There were many positive aspects from the first progress report of the Laois County Council Local Authority Climate Action Plan (LACAP) 2024-2029.
The report deals with the climate adults of the Council between January 2024 and January 2025.
Like all local authorities, the Laois County Council is bound to the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGS) of the United Nations.
The “blueprint of the United Nations to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone” should fight the global challenges for humanity.
The measures taken in the LACAP are intended to support the government's national climate target, which is aiming for an “air -conditioning, biological diversity, ecologically sustainable and climate -al -based economy” by 2050.
The Laois County Council is obliged to achieve an improvement in energy efficiency (based on a basis from 2018) as part of the 2023 climate protection plan by 2030.
The preliminary figures show that improving the energy output by 50% has already been reached by 2023.
The Council is also obliged to reduce carbon emissions (greenhouse gas) by 51% (based on a baseline 2016-2018).
The total emissions in 2023 were almost 37% below the baseline; In order to achieve the goals in 2030, emissions have to lose a further 52.3%.
CO2 fossil fuels was more than 50% under the baseline 2016-2019 in 2023; However, an additional reduction of 49% is required to achieve destinations by 2030.
The LACAP has set 114 actions in five areas in which it hopes that they can fight climate damage and reach the SDG targets.
Government and leadership
21 of the 114 actions focus on governance and leadership, including the Green Public Procurement Strategy 2024-2027.
This describes “important measures to improve sustainable procurement practices”, including the structure of social houses to almost zero energy buildings. Retrofitting for housing buildings; Upgrade of bicycle traces in large cities; and improvement of public lighting on LED light bulbs.
In the future, the LACAP will also focus on improving the energy efficiency of three of the most important energy consumers – County Hall, the Portlaoise Leisure Center and the Portarlington Leisure Center.
The most recent measure as part of the governance and leadership of the management was introduced this week at the March meeting of the Laois County Council.
The elected members have long been supplied with bottles of Ballygowan water during the council meetings. However, a more sustainable practice was introduced this week.
A personal reusable water bottle was presented in each of the 19 County Councils, which can be used for all future sessions.
Builded environment and transportation
48 of the 114 actions focus on the built environment and the transport, including the retrofit program for social housing.
This has caused Laois County Council to comprise considerable work on the housing construction of the municipal institutions, including the installation of heat pumps. External and internal insulation; Door and Windows upgrades; and ventilation.
46 retrofits were completed in 2024, with a further 53 output in processing around 9.5 million euros. On average, the tenants see energy savings of € 45 per week.
Another initiative under the built environment and the transport topic is the introduction of e-bikes in Portlaoise.
Over 40 bicycles were placed in the city of Portlaoise, with over 1,500 different people using the bicycles.
Natural environment and green infrastructure
Nine of the 114 actions focus on natural environment and green infrastructure, including the demonstration Garden with biological diversity.
The garden, which was created in the Laois Education Support Center, was developed as a “living classroom”, which shows a variety of biodiversity projects that can be replicated in schools.
Manufacturing hikes aim to promote awareness and understanding of biological diversity among teachers, students and the wider community.
This project is part of another effort to integrate more green spaces into urban environments, improve the quality of life and promote a sustainable life.
The agricultural inspections also took place in the entire natural environmental and green infrastructure measures.
A total of 102 initial agricultural inspections and 52 follow-up inspections were carried out together with the continued commitment with Teagasc ASSP and the IFA.
Communities resilience and transition
23 of the 114 actions focus on the resilience of the communities and the transition of the Green for Business program.
This is a new initiative by the local corporate offices to help small companies prepare for a low, more resource -efficient economy.
The program offers a way to achieve resource efficiency, reduce costs, improve the company image and at the same time improve environmentally friendly login information.
Another important program was the Portlaoise Travel Cluster project.
This was a national precedent by being the first initiative in Ireland to combine all schools in a city under the travel topic Green-Schools.
The innovative goal is to make school trips for students in Portlaoise safer, healthier and more sustainable.
Sustainable and resource management
13 of the 114 actions focus on sustainable and resource management, including the Laois Climate Action Festival 2024
In addition to partner organizations, Laois Libraries, Laois PPN, Laois Connects, Laois Chamber Alliance and The Dunamaaise Theater, climate action initiatives of the Council together with partner organizations, Laois libraries, Laois PPN, Laois Connects.
The topics above the festival included the reduction of food waste, biological diversity, sustainable gardening and climate force.
Another element of the topic of sustainable and resource management prompted the Council as part of the Community Climate Action Fund 465,000 € to 16 community groups in Laois.
See also – in pictures: Narcissus day a great success as a fundraiser of the Holy Family Senior School Host
