Minister for Transport and Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD visited Waterford on Monday to discuss Waterford’s Decarbonising Zone (DZ) designation with Waterford City and County Council.
In Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, local authorities were identified as key enablers in advancing climate action in their local areas and the plan required that each local authority identify a Decarbonising Zone.
In April 2021, Waterford City and County Council agreed that Waterford City would be the designated Decarbonising Zone for Waterford. Acting as a “Transition Super-Lab”, where real life initiatives to manage the transition from a fossil fuel based local economy to carbon Net Zero will be designed and implemented, the DZ projects include building energy efficiency, sustainable transport, renewable energy generation and carbon sequestration.
The Minister met with Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Kelly, Michael Walsh, Chief Executive and Fergus Galvin, Director of Services, Waterford City and County Council.
I visited Waterford yesterday with Deputy @MarcKC_Green to speak with officials at @WaterfordCounci, @waterfordit and the Port about our Climate Targets and utilising new and existing infrastructure to deliver them. pic.twitter.com/xYNkhgZgrm
— Eamon Ryan (@EamonRyan) September 7, 2021
Michael Walsh, Chief Executive, Waterford City and County Council, highlighted that Waterford has set an ambitious target of attaining Net Zero or carbon neutrality by 2040, through reducing major emissions, and developing sustainability through collaboration, innovation and behavioural change. While it implies a systemic change to the city and the community, it has the potential to achieve a most remarkable and positive change for Waterford and its citizens.
Fergus Galvin, Director of Services, Roads, Water & Environment said, “This journey will require the support of many partners and the broad population. Our philosophy is one of engagement and asking people to join us on the journey to make Waterford best in class in respect of quality of life and sustainability.”
Minister Ryan spoke to WLR News Editor Julie Smyth ahead of his visit on Monday - listen back here:
Picture: Discussing Waterford’s Decarbonisation Zone status were Fergus Galvin, Waterford City and County Council, Mayor of Waterford City, Cllr. Joe Kelly, Minister for Transport, and Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD, and Michael Walsh, Chief Executive, Waterford City and County Council.
Pic by Patrick Browne
