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Mayo County Council's Climate Action Plan
Mayo County Council understands that taking action on Climate Change is crucial to meeting our vision. To this end Mayo County Council has changed the title of the Environment section to Environment, Climate Action and Agriculture and was the first Local Authority in the County to employ a Climate Action Officer. Mayo County Council are proactive in all aspects environment and are the Lead Authority/Host for many regional environmental programmes such as:
- Host the Climate Action Regional Office for the Atlantic Seaboard North
- Host the Local Authorities Water Programme for the Galway, Roscommon, Mayo Region
- Lead Authority for the Road Management Office for Region 2 of the Public Light retrofit Programme.
- Lead Authority for Connaught Ulster Regional Waste Management Plan.
Climate Action Charter
Mayo County Council along, with all 34 local authorities, has signed the Climate Action Charter 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.
Climate Action Regional Office – Atlantic Seaboard North
Recognising the significant obligation which has been placed on local government to develop and implement its own climate action measures, as well as the need to build capacity within the sector to engage effectively with climate change – both in terms of mitigation and adaptation, four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) have been established across the country. The establishment of these offices will enable a more co-ordinated engagement across the whole of government and will help build on the experience and expertise which exists across the sector.
The CAROs are being operated by a lead local authority in four different regions that have been grouped together based on a climate risk assessment, with the focus on the predominant risks in each geographical area. Mayo County Council is the lead authority for the Atlantic Seaboard North region, which consists of counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway.
Climate Action Ambassador programme
Mayo County Council have developed a novel programme where a representative from each section has become a Climate Action Ambassador. These 40 Ambassadors received Climate Action training from Cool Planet in June 2018 and have been helping all staff throughout the organisation to ‘Go Green’ since September 2018. Initially the main focus was the rollout of the Improved Waste Management Scheme, discussed above. Following the success of this the ambassadors are now focusing on energy efficiency and awareness throughout the organisation. The Ambassadors have also played a key role in outreach events such as the Greening of Mayo day, hosting a Climate Action Month, Ballinrobe Agricultural Show and Climate Fest.
The programme has been reviewed and CARO is currently putting together a report for other Local Authorities to roll out the Climate Action Ambassador programme.