Climate action
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. Addressing the impacts of climate change requires urgent action across our society. Local authorities are in the unique position to provide leadership and drive action at a local level to create climate resilient and sustainable communities across Ireland.
In this section
Local authorities are responding to climate change by developing Climate Action Plans that include measures to both reduce the impact of climate change on communities and to adapt to the changes that have already occurred, and work to embed climate action across the local authority and within their communities.
Local authorities are supported in their work on climate action by the Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs).
Climate Action Plans
A Climate Action Plan outlines the steps that local authorities aim to take to address climate change in their area.
Measures included in the Climate Action Plan can include:
- Energy reduction in local authority buildings
- Emissions reductions across local authority activities
- Making communities more climate-resilient by preparing for climate impacts like flooding or extreme weather
- Supporting communities to engage in climate action
- Engage in climate action programmes for the local government sector
Local authorities are required to prepare a Climate Action Plan every five years under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.
To view your local authority’s Climate Action Plan, visit the your local authority website.
Climate Action Regional Offices
The Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) provide coordination and support to the local government sector in leading transformative change and measurable climate action across our cities and counties. CAROs offer guidance, advice and support to local authorities, supporting them to leverage opportunities to effectively address climate change.
There are four CAROs working on behalf of the 31 local authorities. These are:
Learn more about the CAROs at caro.ie