Energy & Climate Change
Climate Action Charter
Cork County Council along, with all 34 local authorities, has signed the Climate Action Charter (pdf) committing to build climate resilience into every aspect of the work we do. The Climate Charter is a key measure in the Government’s Climate Action Plan published earlier this year. The Climate Action Charter commits the Council to deliver a 50 per cent improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
The Charter underlines the leadership role of local authorities in delivering effective climate action. The Charter requires local authorities to put in place a process for carbon-proofing major decisions, programmes and projects, including investments in transport and energy, as well as in procurement.
Adoption of Cork County Council’s Climate Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024
Cork County Council's Climate Adaptation Strategy with its accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report and Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Report was adopted by Cork County Council on the 23rd of September 2019.
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Climate Change Strategy documents:
- Cork County Council Climate Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 (pdf)
- Comhairle Contae Chorcaí Straitéis Oiriúnaithe Aeráide 2019-2024 (pdf)
- Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report (pdf)
- Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Report (pdf)
Cork County Council & Energy Efficiency
Cork County Council became the first Local Authority in Ireland to achieve ISO50001 certification of our Energy Management System (EnMS) in May 2016. This certification covers the entire scope of Cork County Council's annual €7million energy spend and 41 million kWh of energy consumed each year. The certification of County Cork’s energy management system to the ISO50001 standard now makes Cork County Council fully compliant to SI 426.
We have seen at first hand the many benefits of ISO50001 within the organisation such as; a structured EnMS, raised staff awareness of energy use and energy projects and the encouragement of a culture of energy champions. Cork County Council has been implementing an EnMS since 2011 when they signed a partnership agreement with SEAI. This EnMS has proved to be very successful and can be directly attributed to 3.1 million kWh of energy saved and we are on target to achieve our goal of 33% energy efficiency by 2020.
To ensure that energy efficiency will be a priority for the organisation in September 2015 our County Mayor Cllr John Paul O’Shea and Chief Executive Tim Lucy signed our Energy Policy. This Policy sets out our commitment to energy efficiency into the future.
Cork County Council Energy Policy
Cork County Council commits to continual improvement to energy performance in line with national targets and legally binding and other requirements.
Cork County Council will ensure the promotion of awareness among stakeholders will be made by providing reliable and transparent information regarding Cork County Council’s energy consumption and improvement actions undertaken.
Cork County Council will provide the framework for setting and reviewing energy objectives and targets periodically.
Cork County Council will commit to providing the necessary resources to achieve the required objectives and targets.
Cork County Council is committed to consider the purchase of energy efficient products and services and undertakes to design for energy performance improvement.
Cork County Council Climate Stories
Voices of Experience is a collection of Climate Change stories, poems and photographs submitted by the older people of Cork County. The stories include how older people have experienced climate in their lifetime.
This book was a collaboration between Cork County Council’s Climate Action Unit, Cork County Age Friendly Programme and Cork County Older Peoples Council.
We hope you enjoy reading about their experiences of Climate Change.