Climate Action News | August

In this edition: CAP23 progress report; HSE’s climate strategy; Shannon Estuary Taskforce Report; Climate Conversations, record-breaking Summer weather?as UN Secretary General warns of 'global boiling', and latest OECD research.

Latest Climate Action Plan Progress Report

The Climate Action Plan 2023 Quarter 2 Progress Report, published July 25th, highlights a completion rate of 63% on significant and reportable climate actions.

High impact climate actions completed include finalising the Offshore RESS auction. Many of the actions delayed in Q2 are expected to be completed in Q3, including launch of the new Forestry Programme; and establishing a new SME retrofit scheme and Just Transition Commission.

Health Service - Climate Action Strategy

The HSE has launched its Climate Action Strategy 2023-2050. The health service-wide strategy aims to reduce the negative climate impacts of our health service, achieve net-zero emissions for the HSE by 2050, and deliver healthcare that is environmentally and socially sustainable. READ the strategy here.

WATCH Dr. Philip Crowley, HSE National Director, Strategy & Research on HSE Climate Action strategy 2023 - 2050.

Shannon Estuary Taskforce Report

The Shannon Estuary Taskforce Report was launched at the historic Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in early July.

It sets out an over-arching vision for the Shannon Estuary to become Ireland’s Atlantic Green Digital Corridor, and to be the lead location for Atlantic offshore wind.

National Hydrogen Strategy

The role that hydrogen will play in Ireland’s energy system has been set out in the recently published National Hydrogen Strategy.

It assesses hydrogen’s long-term role as a key component of a zero-carbon economy, and the short-term actions that need to be delivered over the coming years to enable the development of the hydrogen sector.

Youth Voice - New Youth Delegate Appointed

Dublin law student Jenny Salmon has been named Ireland’s Climate Youth Delegate for 2023-2024. She will work to ensure youth perspectives inform the work of Ireland’s Climate Delegation and will be invited to attend COP28.

Maritime Area Regulatory Authority Launch

This month’s launch of the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) in Rosslare marked a significant milestone in the State's?stewardship of the maritime area, including plans for renewable offshore energy development.

MARA is a body under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

New initiatives in cultural sector

New initiatives have been announced to support cultural organisations and creatives to reduce carbon emissions and engage the public in climate.

The recent development of a National Policy Framework bringing together Culture, Creativity and Climate Policy represents a world first.

Meanwhile, €5.8M funding has been announced for creative, cultural and artistic initiatives under the new Creative Climate Action Fund II.

This Creative Ireland programme pairs creatives with experts in climate science, sustainability and biodiversity, with the aim of engaging the public.

Noticeboard

Consultations

This year’s Climate Conversations have started!

People across the country are invited to have their say on how we can all work together on climate solutions that are fair for everyone. Climate Conversations 2023 will feed into and shape the next iteration of the Climate Action Plan.

Join the Climate Conversation 2023 by clicking below:

As part of a public consultation on the new strategic plan for the development of the Organic Sector, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is inviting written submissions here

The Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth has opened a public consultation on disposable vapes:

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is seeking the views of sectoral stakeholders on climate action in the cultural and creative sector. Click below to participate:

Resources

This Summer's record-breaking weather, at home and abroad,?prompted UN Secretary General António Guterres to warn of ‘the era of global boiling’. Latest research on weather changes is included below.

Met éireann released the first climate projections of the TRANSLATE initiative at the European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2023, held in Dublin. This unique climate dataset supports climate adaptation and mitigation in Ireland.

The National Meteorological Service also published information on record-breaking weather this Summer, and climate averages between 1991-2020.

Meanwhile, READ?State of the Climate in Europe 2022, from The?UN World Meteorological Organisation?and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service?

The EPA’s Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2022-2040 is available on the EPA website, along with a video briefing on the data from 2nd June.

The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has published its Annual Review for 2022 echoing the CAP23 Q2 Progress Report and EPA emissions projections?.

The?OECD’s?EPIC household survey?How Green is Household Behaviour? Sustainable choices in a time of interlocking crises?

The?National Economic and Social Council (NESC) report?‘Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use’?

New Farmland Plant Identification book?

Every participant in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is to receive a new Farmland Plant Identification book.

The ACRES scheme has a major results-based payment element at its core, which rewards farmers financially for having a more species rich sward enhancing our biodiversity.

The Farmland Plant Identification Key book is available for free here

Brought to you by the Government of Ireland