Wicklow County Council recently hosted a successful Climate Action Week from October 14th to 20th, featuring over 36 events across the county. These events focused on various climate-related topics, aligning with several of the 135 actions outlined in the Wicklow County Council Climate Action Plan for 2024-2029. More details about the plan can be found on www.wicklow.ie under the Climate Action and Biodiversity section.

Climate action remains a key priority for Wicklow County Council, emphasizing community engagement and the implementation of actions within our county’s Climate Action Plan. Climate Action Week provides an invaluable platform for fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge to drive impactful solutions. This week serves as an opportunity for the Council to harness our community's collective expertise, resources, and influence to tackle the urgent climate challenges we face. Together, we can pave the way for a greener, more resilient county and set a powerful example for others to follow.

The events during Climate Action Week covered topics such as the need for climate action, carbon footprints, offshore wind renewable energy, energy-saving clinics, retrofitting, biodiversity enhancement, agricultural supports, anaerobic digestion, sustainable living, active travel, fast fashion, reuse and repair, nature-based drainage, rainwater management solutions, the circular economy, and food waste.

The week featured several events aimed at helping individuals identify actions they can take to reduce their environmental impact, including:

• ECO UNESCO Fast Fashion workshops held in Greystones, Blessington and Arklow Libraries
• The Mount Lucas Energy Truck, on the Promenade in Bray for the entire week, where members of the public could learn about energy-saving measures such as retrofitting, insulation products, heat exchange units, air-to-water heat pumps, solar panels, airtightness, and grant information.
• A Climate Action event on Tuesday evening at Clermont House, featuring presentations on topics such as dark skies, coding for offshore wind, e-mobility schemes, oyster restoration, and the Wicklow County Council Nature-Based Sustainable Drainage Systems Policy and Guidance Document.
• A second Climate Action event on Friday evening at Clermont House, covering topics including the climate's effect on biodiversity, gardening for biodiversity, anaerobic digestion, nature-based solutions for water quality and biodiversity, and the consequences of inaction regarding climate change in Ireland, presented by Phillip Boucher Hayes.
• A Gardening Course for Biodiversity and Climate Change held at Greystones and Blessington Libraries.
• The Launch of an Arklow Climate Action Forum on Saturday in the Arklow Bay Hotel.
• Greenhouse Culture hosted a Climate Culture Café and a Climate Creative Workshop in Wicklow Library.
• Agricultural Online workshop Co-hosted with the IFA in partnership with Teagasc and Tirlan to held highlight supports to make farms more sustainable and to reduce their costs.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Paul O’Brien who attended several of the events stated, “Wicklow County Council's inaugural Climate Action Week featured 36 climate-related events throughout the county. These events were designed to increase awareness about individual and local actions while highlighting ongoing projects and initiatives in the area. The week served as a catalyst to inspire local action and encourage positive change.”

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman remarked: “Building on the success of Climate Action Week, we will continue to advance our Climate Action Plan to showcase how our efforts can effectively mitigate and adapt to climate challenges in our community. The Council is dedicated to engaging and empowering our communities in a proactive manner to enhance our county's climate resilience. By prioritizing the protection and enhancement of our environment, we aim to enrich the well-being and quality of life for all individuals in our county".