Cork County Council Showcases "Pathway to Decarbonisation" at European Climate Action Programme

Cork County Council's Climate Action Support Unit (CASU) participated in the "SMC Net Zero Capacity Building Programme" in April and May 2024, an initiative funded under Horizon Europe. The programme empowers Small and Medium-sized Cities (SMCs) across Europe to achieve zero emissions by building local innovation ecosystems. These ecosystems are designed to connect various stakeholders, including public sector representatives, SMEs, academia, NGOs, and investors, to drive climate action and decarbonisation.

The "SMC Net Zero Capacity Building Programme" is structured in stages and designed to provide SMCs with the tools, knowledge, and networks necessary to transition to net zero. This includes fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and piloting innovative solutions for carbon reduction. Participants in the programme engage in expert-led training sessions, networking opportunities, and direct exchanges with leading cities and innovation hubs across Europe.

During the third stage of the programme, which focused on "Local Adaptation" and was held on April 25, 2024, Cork County Council presented its forward-thinking initiative, "A Pathway to Decarbonisation". This comprehensive plan outlines the Council's critical actions for achieving decarbonisation and reaching net zero, focusing on the "Decarbonising Zone (DZ)", an area designated to trial and implement climate action measures on a local scale.

One of the highlights of the Cork County Council's presentation was the HYBES project, which exemplifies the strategic use of EU funding to implement climate action at a local level. HYBES demonstrates how decarbonisation measures can generate environmental and financial benefits for communities and households. By combining best practices with cutting-edge innovations, HYBES offers a model for sustainable living that can be replicated across Europe.

Over 40 participants attended the "Local Adaptation" stage of the program, including key project partners from across Europe, such as BABLE (Germany), BLOXHUB (Denmark), WEBUILDDENMARK (Denmark), UrbanDNA (UK), Southern Regional Assembly (Ireland), and Smart City Cluster (Spain). Representatives from Ireland, Spain, Germany, Slovenia, and Croatia also participated, contributing to the exchange of ideas and solutions.