Speech 23rd Feb, Launch of Meath Climate Action Plan

Cathairleach, Minister,  Cllrs, Chief Executive,  ladies and gentlemen

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I’m delighted to have the opportunity to speak at MCC Climate action plan launch. As chair of Meath Climate action Forum. I and indeed my Cllr colleagues on the forum have  had the chance to work with the climate section and see first-hand the enormity of the challenge As you know our Climate Action forum (CAF), founded in 2019 is the first of it’s kind in Ireland, regardless of what my colleagues in Cork Coco might say. The CAF is a Cllr lead  cross-party initiative, conceived to encourage , empower and support the Climate objectives of Meath Coco within our great ambitious county.

It was a great delight for me to see members of our CAF complete the UCC QQI level 7 Cert Climate Change and Local Government, developed for cllrs by  Dr Belinda Gascoine, Mark Kerns  UCC, Caroline Corrigan of MCC and Myself forming the program team , supported by AILG.

Empowering Cllrs form across Ireland to participate more fully in the Climate discussion.

An important action we as Councillors can take is to contribute to policies and practices that promote sustainability and reduce emissions. This course equips Cllrs   to be comfortable  in these discussions.

·       Already  56 Cllrs  nationally have competed the course. 5% we look forward to expanding this with your support minister.

Meath Coco supports  development of Project Long game, in conjunction with LSP, Sports Ireland and NGBs . A  pilot program delivering sustainability through sport in Meath.  Selected by the Caro as an exemplar initiative  .

I see, Our role as elected members carries a dual function, representing our communities within and council and representing our Local Authority within our communities.

We  play a role in raising awareness about the  need to address climate change. By talking with our communities, participating in events and initiatives, spreading the word on actions taken and those  planned, we can  inspire others to take action and join us in the fight against global warming.

Cllr Forum

Our function also involves meeting face to face with the problems that arise  when policy and practise don’t necessarily align. When the top down approach doesn’t make it all the way to grass roots. Working at the coal face of elected government, we  members of local authorities often encounter the lived experience of communities, business, Agri sector and the citizen , when policy  fails to meet practise. This perspective is sometimes overlooked during the policy creation. The new world of climate action presents Gov with an opportunity to narrow the gap between policy and practice by engaging with LA members in a new and consultative  way.

Maximising the benefits of climate action can be accomplished in tandem with the  delivery of this Climate Action Plan. The first step to empowering communities is to understand the opportunities that exist – improved health and well-being, reduced costs, economic growth  and green job creation, improved air and water quality and resilience building, while celebrating actions already being taken,  This will result in sustainable and vitalised communities.

Sustainability can’t exist in the long term if it relies entirely  on subvention and grants to survive. Engraining climate action into business as a means to create business is essential. The sustainability of sustainability relies on the ability of business to develop economically. Where the 3 Ps of People, Planet and Profit  all coexist in the real world.

Together, we can make a real difference in meeting the challenge and maximising the opportunities presented by climate change.

The language of Climate change is the language of democracy. Where, similar to voting one, seemingly small act combined with that of another accumulates to make a difference. We’ll know all about that here when we see the votes being counted after June 7th.  

 By taking action today,  achieving our objectives set out in our Climate action plan, we will build a sustainable and resilient world for our own sons , daughters, the  generations to come and those who we have no chance of ever meeting.