The first Dublin Climate Action Week (#DCAW21), will take place from Monday 13 to Sunday 19 September 2021, and is being planned to showcase the ongoing efforts, ambitions and collaborative approach of the four Dublin local authorities, in addressing climate action. The week is being organised and delivered by the partnership of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Codema – Dublin’s Energy Agency and the Dublin Climate Action Regional Office (CARO). Dublin Climate Action Week 2021 will comprise of a range of online and in-person events, in compliance with COVID-19 measures in place at that time. In August 2021, the full programme of events will be available for registration on the DCAW21 website, at www.dublinclimateactionweek.ie.
The overall vision of Dublin Climate Action Week 2021 is – ‘to showcase Dublin’s climate action progress to its citizens and demonstrate the leadership role of the four local authorities in conjunction with other partners’.
The agreed shared objectives of the initiative are:
- Demonstrate progress on the implementation of the four Dublin local authority Climate Change Action Plans, and a regional approach to climate action;
- Engage with a full range of partners to showcase efforts and innovation across sectors;
- Make climate action a ‘reality’ allowing citizens to see what climate action looks like;
- Promote this initiative so as to fully engage with EU and international cities and our climate peers; and
- Create a legacy so that this initiative can carry forward to subsequent years in a variety of ways.
Local authorities in Dublin and across Ireland play a pivotal role in planning for and responding to, climate emergency situations. Given their close relationship with the community, local authorities can react effectively to local climate events, with ongoing support from other government agencies and the local communities. This has been demonstrated in their response to extreme weather events in Ireland over recent years, as well as the ongoing response to COVID-19 restrictions. They have essential local knowledge of the natural and manmade environment, and have a critical role to play in managing climate risks and vulnerabilities, and identifying adaptation actions within their administrative areas. Having regard to climate mitigation, local authorities are continuing to upgrade public buildings and social housing, and are enhancing active travel measures across Ireland.
Cllr Ed O’Brien, Mayor of South Dublin County, said: ‘I am delighted to announce that South Dublin County Council is one of the organising partners of the first Dublin Climate Action Week, to be held in September 2021. As the County and Dublin re-opens following COVID-19 restrictions, we have all gained a much greater understanding and appreciation, of our communities, amenities and our local environment. During Dublin Climate Action Week 2021, we will be bringing our collective climate action efforts and ambitions to life, together with a range of partners from other sectors. The full programme of events will be published on the dedicated website in August 2021’.
Teresa Walsh, South Dublin County Council’s Director of Environment, Water and Climate Change, said, ‘The four Dublin local authorities are at the heart of climate action measures across the city, and we continue to demonstrate on-going efforts in mainstreaming climate action across our own buildings, facilities, functions and services. The aim of Dublin Climate Action Week is to showcase these efforts, but also to share ongoing leadership and experience gained, in addressing both climate mitigation and adaptation, at a local level across the city and county. We have a full week of events planned that aim to inspire and encourage those who live, work in and visit Dublin, that addressing climate action requires all of us to work together, in collectively understanding and achieving climate and energy ambitions into the future’.
Keep up to date on Dublin Climate Action Week 2021 at www.dublinclimateactionweek.ie
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