Galway County PPN GRWG Submission under Chapter 4
4. Our Climate Actions
4.1 Governance and Leadership
4.1. Effective governance and leadership in climate change requires long-term vision and planning...Staff Awareness & Training In partnership with the Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) and the Local Authority Services National Training Group (LASTNG), climate action training continues to be rolled out for the entire local authority sector, including elected representatives…(Galway County Council LACAP)
We are hearing from several sources on the ground that there is resistance to environmental training by a significant number of County Councillors, and that few are attending training. Without Councillor buy in and understanding of the seriousness of the climate and biodiversity emergency effective strong governance and leadership will not materialise. Despite legally binding targets, as with previous plans there is a very real risk of this Climate Action Plan becoming yet another ambitious and enlightened document on the page ( as is the Galway County Development Plan) but in reality, not being implemented. We were disappointed to hear about the comments/beliefs of some Councillors who attended the July Plenary, as was reported in a July 26th 2023 article in the Tuam Herald. Titled “Climate Woes Extinguished by Sceptical County Councillors”. The position of some councillors as stated in the article is worrying. We believe climate science and ecosystems awareness training should be obligatory, to help councillors to understand the urgency of the work and the need for this LACAP. Indeed we believe it is a key aspect of this Plan. On the positive side, in a separate front page article in the Tuam Herald on the same date titled “Galway gets hotter by half degree” the County Council Cathaoirleach said “Anyone watching TV news lately will know how much climate change is affecting our world and it is incumbent on us as a Local Authority to do all we can to tackle climate change.” This is the leadership we need, and this is what we want to hear from our Councillors.
We were struck by members of both Citizens Assembly’s (on ‘‘How the state can make Ireland a leader on tackling Climate Change’ and on ‘Biodiversity loss’) shifting towards roughly 85% support for strong actions to change the course we are on.
This is deliberative democracy in action. The C.A. members took the opportunity to be properly informed by science, and armed with that knowledge they recommended the strong and sometimes radical actions that we need to halt biodiversity loss and to tackle Climate Change. This is the kind of democratic action from our leaders. On 2nd Dec. 2023 at COP28 Leo Varadkar said to other leaders in relation to Climate Change “There is a profound responsibility on our shoulders' ' We want leaders that will step up to their responsibilities. https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2023/12/02/global-leaders-must-respond-to-climate-alarm-that-has-never-rung-so-loudly-taoiseach-tells-cop28/
Under Section 4.1 on Green Public Procurement the LACAP states that the ‘public authorities seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle’
With this in mind as meat is known to have an outsized impact on climate, all Council/PPN events should have meat free catering including locally sourced organic produce where possible, as standard best practice. All food purchased where possible should be from Community Supported Agriculture Food Cooperatives and Social Enterprises. All events within the council should take this into account going forward.. The council needs to lead by example and this could be a very effective way of communicating changes we need to make within the Council, the PPN and to the citizens attending these events.
Also under Green Public Procurement best practice, all public authorities need to become waste free and plastic free zones, and all stationery products, packaging and containers used by the Galway Local Authority and PPN needs to be biodegradable and compostable, (on site, and reused on site, where possible) and no longer purchasing or utilising any single use plastic products.
Under Green Public Procurement, all green infrastructure and plant based materials and products for public planting schemes, roadsides and public developments need to be of local provenance, native and/or edible, and from local community or in-house nursery stock.
4.2 Energy and the Built environment
Do not develop facilities such as data centres in the county. If we have ever-increasing demands for electricity we will always fail to meet our targets. We must plan better for the projects that are coming down the line: projects that consume vast quantities of electricity such as data centres must be factored into our targets and should not be built if they will cause us to miss our targets. Unsustainable growth of data centres is already putting our energy transition at risk, as they are already accounting for 18% of electricity use in Ireland and could account for 30% by 2030. Many data centres also appear to be capturing renewable energy projects already under development which could have helped decarbonise the wider society. Meanwhile communities have to rely on power plants like Moneypoint which are burning coal and are switched on due to fears of blackouts, this is unacceptable.
https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/0928/1249505-data-centres-oireachtas/
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/climate-change-and-data-centres-5392847-Mar2021/
Co-ops
We need multi stakeholder support including from our LA to establish local community hubs and co-operatives for food, housing and renewable energy, promoting community access to the benefits of community ownership such as renewable energy. We need to support co-operatives that have as wide a community membership as possible and seek to distribute benefits to the community as a whole. We need to assist community co-ops at every stage of their development from their first public meeting to the successful processing of a planning application and their sourcing of finances to bring the projects to reality.
Renewable Gas
The GRWG note the submission from Renewable Gas Forum Ireland and would like to oppose their recommendation for up-scaling biomethane production. We must remember that methane in itself is a very potent greenhouse gas.
A full life cycle assessment of any renewable gas projects should be undertaken and projects that fail to comply with the following criteria should not be undertaken. A, the project should capture more gas at the source than is emitted or leaked including emissions when the gas is burned, i.e. there should be a net capture of gas. B, no new fossil fuel infrastructure should be built to accommodate the project and C, the gas should be used close to the source as gas is known to leak from pipelines etc. when it is transported long distances. Overall the role of renewable gas should be considered only as a niche solution not one that we should be depending on. Even if we used all our food waste and manure to convert to renewable gas one suspects that the quantity would only make up a small fraction of our energy sector. Thus we are highly concerned about relying heavily on renewable gas as it might lock Ireland into an intensive farm model, increasing the cow numbers in order to generate more methane for power generation.
4.3 Transport
An Audit of potential active travel projects across the County must be developed in partnership with local communities. A database could be set up in which communities can feed into and register requests for local active travel projects. In this way communities can work in partnership with the development of a walking and cycling strategy as outlined in Transport Objective TR1.
Create safe routes to all schools for children to cycle and walk and gain independence. This means that cycle lanes are separated from motor traffic by physical barriers or do not follow roads. Carry out an audit of every school and work with local communities to build the best infrastructure on a case by case basis. Build extensive cycling networks across the county in both urban and rural areas which could be used to commute to work or make short journeys by bike. Follow the best practice of countries that have very advanced cycling infrastructure such as in the Netherlands. The lack of safe routes for children exasperates traffic and the resultant carbon emissions. As parents feel that the roads are unsafe thus they choose to ferry children to different activities. This may be having a detrimental effect on children’s sense of agency and resilience.
New cycleways across land can be developed with minimal impact on existing natural ecosystems, utilising nature based solutions and natural materials, rather than current practices utilising polluting and carbon intensive materials such as tarmacadam and concrete. Further research on these options should be carried out by the Local Authorities.
Take note of the hierarchy of Transport, and if necessary take space away from modes lower down the transport hierarchy in favour of those higher up.
Fast track projects that are low hanging fruit that communities are in favour of, such as incomplete cycle ways and footpaths where space is available.
Connect cycle-ways with walking infrastructure, bus routes and train stations to allow modal shifts for commuters. Provide bike parking at strategic locations in this regard.
For Transport modelling as outlined in Action TR1.1 take account of where sea level rise may impact transport options, in instances of low coastal roads.
With regard to the Galway Ring Road, we understand that a re-submitted application is now being considered by the planning authority. We are opposed to the construction of the ring road for many reasons as it will lock us into increasing emissions, it will be very expensive and we can use the funding for more subsidised public transport and the transition to a green economy. Many studies have shown that building more roads results in a rebound effect resulting in more gridlock, for example on the M50 a lane was added in Newbridge at the red cow junction to solve congestion but had the opposite effect. Most of the traffic congestion in Galway is caused by parents driving their children to school and workers driving into the city. A bypass won't solve that. In fact, data suggest that only 3% of Galway traffic would actually make full use of a bypass. Plus, if our current roads had cycle lanes, making it safer for children to cycle to school, school traffic could be greatly reduced.
Many cities in Europe have introduced free and inexpensive public transport programmes run on renewable energy, to decrease their carbon footprint and car usage proving very effective - In an Irish Independent article TD Chris O Sullivan highlights that “The idea of free public transport is by no means new. It has been a reality for hundreds of thousands of people living across various European cities, such as Tallinn and Dunkirk, for quite some time. In 2020, Luxembourg took those initiatives one step further and became the first country to make public transport free in a bid to tackle the country’s high level of private car usage and the resulting emissions.”
Consider changing speed limits to optimise fuel efficiency and thus reduce emissions.
The local authority should consider adopting policies to discourage the use of SUVs in built up areas. SUVs are known to take up more road space, are more dangerous for vulnerable road users and are less carbon efficient than alternative cars. Higher parking tariffs for SUVs could be one consideration. A policy such as this could send a strong message to the people of Galway that we need to take climate and environment into account when purchasing a car.
Consider introducing a light rail system for Galway. With inexpensive renewable energy public transport systems in place. Introduce a congestion charge for cars entering Galway city centre and other busy urban centres. Phase out allowing internal combustion engines into the city centre. Incentivise public transport by making it free and/or more affordable and dis-incentivise car use by making driving and parking less affordable.
Have flexible options for people so that they do not have to own a car. Bike hire schemes should be expanded and cargo bike hire should also be available for people within these schemes. A similar scheme for e-cars should be put in place so people can easily hire a car for those one-off times when a car is really necessary. Like the bike scheme there should be multiple pick up and drop off locations. Perhaps supporting communities to set up a ecar/ ebike share scheme as a Social Enterprise or part of local Energy Co-op project.
The following measures should also be implemented as soon as possible
- Permeability of estates and sporting facilities to allow pedestrian movement through community spaces and neighbourhoods
- Pedestrianisation of towns & villages with 30 kmph speed limits and French style crossings that are red for cars by default
- Change pedestrian crossing points to fit with path frequently walked when crossing the road, where safe to do so
- Support sustainable, community led walking & cycling buses
- Ensure safe pedestrian and cycle access to all train stations and bus stops
- Covered, safe, protected bus shelters in all locations with a regular service with a live feed of projected/ known time of arrivals/departures available onsite and on local app
- Pull in areas at the side of road for buses to stop safely and allow traffic past on the RHS
- Reduce parking at county hall and consider creative measures to encourage councillors and staff to use public transport, and initiate a park and ride scheme from outside the City into City Centre with staff incentives
4.4 Communities and Partnership
The Public Participation Network in the Local Authority is ideally positioned to deliver simple measures in every community that can have a big impact in achieving our climate goals for a fair and just transition with 1250 community organisations in County Galway alone. We need to be driving climate change from the bottom up as well as from the top down. There is a wealth of knowledge and expertise within the community and within the PPN
In partnership with the PPN, Initiate, fund and develop a new campaign to support a Bioregional Regenerative ‘People's Transition Programme’ with the establishment of Community based One Stop Shops hosted by PPN, and supported by Community Permaculture & Transition hubs in every village and town in the County, supporting all members of the local community in a fair and just transition.
A summary of the actions recommended by the PPN (and shown in an article entitled Community Groups Demand Greater Role in delivering Climate Action Goals see link below) to the Joint Oireachtas Environment and Climate Action Committee is provided below. We fully endorse these recommendations.
- Given the right resources, the PPN can mobilise the community climate action we need for a fair and just transition
- Groups within the PPN can act as “one-stop shops” in their communities, offering information and training on how people can get involved in climate action.
- Would like to see the building of climate action websites and databases, and share local examples and experiences of policies and projects that work.
- They also want to provide feedback to local and national authorities on how national policies are working out at ground level.
- “We know that collective action will be critical to achieving our climate action goals and PPNs represent the mechanism through which this can be mobilised at community level.”
- PPNs nationally need three extra staff each, a total of 93 nationally, to take on the tasks. They currently have two each, who are mainly involved in coordination and administration.
- Grassroots groups and local communities are essential to climate action and to ensure policies are both fair and effective.
- “With effective participation and citizen engagement that empowers people from the bottom up, we can deliver a just transition,” and “PPNs are one vehicle through which this can be achieved.”
In section 4.4 on community partnership action CP 1.1 on the Climate Action Fund. We feel that the current fund is very small and shows the lack of ambition of the national government. This is not a fund that can deliver a transition to a green economy. The criteria for accessing funding places a big burden on volunteers at the community level. The lack of provision for staff is also problematic as it places more burden on those community volunteers who are already stretched in their capacity to take on new actions.
Access to land is one of the main barriers for community groups seeking to do environmental actions but acquiring land is not covered by the fund.
4.5 Circular Economy
In relation to plastic pollution strategies to eliminate, reduce and reuse are far more valuable than recycling and should be prioritised as such. As we now know that plastic is not inherently recyclable. It does not make sense to have a product for single use that will persist in the environment for hundreds or thousands of years. Of the plastics that can be put in our recycle bin a very small proportion are actually made into a new product, the vast majority end up in landfill or are incinerated. In addition the small percentage that does get reused is in fact downcycled i.e. the new product has a lower value than the original product. These new products need the addition of virgin plastic. We must remember that plastic is essentially a fossil fuel and has an enormous carbon footprint. Plastic is not a product that can work in a truly circular economy. For this reason it is not possible to simply tweak the way we recycle, that will not fix the problem we need to overhaul the system. When the local authority is funding community projects, prioritise alternatives and to eliminate, reduce and reuse rather than recycle. Prioritise the roll out of water bottle refill stations and keep cup schemes.
The right decision for the climate and the environment needs to be the easiest and cheapest option. Work with supermarkets to promote refill sections and plastic free sections
Make disposing of household waste-streams easier, have a permanent place such as the Liosban industrial estate for the disposal of waste oils, hazardous chemicals, paints etc, it shouldn’t be so difficult to get rid of these items. Many of these toxic waste streams end up in the environment. Work with companies who sell these items such as hardware stores and paint sellers, allow customers to return unused chemicals to places where they are sold. If there is no plan for their disposal of these products, consider dis-allowing their sale or only allowing licensed premises to sell such items. This is in line with Objective CE1, Goal 5.
Promote libraries of stuff, so that people in communities can share items such as garden and household tools and appliances.
We need to ensure all Council in house, and publicly funded, work programmes and actions are regenerative and supportive of the circular economy. Work programs or projects that are extractive, or causing environmental degradation and ecosystem harm, releasing emissions and/ or toxic pollutants should not be supported. All community groups and projects, alongside Council staff, need to educate themselves on Regenerative Living and Ecosystems training in order to gain insight into the interconnections of everything in the material world and the life cycle of all items in use. Education on the long term impacts of novel materials such as microplastics and forever chemicals on ecosystems, habitats and species is important.
4.6 Land Use and Green Infrastructure
The Local Authority needs to urgently undertake an audit and review its county wide land use strategy, identifying all high nature value areas within its own landbank and work with other stakeholders to support the protection and management of other high nature value and all habitat and water catchments in its area.
The Local Authority should consider areas of high biodiversity value more when processing planning applications, at the moment the business and development of sites seems to be given more weight than environmental concerns. Although attempts are made to mitigate impacts, this only leads to a slow whittling away of valuable habitats and wildlife corridors.
A Rights of Nature Motion is currently before the Council and needs to urgently be adopted and taken on board in all future Council plans, practices and developments. Rights of Nature is a concept, or way of thinking about how we can redefine our relationship with the natural world. By building on this relationship with reciprocity and care we can learn (or remember ) how to live in harmony with nature. There are different spheres in which this can be done - from education and engagement at community level, to changes in laws, policy and planning. This would be a key way to build environmental protection into all decision making and raise awareness about the Nature/biodiversity crisis that we are facing. This would educate people and give recognition to the inherent rights of our natural ecosystems to flourish and thrive, to not be destroyed, damaged or polluted and highlight our inherent interdependence on healthy ecosystems in order to survive.
We are in favour of Action LN2, an ecological audit of Local Authority land, and also the carrying out of ecological/habitat surveys and highlight areas at risk (as well as areas which are thriving or providing sequestration services) and those suitable for restoration and enhanced carbon storage, also identifying potential wildlife corridors for protection through statutory plans' (Galway CoCo LACAP)
We suggest you work closely with all stakeholders and community groups on the ground who are undertaking conservation work, rewilding, restoring ecosystems and planting native trees. We also recommend working with community groups to create community gardens and allotments where people can pool knowledge and learn how to grow food. Support Regenerative Bioregional plans to incorporate community gardens and allotments in every village and town, alongside community supported agriculture projects and nurseries. Neighbourhood cooperatives for local communities could also support coppicing projects for local fuel and fibre production. This can have an indirect effect of reducing emissions while we reduce air miles etc. It also improves community adaptation in the face of radical climate change which is already baked in.
Tackling Food Sovereignty, Food Security & Food Poverty - We need the Galway County Council to support and develop in partnership with local stakeholders a Local Food Policy as a matter of urgency. A Local Food Policy is about putting food back into our local Communities. We want everyone in County Galway to have access to affordable, locally produced, nutrient dense, chemical-free food. We also want farmers to earn a fair living while providing that food to their communities. Farmers should be supported in changing how they fertilise land, while phasing out the use of agrichemicals. They also need support to improve management of grasslands on mineral soils for carbon sequestration and the rehabilitation of peatlands.
That means creating pathways for local food production through a positive policy framework, as outlined by An Talamh Beo, which incorporates:
- income supports,
- labour and finance incentives,
- pilot projects for land access and
- a focus on green procurement, short supply chains and infrastructure.
“There’s great potential in Ireland for more food being produced here instead of overseas” – Fergal Anderson, Leaf & Root and Talamh Beo Please see here their local food policy document which we strongly support - https://talamhbeo.ie/local-food-policy/
We also strongly advocate for a multi stakeholder supporting the establishment of Local Community Food hubs as outlines by An Talamh Beo and also the development of a Local Food Policy Council and strategy similar to the work taking place in Cork - The Cork Food Policy Council is a partnership between representatives of the community, food retail, farming, fishing, restaurant/catering, education, environmental and health sectors and local authorities. The Cork Food Map - The Food Policy Council should be formed to work towards the achievement of a fairer, healthier, more secure and sustainable food system within the County and throughout the region.
Complementing a Local Food Policy Framework would be:
- Institutional recognition for Local Food Producers, Green Procurement, access to land supports and a mapping system with easy access by local communities.
- A multi-department, integrated approach to reviving and climate proofing our rural communities
Hedgerows are essential wildlife corridor connectors but are still today being removed at an alarming rate. The Irish Wildlife Trust has stated that “Hedgerows are essential for maintaining wildlife diversity, supporting species such as badgers, owls, hedgehogs, stoats, blackbirds and innumerable plants, butterflies and other insects. Not only are they an invaluable resource for much of our wildlife, they are vital in providing food and shelter for pollinators, cleaning our air, defining our landscape, storing carbon and by holding back the flow of water off land they can alleviate flooding”. Means to halt hedgerow destruction especially in rural areas need to be developed and enforced. New developments routinely rip out large sections of hedgerow. This has been the case for many years. Perhaps due to lack of enforcement of policies set out in GCDP to protect hedgerows. New planning permissions given in rural areas should specify measures to maximise retention of hedgerow habitat and replace habitat needed for access etc. once the development has been completed.
LN 2.3 Conduct a tree cover survey and devise and adopt a tree management policy that recognises the ecosystem services provided by existing woodland habitat and seeks to retain and support such habitats.
Strengthen laws to protect trees including on private land and new developments. Trees should be viewed as possessors of high intrinsic, cultural, heritage, spiritual value and not only for carbon sequestration, but for the provision of essential life benefits to biodiversity, including shade for aquatic life along riverbanks in our overheating atmosphere, as well as forming a discrete habitat in their own right. Single and small groups of trees need protection as well as woodland. Enforcement of protection is crucial. Rights of Nature says that natural entities have their own intrinsic value, and their worth is not only in their service to humans. The notion that humans have a right to destroy nature, and often do, needs to be challenged.
With regard to LN2.4 on pesticide reduction, we would be strongly in favour of a ban on pesticide use on lands within the Local Authorities remit in County Galway, with an exception only for the management of invasive species under strictly monitored and on a research basis. This should be undertaken as a matter of urgency and has been in discussion at council level already for several years, the time for talking is past, it is time to act. The dangers of pesticides are universally known. It is named as a poison in the GCDP- poisoning land, flora, fauna, human life and water. These are enormously dangerous substances to be engaged in such prolific and casual use. Mindsets towards landscaped “tidy” natural spaces should be a thing of the past. Strong leadership is needed so that people can learn to embrace nature in all its untidiness and allow it to thrive and flourish. Thistle, ragwort and docks are not noxious in many settings, and should not be categorised as such, or managed with pesticides.
There should be a county wide audit of Invasive Species. The Local Authority could develop a county wide app for all staff, public stakeholders and community to upload where located and identify a plan of treatment, management and elimination in partnership with research bodies and national Biodiversity Data Centre.
4.7 Adaptation to Climate Risk
4.7 Adaptation to Climate Risk ….. Galway County Council is active across all aspects of flood risk management. This includes actions that consider flood risks arising from climate change through development policies, collaboration with the OPW..., own delivery of minor flood defence projects, use of nature-based solutions to manage flood risks. Collaborate with Government organisations to provide capital measures for identified priority areas incorporating nature based solutions….(NBS)
LN3 on Nature based solutions, some of the best nature based solutions are natural vegetation which can help prevent flooding and drought. Section 4.7 discusses flooding Nature based solutions. We believe NBS should be at the forefront of Adaptation plans, including large scale projects. GCC development policies and the OPW should be more ambitious, and should work in partnership to explore the feasibility of large scale NBS projects. The European Research Executive Agency defines nature-based solutions as “Solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience”. The Commission is involved in driving NBS in Europe. Catchment based solutions should be examined for flood defence, including slowing water flow in catchments and developing wetland storage sites. Farmers and Landowners should be involved and compensated for lost livelihoods. Nature based solutions are win-win as there are co-benefit for habitats and species. In addition these projects dispense with carbon heavy concrete and can be very cost effective. Permaculture and Nature Based Solutions Experts from other regions should be invited in to inform both staff and local communities on these developments.
Hi-Tech Nature: Nature-based solutions | Jim van Belzen | TEDxDenHelder
More projects such as the Salthill Sand Dune Project should be trialled. Galway City is using NBS to mitigate coastal flooding in Salthill, see the link below.
https://connachttribune.ie/salthill-sand-dune-project-could-help-protect-against-climate-change/
Proven technology exists in Nature for taking carbon out of the atmosphere, in the form of oceans, trees, algae and wetlands, which have performed as carbon sinks for millions of years, we don’t need to re-invent it, we need to allow it to function and thrive to keep the earth healthy.
NBS for Coastal flooding: NBS intentionally use natural and nature-based habitats, such as marshes or human-made reefs, and natural processes, such as river currents, in infrastructure projects to reduce coastal hazard risks and deliver multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits. These systems are self organising, e.g. stream systems which slow sea currents down so that it deposits sediment, reducing wave power.
NBS often cost far less than engineered man made solutions (which involve using a lot of concrete and other materials), and have the benefit of enhancing natural habitats and ecosystems. Man made dykes and levees are problematic. They keep water at bay but also create difficulties for aquatic life and reduce foraging opportunities for birdlife as well as a myriad of additional negative impacts on biodiversity. They prevent land from building up by reducing sediment deposits, thus causing the land to sink on one side as the sea rises on the other, as is occurring in parts of the Netherlands. There are many studies and examples of nature-based solutions for coastal flooding creating coral reefs, human-made dunes, and the building up of barrier islands, or the salt marshes on them, with sediment. In fact the Netherlands are leaders in this natural technology.
Coastal communities : are particularly vulnerable to storms. A large proportion of Galway’s population live and work near the coast, often in homes and businesses built on floodplains.
https://connachttribune.ie/climate-scientist-warns-of-threat-to-coastal-villages-509/
Barrier islands and their salt marshes make coasts more resilient to catastrophic weather events, such as hurricanes, and their accompanying storm surges.
River Flooding NBS; There are many examples of river restoration upstream reducing downstream flooding.. If flood-water can be stored on the land, it can soak into humus rich soils, hedgerows, woodlands, ponds, wetlands and the like. Natural catchment protection measures can be an effective tool for flood prevention. Pontbren in Wales, Pickering in Yorkshire and many other areas have led the way in this area and reduced catastrophic flooding at a much lower price than hard solutions.
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/flooding-cork-climate-change-6202751-Oct2023/
Other Nature Based Solution techniques include Leaky log dams, brash dams, stormwater wetlands, native woodland planting, contour hedgerows, planting and damming farm drains to slow the flow, buffer zones, artificial beaver dams, (real beaver dams!). In turn this helps to prevent down stream water pollution during flooding which could overwhelm water treatment systems.
Professor John Sweeney Climate Scientist stated “Given that we are in a climate emergency…more radical options merit consideration. In the Netherlands, for example, a country facing even more acute problems of flooding than Ireland, a programme designed to work closer to nature has proven successful. “Room for the River” has sought to alleviate floods by better managing flood plains, creating water buffers and constructing flood bypasses. Working with nature rather than seeking to control it, offers opportunities. How much less expensive for the taxpayer would it be for example to pay agricultural landowners upstream to allow occasional flooding of their land that would protect homes and businesses downstream? It’s time to think outside the box.
We can learn from nature and let nature lead. We do not need to go back to nature, but forward with nature, using NBS or hybrid solutions.
https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2023/11/23/beavers-to-the-rescue/
Climate and food security,
LN1, Support food security and sustainable local food production and ensure a safe and healthy environment that is resilient to the effects of climate change.
Ireland has a reputation for being a green agricultural country, we consider ourselves important because we export a lot of food. The reality however is that Ireland is a net importer of calories, aside from Meat and Dairy we produce very little else. This is very worrying in terms of food security. Climate shocks in the bread baskets (main producers of soy, rice, wheat and corn) of the world in places like America, India and China could have serious repercussions for Ireland. In fact this year severe drought conditions in Spain are impacting crop yields. Spain is one of the most important fruit and vegetable producers in the EU. Ireland must take note and produce policies that insulate people from food price shocks and lower availability of food abroad. Ireland can be much more resilient to climate shocks and food shortages in other countries if we diversify our farming. The local authority should promote diversification of farming. In addition, policies that support communities to grow food like community gardens should be supported.
Although the Draft LACAP mentions food security many times. We would like the LACAP to explicitly state what food insecurity looks like, perhaps this could form part of the risk assessment. Frequency of Hazards have been identified in terms of flooding, rainfall, drought etc. but knock on effects on agriculture are not mentioned and the possibility of disruption to global food systems with serious consequences for Ireland are not mentioned. Indeed a study from the University of York, published in the Journal Sustainability (see Link below) states that “A shortage of popular carbohydrates such as wheat, bread, pasta, and cereal are most likely to trigger civil unrest, say the experts, who work across academia, policy, charities, and business”.
Just over ‘40% of the food experts surveyed believe that civil unrest in the UK in the next 10 years was either possible (38%) or more likely than not (3%)’, with vulnerabilities of the food system and the resulting disruption being identified as the likely cause.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231012111710.htm
Bioregional Green Mapping
The Local Authority (in partnership with all the local stakeholders including the PPN) must put in place a Green Community Mapping Scheme to highlight the transition actions underway. Community groups, companies and organisations taking steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and address biodiversity loss in their local areas could feed into the scheme. Local Futures is a pioneer of the worldwide localization movement, raising awareness about the power of ‘going local’ as a key strategy for restoring ecological, social and spiritual wellbeing. We have to aim to return to our local bioregions to meet our needs where possible, as we transform our impact from one of exploitation and degeneration towards becoming healing and regenerative custodians and nurturers of the ecosystems we inhabit, meeting our needs in harmony with the needs of the local landscape, ecosystem by ecosystem.
Thank you for taking the time to consider the recommendations of the Galway County PPN, Green Recovery Working Group. I hope that we have communicated the urgency we feel on the ground and the scale of the task that we are facing together.