Chapter 9: Climate Action, Flood Risk and Transition to Low Carbon Economy (Formerly Chapter 8)

67

Include reference to the Climate Action Act and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act (2021) and amend Section 8.2.1 International, National and Regional Policy as follows:

8.2.1 International, National and Regional Policy  

The European Climate Law established in 2020 sets out the commitment of the European Union in the European Green Deal to be climate neutral by 2050. which  This will have implications for Ireland’s energy and emission targets and other national targets set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2019 To Tackle Climate Breakdown. It introduces the requirement to produce and revise annually the Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan will incorporate both mitigation and adaptation measures. 

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act Bill 2021 will supports Ireland’s transition to Net Zero and achieve a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050. It has will established a legally binding framework with clear targets and commitments, including Carbon Budgets set in law and ensures the necessary structures and processes are embedded on a statutory basis, to ensure we achieve our national, EU and international climate goals and obligations in the near and long term.  

Other important legalisation at a national level includes:  

• At national level, the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2014) - sets out the national objective of achieving a transition to a low carbon economy. This was given legislative effect by the
• Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2015) – The Act provided for the development of a National Adaptation Framework (NAF). which was published in December 2017.
• National Adaptation Framework (2018) - developed under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and adopted in 2018, this is Ireland’s first statutory national adaptation strategy that builds on the work carried out under NCCAF 2012, outlining a whole of Government and society approach to climate change adaptation in Ireland. The NAF required The sectoral and local adaptation strategies, which were prepared in 2019.
• In 2019, the Government published the Climate Action Plan (2019) Tackle Climate Breakdown and the National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 was published in September 2020 – These Plans identify identifies how Ireland will achieve its 2030 targets for carbon emissions and puts Ireland on a trajectory to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and also reiterates Ireland’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  
• National Mitigation Plan (2017) - prepared under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 is a whole of Government plan, which was published in 2017 and is Ireland’s first Plan in setting out a pathway to achieve the required level of decarbonisation.  

• The White Paper published in on Energy Policy (2015) - Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030 - sets out a framework to guide energy policy in the period to 2030, in order to meet national, EU and international targets. 

8.2.1 International, National and Regional Policy

160, 244

68

Amend Objective CAF O1 Compliance with Higher Tier Climate Legislation and Guidance as follows: 

1. 1. Support the National Adaptation Framework 2018 and the National Climate Change Strategy, including the transition to a low carbon future, taking account of flood risk, the promotion of sustainable transport, soil conservation, the importance of green infrastructure, improved air quality, the use of renewable resources and the re-use of existing resources.  
   2. Support the implementation of Cognisance shall be had to the Limerick Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (2019) while cognisance shall be had to and any revised or forthcoming adaptation, mitigation or climate action strategies or plans at local, regional and national level in the formulation of any plans or policies. 

8.2.1 International, National and Regional Policy

CAF 01 Compliance with Higher Tier Climate Legislation and Guidance

225

69

Amend Section 8.2.3 Climate Adaptation to include the following:

• Include the retention and integration of existing natural landscape features such as trees and hedgerows into the design of all new development where possible.

8.2.3 Climate Adaptation

25, 146, 153, 243, 246

70

Amend Objective CAF O21 Identified Flood Risk as follows:

b) Ensure that on the Enterprise and Employment lands located to the northwest of the M20/M7/N18 junction to the south of Toppin’s field, that no encroachment onto, or loss of the flood plain occurs at this location and that only water compatible development should be permitted for the lands that are identified as being at risk of flooding. 

c)  Ensure any planning application, including proposals for water compatible uses, on the lands in Flood Zones A and B adjacent to the Coonagh TUS campus, zoned for Education and Community, shall include a comprehensive Site-Specific Flood Risk Assessment, incorporating a drainage assessment for the lands, which demonstrates that the flood risk can be mitigated and that water compatible uses can be accommodated without adversely impacting on the flood risk of neighbouring residential properties. 

1. No works including the undertaking of ground level changes shall commence on the lands in the National Technology Park subject to flood risk, until all flood mitigation measures proposed on the site to facilitate future development of the IDA lands have been put in place. These measures shall form part of a project-specific flood risk assessment being completed as part of any planning application.
2. Any planning application on the lands zoned Data Centre at Rosbrien shall include a comprehensive Site-Specific Flood Risk Assessment, which demonstrates that the flood risk can be mitigated and that access/egress, roads and water compatible uses can be accommodated without adversely impacting on the flood risk off site. 

8.3 Flooding, Flood Risk Management and Water Management

CAF O21 Identified Flood Risk

111, 128, 196, 270

45 - Cllr. Michael Sheahan

71

Amend Objective CAF O23 Flood Relief Schemes as follows:

Objective CAF O23 Flood Relief Schemes - It is an objective of the Council to support and facilitate the development of Flood Relief Schemes as identified in the CFRAM 10 Year Investment Programme and ensure development proposals do not impede or prevent the progression of these measures.

8.3 Flooding, Flood Risk Management and Water Management

CAF O23 Flood Relief Schemes

263

72

Amend Objective CAF O24 Minor Flood and Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Schemes as follows:

Objective CAF Minor Flood and Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Schemes - It is an objective of the Council to support and facilitate the Office of Public Works Minor Flood and Mitigation Works and Coastal Protections Schemes and ensure development proposals do not impede or prevent the progression of these measures.

8.3 Flooding, Flood Risk Management and Water Management

CAF O24 Minor Flood and Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Schemes

263

73

Insert Renewable Energy Targets, identifying the potential for renewable energy development in Limerick within the lifetime of the Plan as follows:

Table X Renewable Energy allocations for differing technologies

Note: Baseline figures drawn from LCCC sources June 2020

8.4 Renewable Energy

208, 225, 249

74

Amend Section 8.4.3 Solar Energy to include the following:

The Council will support utility scale solar PV development at suitable locations where it can be demonstrated that there are no significant adverse impacts.

8.4.3 Solar Energy

144

75

Insert a new Objective CAF OXX Life Extension and Repowering of Wind Farms in Section 8.5.4 Wind Energy as follows:

Objective CAF OXX – Life Extension and Repowering of Wind Farms - It is an objective of the Council to support the life-extension and repowering of existing wind farms, where considered appropriate and subject to an appropriate level of environmental and planning assessment.

8.5.4 Wind Energy

New objective

113

76

Amend Section 8.5.10 Combined Heat and Power to include the following:

It must also be recognised that natural gas, particularly renewable and indigenous gas, will continue to have a role to play in the transition to a low carbon economy. As such, renewable energy developments may require support from such sources in times of high energy demand.

8.5.10 Combined Heat and Power

113