Climate Action: Our Communities & Businesses

4.2     Climate Action - Our Communities and Businesses

Delivering on our climate action targets requires us all to come together in a strengthened social contract with a shared responsibility for climate change and accountability for taking climate actions in a manner that is transparent, appropriate, fair, and accessible to all. This will make it possible to realise the opportunities the transition to a carbon-neutral society and economy presents, such as new sustainable careers; warmer more energy-efficient homes; better transport options; more sustainable consumer choice; integrated spatial planning; cleaner air and water; and a better environment for future generations.

The Local Authority Climate Action Plan (LACAP) aims to strengthen this social contract in Sligo to achieve significant reductions in emissions, thus improving the health, wellbeing, and environment in our local communities.  Collectively we can advance towards a fair, inclusive and forward-thinking climate neutral economy that champions and supports social, environmental and economic interests. This transition towards a carbon neutral and climate resilient future will promote and create opportunities for new jobs and investment, warranting that no person is left behind in the transition.

Within the Non-residential emissions sector, there are three main categories: Commercial, Manufacturing, and Industrial Processes. Each category encompasses a unique set of activities and processes that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

• Commercial Sector: commercial entities such as businesses, offices, and industrial complexes require a lot of energy to operate, which often comes from fossil fuels. Energy consumption is largely driven by activities such as heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, cooking, and refrigeration.
• Manufacturing Sector: manufacturing combustion processes involve a range of activities, such as heating, cooling, and processing materials, and often require the use of large machinery and equipment, particularly in industries such as iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, and chemicals.
• Industrial Sector: industrial processes include, but are not limited to, cement production, lime production, ceramics, solvent use, as well as the food and beverage industry.

At a national level, the  non-residential sector (commercial + manufacturing + industrial) accounts for about 20% (13,622ktCO₂e) of emissions. At a local level, the energy and emissions from the non-residential sector in County Sligo has been calculated to be 92 ktCO2e, which equates to 10% of the total greenhouse gas emissions for County Sligo.

The national Climate Action Plan 2023 targets a 35% reduction in emissions by 2030 through changing how we produce, consume, and design our goods and services by breaking the link between fossil fuels and economic progress. Decarbonising industry & enterprise is key to Ireland’s economy and future competitiveness.

• Decreasing embodied carbon in construction materials produced and used in Ireland by at least 30%.
• Reducing fossil fuel use from 64% of final consumption (2021) to 45% by 2025 and further by 2030.
• Increasing total share of heating to carbon neutral to 50-55% by 2025, up to 70-75% by 2030.
• Significantly growing the circular economy and bioeconomy.

Sligo County Council are already very active in support our communities and businesses in understanding climate change, implementing climate action (mitigation and adaptation) and promoting economic opportunities that the transition to a low carbon and resilience society can bring. 

We are looking for your input into our Local Authority Climate Action Plan to help us shape appropriate actions to further support and mobilise climate action in our communities and local businesses.