Special focus on Midlands in new Climate Action Plan

The government's recently published Climate Action Plan sets out in detail the various efforts to support the region in the wake of the closure of two peat fired power stations in Shannonbridge in Offaly, and Lanesboro in Longford last year, and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna.

A full chapter in the 200-page report entitled 'A Just Transition Implementation Plan for the Midlands' puts particular focus on the region and the various schemes earmarked in the years ahead as it attempts to come to grips with the transition to a low carbon economy. While it acknowledges that the peat industry and related power generation has been “hugely significant” for the Midlands region economically, culturally and socially, it highlights too that the exit from power generation will “bring climate biodiversity and economic benefits”.

Among the measures set out to assist the region in the years ahead includes several initiatives already announced including the largest programme of bog rehabilitation in the State's history to the value of €108 million, matched by a contribution of €18 million from Bord na Móna first announced at the end of 2020, the Just Transition Fund to help local communities and businesses adjust to the “low carbon transition” and €20 million in funding for what is described as “targeted social housing upgrades” in the region.

“Returning peatlands to more natural conditions will deliver a range of climate benefits through reduced carbon emissions, long-term carbon storage, increased carbon sequestration, and enhanced resilience to the locked-in impacts of climate change,” the report published on November 5 sets out.

“The improvements to peatlands will enrich Ireland's natural capital, increase ecosystem services, strengthen biodiversity, and improve water quality and storage attenuation, as well as developing amenity potential,” it adds.

As part of the large scale peatlands rehabilitation project, a wide range of engineering and ecology works designed to “encourage and accelerate natural processes” are planned, and once restored, the peatlands will include peat-forming bogs, wetlands, grasslands and native woodlands.

These measures will “protect the storage of 100 million tonnes of carbon, enhance biodiversity and contribute to Ireland's target of being carbon-neutral no later than 2050, while supporting local communities by developing their capacity to challenges faced by transitioning to a low-carbon economy,” the published plan contends.

Another €19 million was allocated in 2020 and 2021 to start restoration measures on almost 4,400 hectares of protected raised bogs as part of the National Parks and Wildlife Service Peatlands Restoration Programme, and another €10 million is earmarked for the EU Life Programme for a 'Peatlands and People Integrated Project which aims to highlight the power of the peatlands “to effect significant climate benefit” over seven years. It will see a Peatlands Knowledge Centre of Excellence established that “will explore and carry out best practices in peatland restoration and rehabilitation. It will also establish a Just Transition Accelerator Programme that will focus on “low carbon and circular economy opportunities” and developing plans for what's described as an “immersive People's Discovery Attraction” to introduce the importance of climate action and peatlands to the public.

The plan also details a number of agricultural development projects, including the Wetlands Surveys Ireland Midlands project which aims to design and develop a pilot-based agri-environmental programme, with the aim of improving the environmental quality of land surrounding raised bogs in Roscommon, Offaly and Westmeath. Another eye-catching proposal concerns the development of “lighthouse farms” in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath to develop guidelines for a transition programme to carbon farming. The farms would be “living laboratories” using a citizen/farmer science strategy, it states.

Meanwhile, there's also a mention of the Midlands Retrofit Programme, which was earlier announced and will see retrofitting works to homes owned by local authorities.

The importance of the Just Transition Commissioner, Kieran Mulvey, is stressed strongly in the report in terms of engagement with local authorities and communities in the overall design and implementation of the transition process.

Several examples are given of projects being developed under the National Just Transition Fund, including the development of a Green HQ in Kilcormac in Offaly, the expansion of a Green Energy Park in Rhode, a Midlands Retrofit One-Stop-Shop and a new digital learning hub in Longford town.

Ireland has also secured €84.5 million from the EU Just Transition Fund for projects over the period 2021 to 2027, and the government is expected to finalise a plan to set out the targeted sectors and regions under this fund, it adds.