1. Environmental Services Training Group
LOCAL AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE 2016
Future Challenges and Opportunities for the Environment
Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, May 2016. 1

2. Future Challenges and Opportunities for the Environment
Challenges for the Local Government Sector
Ciarán Hayes
Chief Executive
Sligo County Council

3. Local Government Sector Climate Change Obligations
EU Directives
Recruitment Embargo
Local Government Sector Climate Change Obligations
White Paper:
Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015 – 2030 (DECNR)
33% Energy Efficiency Target by 2020
Appointment of Energy Officer
LA support for Energy Projects
Low Carbon Transition & Mitigation Plan
Climate Change Adaptation Framework
Sectoral Adaptation Plan
Green Tenders
Integrated Planning Approach
Communication & Research Plan
Smarter Travel
Sustainable Communities
Encourage Behavioural Change
Public Service Training
CFRAM
Restricted Resources
Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act, 2015 (DECLG)
Severe Weather
Our Sustainable Future 2012 (DECLG)
Flooding
Storm Response
COP21

4. COP21
Objective:
Moving from actions by a few to actions by all
Local Government sector will be key to achieving the objective
However:
Sector must position itself to take a leadership position

5. Exercising Leadership
In exercising Leadership, the sector must:
Operate to a different model
Include Climate Change as a Corporate Objective
Be ‘owned’ by the Senior Management Team
Be championed by a member of the Snr. Management Team
Form part of each Directorate Work Programme
Having demonstrated our ability to respond to severe weather, we must now demonstrate our ability to lead!
Climate Change actions impact across the entire organisation to include Housing, Planning, Finance, Roads and Environment

6. Issues
Embedding Climate Change into Corporate Plan and organisational work programme
National and Local co-ordination
Adaptation, Mitigation & Remediation
Policy deficits
Renewable Energy
Scarce resources
Best practice
Where to site renewable energy projects?
Best Practice:
CLIMOTE remote home heating management in Louth Co. Co.
66.6% reduction in fuel consumption in Galway City

7. Climate Change – Coastline Issues

8. Climate Change – Coastline Issues

9. Climate Change – Coastline Issues

10. Climate Change – Coastline Issues

11. Climate Change – Coastline Issues

12. Climate Change – Coastline Issues

13. Climate Change – Coastline Issues

14. Climate Change – Coastline Issues

15. Severe Winter 2010

16. Storm Imogen

17. Flooding

18. Athlone - 2015 Flooding in 2009 – over 200 houses flooded
Flooding in 2015 to higher levels – only 1 house flooded

19. Climate Change Issues - Sallins

20. Summary & Conclusion
We are presently witnessing the effects of Climate Change
Doing nothing is not an option
Opportunity for the sector to assume a leadership role
Potential efficiencies

21. Summary and Conclusion
Climate Change presents both Opportunities and Threats
“Fail to prepare – prepare to fail”
Thank You