Dublin City Council has announced that more than €1.9 million has been awarded to 51 community groups through the Government's Climate Action Fund.

The funding will benefit sports clubs, resident associations, community centres, community gardens, religious institutions and others. The Community Climate Action Programme provided Dublin City community groups with the opportunity to secure funding for local climate initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting active travel, enhancing resource efficiency and protecting nature. The funding also aimed to mitigate future climate change impacts and strengthen community cohesion.

The programme will enable dozens of community energy projects to carry out lighting and heating upgrades, install solar panels and improve building insulation. These measures will reduce Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels and save community groups money, which can then be reinvested in other essential services. Additionally, the programme supported various Active Travel initiatives by providing secure bicycle parking and repair facilities, encouraging more Dubliners to travel around the city in a cleaner, greener way.

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Rainwater harvesting will get a boost by capturing rainwater during high rainfall events, thereby helping prevent flooding and which can be used during dry spells. More repair cafes and clothes swap shops will help slow fast fashion and save money whilst our city will be more nature friendly thanks to new wildflower gardens. There will be more food growing in community gardens and at home thanks to the Kingfisher Pixel 2.0 Dispersed Community Gardens, where up to 100 residents will be able to avail of resources and support to enable them to grow their own food and share/exchange excess crops.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan said: "I am delighted to see so many Dublin communities undertaking climate actions which will see them become more sustainable and help achieve Irelands national climate action and energy targets and which will benefit all Dubliners."

Chief Executive of Dublin City Council Richard Shakespeare stated: "These climate actions, which have been designed and will be delivered by our community groups help strengthen our commitment to a Climate Neutral Dublin by 2030 and demonstrate how we can all play a part in tackling climate change. I would like to thank each of these groups for acting on their desire to take climate action."

Dean Eaton, Community Climate Action Officer commented: "Dublin City Council in partnership with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is delighted to be able to support Dublin communities as they come together to take climate actions for the benefit of the whole community."

In addition to the 51 Dublin groups, St. James Community Garden, Belfast will also benefit from this fund through their partnership with City Farm, Ballymun.

Photo Credit: Collins Photo Agency