Cities ‘a really good place to start’ in drive to cut carbon emissions

Irish Examiner Munster Business Hub Editor Alan Healy with speakers, Karen O'Regan, Accenture Ireland Managing Director, Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive; ESB, Dr Marguerite Nyhan, Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering & Future Sustainability; UCC and Ann Doherty, Chief Executive; Cork City Councilat the Irish Examiner Net Zero Carbon Cities Cork business breakfast in association with Accenture at the River Lee Hotel, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Considering that half the world’s population and more than three-quarters of energy emissions emanate from cities, tackling carbon reductions there “is a really good place to start”.

That was one of the key messages from the Net Zero Carbon Cities Cork, which heard from sustainability, energy, and local government experts on the challenges and opportunities facing the city as Ireland moves towards a 51% emissions-reduction target by 2030 and climate neutrality by the middle of the century.