4. Our Climate Actions
It is critical that supporting the development of renewable energy sources in Co. Galway is undertaken with a long term view of sustainability rather than primarily on the basis of local environmental impacts during the lifetime of the renewable energy project in question. Once renewable energy projects are built and operational, the affected habitats will be excluded from any potential future habitat restoration policies during the project lifetime. This is particularly relevant in the context of recent developments on promoting habitat restoration such as the recent Nature Conservation Law and the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. An example of the above would be a planning application for a wind farm on a cut-over raised bog in Co. Galway which can negatively affect biodiversity and water quality as well as increasing carbon loss from this habitat through the required drainage and infrastructure that wind farms require. While the wind farm is operational, this bog will effectively be excluded from any restoration policies for a period of up to 25 years resulting in a lost opportunity for Galway County Council to support biodiversity, ecosystem function and reduce carbon loss.