Waterford council launches climate action programme to build low-carbon communities

Waterford City and County Council has launched a climate action programme to support groups building low-carbon communities. 

In conjunction with the Department of the Environment, the Community Climate Action Programme aims to shape and build low carbon, sustainable communities in a coherent way to contribute to national climate and energy targets. 

Local communities will be selected following an Expression of Interest phase and will carry-out their direct climate action projects over 18 months. 

Eligible communities must be a not-for-profit, be located in the operational area of the Waterford City and County Council, and be registered with a PPN or connected with other collectives such as the Wheel, Tidy Towns and /or a community group with Articles of Association or a Constitution, which hold an AGM, and for which approved minutes are available. 

Just under €565,000 has been allocated to projects under strand 1 of the programme, which involves communities partnering with Waterford Council to carry out projects that have a direct climate action impact. 

The second strand (named 1a) enables communities and local authorities to carry out a cross-border project in partnership with a community in Northern Ireland.

Unlike strand 1, Local Authorities have not been automatically allocated funding under strand 1a and is open for all communities to apply. 

Projects must demonstrate the delivery of national climate action at a local level for strand 1 and on a cross-border basis on the island of Ireland for strand 1a.

There are five programme themes - including home/energy, travel, food and waste, shopping and recycling, and local climate and environmental action - and communities should try to incorporate as many themes as possible. 

Funding is available for 100% of the project and there are three project sizes eligible including small scale (<€20,000), medium scale projects (€20,000 to €50,000), and large scale projects (€51,000 to €100,000). 

Interested community groups should attend an in-person/ online event hosted by Waterford City and County Council to learn more about the programme. Recordings of online events will be available. 

Communities should contact the Community Climate Action Officer in Waterford City and County Council with their project ideas at climateaction@waterfordcouncil.ie and then complete and submit their Expression of Interest form and supporting documents. 

A Community Project Development Workshop is scheduled to take place on Saturday March 25.

Keep an eye on Waterford Council's website for more information on the event.