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Planning for a low carbon future: European Energy Experts meet in Dublin

Planning for a low carbon future: European Energy Experts meet in Dublin

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07/10/2013

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

PRESS RELEASE: Monday 7th October 2013

Contact: Anthony McNamara (amcnamara@sdublincoco.ie)

PLANNING FOR A LOW CARBON FUTURE: EUROPEAN ENERGY EXPERTS MEET IN DUBLIN

This week Dublin will host a high-level and expert group of speakers and delegates from across the Republic of Ireland and Europe as South Dublin County Council hosts the final conference for the pan-European LEAP (Leadership for Energy Action and Planning) project, financed by Intelligent Energy Europe. The conference will take place at the Wood Quay Venue in Dublin city centre.

‘Energy Planning for Local Authorities: Irish & European experiences to date’ on Thursday 10th October will showcase emerging good practice in sustainable energy planning by local authorities in Ireland and across Europe and also highlight the opportunities available to local authorities by engaging in EU projects, such as LEAP.

There will be a range of expert speakers from Irish local authorities, European local authorities, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the City of Dublin Energy Management Agency (CODEMA). There will also be keynote addresses from Councillor Dermot Looney, Mayor of South Dublin County and Mr. Oisin Quinn, Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Diane Smith, European Project Manager for the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and lead partner of the LEAP project said:

“Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges we face. As well as co-ordinated global and national responses, local action has a pivotal role to play in reducing carbon emissions through improving energy efficiency and supporting renewable energy solutions. We’re delighted to be in Dublin for the final LEAP conference and demonstrate how European projects like LEAP aim to translate challenging high level carbon targets into real action on the ground and embed sustainable energy solutions.”

Councillor Dermot Looney, Mayor of South Dublin County said:

“By taking part in the LEAP project, South Dublin County Council (SDCC) has demonstrated real political leadership and innovation. The council has produced a countywide energy action plan which underpins a wider energy programme being carried out by the Council and will place the county at the forefront of delivering on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The Council has also signed up to the Covenant of Mayors, a Europe-wide initiative which represents a political commitment to challenging carbon reduction targets.”

European funded projects, such as LEAP (Leadership in Energy Action and Planning), have been developed in response to the urgent need to break down the barriers hindering progress towards achieving European energy policy objectives, which seek to achieve safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy for all, as well as achieve the challenging European carbon reduction targets. LEAP focuses on the key role of local authorities in meeting these targets through the delivery of effective local energy leadership. It translates the high-level European structure down to real, manageable and supported actions within nine local authorities across seven countries - Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Lithuania and Bulgaria.

Follow the LEAP project on twitter @LEAP_EU and further information on the conference is available at www.southdublinenergy.ie

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

  1. The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is an independent campaigning charity calling for more integrated planning based on the principles of accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and community cohesion. The TCPA puts social justice and the environment at the heart of the debate about planning policy, housing and energy supply. We inspire government, industry and campaigners to take a fresh perspective on major issues including climate change and regeneration. www.tcpa.org.uk.
  1. The overall aim of the LEAP (Leadership for Energy Action and Planning)[2] project is to build the capacity of EU local authorities as key actors in speeding up the local uptake of sustainable energy measures and the move towards a low-carbon local economy. It will do this by addressing the barriers to progress in tackling climate change and sustainable energy deployment, focusing on professional and political leadership, skills and knowledge, clear policy messages, and resources
  1. LEAP project objectives:
  • To enable a process of direct exchange of experience and expertise in sustainable energy management between LEAP partner local authorities which are in various stages of development from ‘cutting edge’ to ’new comer’.
  • To build the technical and institutional capacities of all LEAP partner authorities in order for all partners to institutionalise sustainable energy policies in their operations and deliver effective local energy leadership. ‘Learning’ LEAP partners will have the opportunity to gain practical experience from their collaboration with both the other ‘learning’ and ‘experienced’ LEAP partners.
  • For three partner authorities to develop a Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), and follow this up with implementation of actions; and for six partner authorities to support the implementation of their existing SEAPs through the concrete actions. The LEAP project ‘learning’ partners will be supported by the more experienced project partners in the SEAP development and implementation process.
  • For each LEAP partner to demonstrate their local energy leadership by delivering a number of key SEAP priority actions including, for ‘learning’ project partners, a ‘Benchmark of Excellence’ for their area.
  • For three experienced project partners to pilot an improved integration of energy planning with spatial planning and to disseminate their experience to other partners and other EU local authorities.

LEAP Partners:

City of Hagen (DE)

City of Hannover (DE)

City of Zagreb (HR)

Cornwall Council (UK)

Kaunas District Municipality (LT)

Municipality of Maribor (SI)

Sofia Municipality (BG)

South Dublin County Council (IE)

Southampton City Council (UK)

Town and Country Planning Association (UK)

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