The NFLA All Ireland Sustainable Energy Forum will hold its autumn seminar this Friday 18th October in Dublin City Hall. (1) The Forum, which promotes sustainable and decentralised energy solutions across the island of Ireland, as well as campaigning against nuclear safety issues to it from across the Irish Sea, will be discussing core issues like the impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit on energy in Ireland, the moves by Councils to pass ‘climate emergency resolutions’ and promoting best practice in delivering sustainable energy and climate change mitigation strategies at the local level.
The Forum remains concerned that the island of Ireland is lagging behind the rest of Europe in delivering low carbon energy policies that will mitigate against the worst effects of climate change. Ireland is looking increasingly unlikely to meet its 2020 low carbon targets and has major obstacles to overcome to reach much more ambitious targets set for 2030 and 2050.
The Forum believes local councils from across the island of Ireland should be a core part of the endeavour to reduce carbon. An increasing amount of Councils are understanding the challenges of the ‘climate emergency’ and reacting positively to the challenge being raised by climate change groups in passing resolutions pledging them to reach ‘low carbon’ targets over the next decade or so. Through detailed reports, the Forum is promoting the best practice that is out there to Councils to deliver deeper carbon cuts whilst calling on central government in Dublin and Belfast to provide it with greater resources and powers in order to play its critical role in this endeavour.
Speakers at the seminar include:
- Forum Co-Chairs Councillor John Trainor and Councillor Malcolm Noonan, who will encourage councillors across Ireland to join the relaunched Forum.
- Seamus Hoyne, Chair of the Tipperary Energy Agency, one of the best examples of local low carbon energy promotion on the island.
- Cormac Walsh, Director of Energy Cooperatives Ireland Ltd, who are working with many projects promoting decentralised energy across Ireland.
- Pete Roche, NFLA SC Policy Advisor, will profile its recent report on the climate change challenge in Ireland and the role Councils are, and should play. (2)
- Sean Morris, NFLA SC Secretary, who will profile its recent report on what a ‘no deal’ Brexit may mean for energy and nuclear policy across the Irish and British Isles. He will also outline how the relaunched Forum’s intention to work with Councils to promote a low carbon island of Ireland. (3)
The Forum currently represents a number of councils across Ireland, as well as linking in to the resources and expertise of the NFLA in England, Scotland and Wales. Across the Irish Sea, many Councils are delivering a plethora of low carbon projects and challenging the need for new nuclear power, seeing ample stocks of renewable energy, heat and transport as the sustainable alternative for the future.
All Ireland Sustainable Energy Forum Co-Chair, Councillor John Trainor, said:
“I encourage councillors from across the island of Ireland to our seminar in Dublin and join us in this critical endeavour of responding in a much more dynamic fashion to the climate emergency than is currently taking place. It is clear the public across the island have woken up to the real urgency that is needed to mitigate climate change. Councils have been working on developing low carbon solutions for a number of years now, but they really need the resource and new powers from central government to achieve much more. The NFLA has for over 20 years supported Irish Councils in challenging the risks of nuclear accident from across the Irish Sea, and this Forum will continue to keep a close eye on that, but it is also working hard to support Councils wanting to develop best practice low carbon policies that can make a difference.”
All Ireland Sustainable Energy Forum Co-Chair, Councillor Malcolm Noonan, added:
“I am looking forward to this informative seminar on tackling the climate emergency and understanding the challenge for local Councils from across Ireland. It is clear all of us must make a big step-change up in tackling the major challenges of the climate emergency. Ireland has potentially copious amounts of renewable energy sources out there in onshore and offshore wind, tidal, wave and solar energy. Councils can also play in an active role in promoting these as well as introducing important local energy efficiency, energy storage, smart energy and renewable heating and transport solutions. I encourage Councils to join with us in finding the dynamic ways forward to solve these critical problems and deliver a low carbon island of Ireland.”
Ends – for more information please contact Sean Morris, NFLA Secretary, on 00 44 (0)161 234 3244.
Notes for editors:
(1) NFLA All Ireland Sustainable Energy Forum Autumn Energy Policy Seminar – The role of local government in delivering sustainable energy solutions: Council Chamber, City Hall, Dublin, Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, Friday 18th October, 11am – 1pm https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NFLA_AISEF_Dublin_October_2019_Seminar_flyer.pdf
(2) NFLA Policy Briefing 189, Ireland and climate change: isn’t it time for a local response? https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/A302_NB189_Ireland_and_climate_change.pdf
NFLA Policy Briefing 191, Climate emergency – the next steps. https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/A304_NB191_Climate_Emergency_the_next_steps.pdf
(3) NFLA Policy Briefing 193, ‘Brexit’ – what may be the impact of a ‘no deal’ on climate, energy and nuclear policy? https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/A306_NB193_Brexit_wider_issues.pdf