Waterford City to launch carpooling app as part of climate measures

Waterford City and County Council announced the details of its Local Area Climate Action Plan on Friday

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024 - 14:00

Steven Heaney

Waterford City and County Council aims to launch a car-pooling app and to construct specially designed rain gardens as part of a suite of measures aimed at addressing climate change.

Councillors say the Local Area Climate Action Plan, officially launched on Friday, will provide "a roadmap for the work the Local Authority will undertake in preparation for extreme weather events and changing weather patterns".

The plan encompasses things like buildings and, infrastructure, parks, and waste reduction, as well as other climate-focused actions which the city and county will undertake in the short, medium, and long term.

By next year, the plan aims to deliver a carpooling app and to provide training to council staff on how their work is impacted by climate change.
By 2027, it aims to launch a rain garden project to reduce flooding run-off, and to help the public to plant gardens that hold onto excess rain, and to replace fossil fuel use among its fleet of vehicles with renewables.
By 2029, it aims to deliver a district heating system for Waterford City and provide €1m in funding for community climate projects or a 50% improvement in energy efficiency across Council buildings.

As part of the plan, councillors will also be issued with an annual report monitoring the city and county's progress, and there will also be an online dashboard accessible to the public.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Joe Conway said the plan “clearly sets out the objectives for Waterford City and County Council to ensure Waterford becomes a low-carbon, sustainable, safe and healthy place to live and grow”.

“The onus is on all of us in Waterford City and County Council to make day-to-day changes, no matter how small, that will cumulatively protect our environment and biodiversity and enhance our health and wellbeing,” he said.

“Taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or to adapt to climate change will be part of everyone in the Council’s work,” said Grainne Kennedy, climate action officer with Waterford City and County Council.

“From the Roads Engineer designing drainage based on the changing weather patterns, to the Housing Officer upgrading existing homes and making them more energy efficient, to the Community Liaison Officer encouraging communities to consider climate adaptation and energy saving in their projects, we all have a part to play.”

The plan is available to view on Waterford City and County Council's website.

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