating actions by communities and other stakeholders.

A public consultation on the draft plan began in June and ended in August.

Ms Keating noted that the aim, as an organisation, is to reduce emissions by more than 50% by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050.

To do this the council developed a Climate Risk Assessment for the county, and a Baseline Emissions Inventory for both the county and Cavan Town.

Ms Keating noted how the biggest producer of emissions in Cavan at present was commercial and industrial, and they would work to try help them become “less reliant on fossil fuels”.

With agriculture, the focus will be on adopting more “sustainable” methods; while in terms of transport, a key goal would be to reduce the number of car journeys being taken locally.

Ms Keating said occurrences of flooding and drought had increased both in frequency and severity in recent years, and this will impact on the provision of services into the future.

The focus of the plan comes under five headings: Governance and Leadership; Built Environment and Transport; Sustainability and Resource Management; Communities: Resilience and Transition; and Natural Environment and Green Infrastructure.

Ms Keating informed the meeting that the proposed Sustainable Agriculture Working Group would hopefully attract input from Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture.

Other features of the plan include continued investment in greenways.

Council Cathaoirleach and chair of the Strategic Policy Committee tasked with delivering the plan, Philip Brady, thanked Ms Keating for her presentation.

There was some feedback however from the floor of the chamber.

Independent Shane P. O'Reilly wished that elected members would have “more input” in certain elements. He noted that on the October agenda were two motions to discuss Ash Dieback and another to talk about the spread of invasive species in the county.

While he welcomed the role the Public Participation Network would have in advocating for change in line with the draft plan, he said: “I think elected members would be included in that.”

He welcome the setting up of the Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, though asked that farm representative bodies also be consulted.

“A quarter of the national pig population is produced in Cavan,” he stated, emphasising it would be important that sector had representation.

“If there is a chance, we could get everyone around the table. It would be very advantageous,” suggested Cllr O'Reilly.

Fine Gael's Winston Bennett said he had been asking for up on 20 years for the setting up of an agricultural SPC for Cavan. “Maybe now we'll see that happen,” he remarked.

He also welcomed that the plan included the scope for using anaerobic digesters in Cavan.

Cllr Bennett highlighted to the council how, in Denmark, farmers are spreading only between 30-40% of waste on land.

“We're sitting in the background. We should be pushing to get something done,” he said.

Ms Keating thanked the councillors for their feedback, saying that, in relation to the Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, the council is happy to accept “guidance”.

She added to Cllr Bennett's hope for a dedicated agriculture SPC, saying that could be the “starting point”.