Green Limerick: Limerick as a climate leader

CAILLUM Hedderman, a 21-year-old Ballybricken native has moved to position Limerick as a leader in climate action.

At a meeting of the Strategic Policy Committee on Climate Action, Biodiversity and Environment, held in Limerick, Mr Hedderman tabled a motion aimed at advancing Limerick's vision for climate action.

Mr Hedderman's proposal urged Limerick City and County Council to sign the updated Covenant of Mayors, to reaffirm and further commitments to address climate change.

On the timing of the motion, Mr Hedderman said: “Why bring this motion now? Well, it seems that we finally have movement on the DEM legislation. The covenant is based on European frameworks, which supports implementation, furthers targets and holds local governments to account through reporting, spearheaded by the leadership of a local authority through a Mayor. It hits all three of our elections for June on the head - mayor, locals and Europeans.”

The Covenant of Mayors initiative, inaugurated in 2008 in Europe, pioneered a collaborative approach to enhancing climate action and energy efficiency across the continent. Expanding its scope globally, the Global Covenant of Mayors was launched in 2015, extending the collective responsibility towards climate and energy policies worldwide.

On December 12, 2016, the then Mayor of Limerick City and County endorsed the Covenant of Mayors, pledging to achieve a reduction of CO₂ emissions of at least 40% by 2030.

The renewal of commitments of the Covenant of Mayors in early 2021 underscores its alignment with evolving EU policies, such as the EU Green Deal. This renewal furthers the target of signatories to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, while enhancing resilience and addressing energy poverty.

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Encouraged by the European Commission, local authorities who signed the Covenant of Mayors - Europe between October 2015 and April 2021 are urged to reaffirm their ambition by committing to the increased targets in the updated Covenant.
Cllr Elena Secas seconded the motion and Cllr John Sheahan supported.

“This enables an open conversation at where Limerick’s targets are, where they can be and how we can lead the way. It sets the agenda for tackling climate change, ensuring environmental sustainability and alleviating energy poverty heading into a busy electoral period, while also strengthening our ambition in the development of the new local climate action plan,” Mr Hedderman said.

“Climate change can be addressed and tackled at the local level, by empowering our communities and citizens. By signing the updated Covenant of Mayors, Limerick stands as the only Irish local authority to have reaffirmed commitments based on the new targets - hence, leading the way for climate action in Ireland.”

Mr Hedderman is a Limerick-based activist. Appointed to the Strategic Policy Committee on Climate Action, Biodiversity and Environment in 2020, Mr Hedderman was elected through the Limerick Public Participation Network. Last year, he led the European Union’s G20 Youth Delegation to India, as head of delegation, and acted as the lead negotiator on climate change and disaster risk reduction policy.