A period of public consultation on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's (dlr) Draft Climate Change Action Plan for the next five years is now live.

The strategy has identified that the effects of climate change are already impacting the area at a significant rate and are very likely to increase in their frequency and intensity.

The plan consists of four main targets:

• A 33% improvement in the Council's energy efficiency by 2020

• A 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

• To make Dublin a climate-resilient region, by reducing the impacts of future climate change related events

• To actively engage and inform citizens on climate change.

Dlr has already demonstrated its commitment to achieving these targets with a range of recent actions including:

• Deep retrofits of the Council's social housing stock to nZEB or EnerPHit standard

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• Smart lighting trials in the county

• Introduction of more electric vehicles into the Council's fleet

• Development and extension of the cycle network in the county and the expansion of car and bike-sharing schemes

• A coastal monitoring programme with a map of vulnerable areas

• A climate change impact GIS risk map with scenarios for the Dublin Region

• Development of the Community Garden at Fernhill Park

• Green roofs on civic buildings

• A review of the Dublin Bay Biosphere Plan to identify areas vulnerable to climate change

• Identify neighbourhoods/areas in need of bring banks

• Ways to cut down on food waste

• Climate-related evaluation criteria in all Council tenders.

Dublin Bay's average sea level appears to be rising faster than initially forecasted and has risen by twice the global average in the last 20 years. The number of days with heavy rainfall has also increased, and the amount of extreme flooding events in the capital has risen in the last 10 years.

Dlr has also experienced extreme temperatures, as witnessed recently in 2018, with Met Éireann issuing its first-ever Status Red warning for snow, followed by one of the hottest summers on record. All these extreme weather events clearly highlight the need to reduce the impacts that climate change is having on the environment, the economy, and the citizens of Dublin.

The public consultation will run until Monday 25 March 2019 and all interested parties are encouraged to make submissions.

(JG/MH)