Leitrim County Development Plan 2023–2029

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   12.2.3 National, Regional and Local Legislative and Policy Context At a national level, significant progress has been made in the evolution of climate change policy in Ireland, in line with international agreement and policies referenced previously, through a number of national legislative and policy instruments which are outlined as follows: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2015) The Act provides the statutory basis for the establishment of a national framework with the aim of achieving a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050 and represents the first overarching piece of climate change legislation by the State. Key features of the Act which will aid the transition towards a low carbon economy include: ● The establishment of an independent national expert advisory Council on climate change (Climate Change Advisory Council). ● The requirement to produce a series of successive National Mitigation Plans and National Adaptation Frameworks to respectively lower Ireland’s level of GHG emissions and provide for responses to changes caused by climate change. ● The requirement to provide tailored sectoral plans to specify the adaptation measures to be undertaken by each Government department. National Adaptation Framework 2018 (NAF) Ireland’s first statutory National Adaptation Framework (NAF) was published in January 2018 and sets out the national strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of positive impacts arising from overall transition to a low carbon economy. The NAF, which was developed under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, identifies the critical role to be played by Local Authorities in addressing climate change adaptation and mandates all Local Authorities to adopt a Climate Adaptation Strategy supported by the relevant Climate Action Regional Office (CARO). Project Ireland 2040 - National Planning Framework (2018) The NPF sets out the role of the planning system in facilitating mitigation of, and adaptation to, the effects of climate change while ensuring that sustainable infrastructure networks build resilience to climate change. National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 8 outlines the commitment to achieving transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society: NSO 8 The National Climate Policy Position establishes the national objective of achieving transition to a competitive, low carbon, climateresilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. This objective will shape investment choices over the coming decades in line with the National Mitigation Plan and the National Adaptation Framework. New energy systems and transmission grids will be necessary for a more distributed, renewables-focused energy generation system, harnessing both the considerable on-shore and offshore potential from energy sources such as wind, wave and solar and connecting the richest sources of that energy to the major sources of demand. Moreover, the NPF contains a number of National Policy Objectives (NPOs) relevant to the role of land use planning in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. These NPOs include: NPO 3c Deliver at least 30% of all new homes that are targeted in settlements, other than the five Cities and their suburbs, within their existing built-up footprints. NPO 21 Enhance the competitiveness of rural areas by supporting innovation in rural economic development and enterprise through the diversification of the rural economy into new sectors and services, including ICT based industries and those addressing climate change and sustainability. NPO 41b In line with the collective aims of national policy regarding climate adaptation, to address the effects of sea level changes and coastal flooding and erosion and to support the implementation of adaptation responses in vulnerable areas. NPO 53 Support the circular and bio economy including in particular through greater efficiency in land management, greater use of renewable resources and by reducing the rate of land use change from urban sprawl and new development. NPO 54 Reduce our carbon footprint by integrating climate action into the planning system in support of national targets for climate policy mitigation and adaptation objectives, as well as targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 311 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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   Climate Action Fund (2018) The Climate Action Fund was established under the National Development Plan 2018- 2027 as part of Project Ireland 2040. The fund (totalling €500 million over the period to 2027) will support initiatives that contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate and energy targets in a cost-effective manner. It offers the potential for innovative interventions which, in the absence of support from the Fund, would not otherwise be developed. The Fund will also seek to facilitate projects that contribute to other Government policy priorities including: ● Supporting innovation and capacity building towards the development of climate change solutions capable of being scaled and delivering benefits beyond a once - off impact; and ● Generating wider socio-economic benefits such as job creation, air quality improvements, reduction in fuel poverty, bio-diversity and community resilience and development. Climate Action Regional Office (2018) Leitrim County Council is one of 17 Local Authorities located within the Eastern and Midlands Climate Action Region (CARO). The Eastern and Midland CARO is one of four regional Climate Action Offices set up in 2018 in response to Action 8 of the 2018 National Adaptation Framework (NAF) – Planning for a Climate Resilient Ireland to drive climate action at both regional and local levels. The composition of the Climate Action Regions has been determined by the geographical and topographical characteristics, vulnerabilities and shared climate risks experienced across Local Authority areas. The climatic risks associated with the Eastern and Midlands Climate Action Region include fluvial flooding, pluvial flooding, groundwater flooding and coastal flooding. In recognition of the significant obligation to develop and implement climate action measures, the four regional offices are mandated to co-ordinate engagement across the varying levels of government and help build on experience and expertise that exists in the area of climate change and climate action. Under the NAF, sectoral adaptation plans are to be developed and implemented that will affect the work of the Local Authorities. As such, the Midlands and Eastern CARO will liaise with respective Government Departments to align actions undertaken by the Local Authorities with sectoral adaptation plans. Climate Action Plan – Securing Our Future (2021) The Climate Action Plan provides a statement of Government policies relevant to decarbonisation and adapting to a changing climate, with 493 no. specific actions over a number of sectors and charts an ambitious course towards halving our GHG emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. Figure 12.1 provides an infographic of some of the actions contained in the Plan. The Plan also reflects Ireland’s commitment to achieving the 17 no. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed by the United Nations in 2015. The SDGs address the environmental, economic, and social challenges that the world needs to tackle by 2030 to ensure a sustainable future. It reflects the central priority that climate change will have in Ireland’s political and administrative systems into the future, setting out governance arrangements including the carbon-proofing of government policies, the establishment of carbon budgets, the strengthening of the Climate Change Advisory Council and providing greater accountability to the Oireachtas. The Climate Action Plan contains a series of actions where Local Authorities are identified as key stakeholders in their respective delivery. This includes Action 165 which requires each Local Authority to identify and develop plans for one “Decarbonising Zone” within their functional area in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). In respect of this action, Leitrim County Council has identified Carrick-on- Shannon as its designated ‘Decarbonising Zone’ (DZ) with a series of implementation plans for developing the Carrick-on-Shannon DZ to be included in the Leitrim County Council Climate Action Plan, as required by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill (2021). LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I312 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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   Figure 12.1: Climate Action Plan 2021 Source: Climate Action Plan 2021 LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 313 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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   National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2021-2030 (2019) In accordance with the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action Regulation, the State was required to prepare a National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) which sets out the energy and climate policies of the Government in accordance with EU legislation. It builds on the existing national energy and climate policy framework documents, which aim to diversify and decarbonise Ireland’s electricity generation sector, with the long-term objective of decarbonising the energy sector and achieving an economic transformation with a carbon neutral agriculture and land use sector by 2050. The NECP envisages a target of at least 55% renewable energy in electricity by 2030. However, as of June 2020, under the new Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, Ireland is committed to achieving a 7% annual average reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2021 and 2030. As the NECP was drafted in line with the current EU effort-sharing approach, before the Government committed to this higher level of ambition, the Plan does not reflect this higher commitment. Ireland is currently developing those policies and measures to be contained within the forthcoming updated Climate Action Plan 2021. Leitrim County Council Climate Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 The National Adaptation Framework (NAF) requires Local Authorities to develop their own adaptation plans. Table 12.1: Identified Thematic Areas and associated High-Level Goals Theme 1: Local Adaptation Governance and Business Operations: Goal: Climate Change adaptation considerations are mainstreamed and integrated successfully into all functions and activities of the Local Authority, ensuring operational protocols, procedures and policies, implement an appropriate response in addressing the diversity of impacts associated with climate change. Theme 2: Infrastructure and Built Environment: Goal: Increased capacity for climate resilient structural infrastructure is centred around the effective management of climate risk, informed investment decisions and positive contribution towards a low carbon society. Theme 3: Land-use and Development: Goal: Sustainable policies and measures are devised influencing positive behavioural changes, supporting climate adaptation actions and endorsing approaches for successful transition to low carbon and climate resilient society. Theme 4: Drainage and Flood Management: Goal: Greater understanding of risks and consequences of flooding and successful management of a coordinated approach to drainage and flooding. Theme 5: Natural Resources and Cultural Infrastructure: Goal: Fostering meaningful approaches to protecting natural and key cultural assets through an appreciation for the adaptive capacity of the natural environment to absorb the impacts of climate change. Theme 6: Community Health and Wellbeing: Goal: Empowered and cohesive communities with strong understanding of climate risks, increased resilience to impacts of climate change with capacity to champion climate action at local level. Theme 7: Economic Development: Goal: Promote projects and business opportunities that will contribute economically towards a climate resilient community in Co. Leitrim. Source: Leitrim County Council Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I314 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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   The Leitrim County Council Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 forms part of Ireland’s national strategy for climate adaptation. The Strategy represents a proactive approach by the Council to ensure that climate change resilience is built into all functions of the Council. The Strategy is also to ensure the Council fulfils its role in contributing to and meeting the national targets on climate change. Within the Strategy, adaptation goals and objectives were developed focussing on seven thematic areas following an assessment of local climate change risks, using baseline information and climate change projections. A Climate Risk Register was also established for the county and is contained within the Strategy. Adaptation actions, guided by the relevant theme and associated goals and objectives, were then developed to address the priority risks and vulnerabilities identified. Further commitments are made in the Strategy to establish a Climate Action Steering Group, reflecting representatives of all service delivery sections in the Council, to implement, monitor and evaluate the identified actions and highlevel goals of the Strategy. Climate Action Charter (2019) Leitrim County Council is a signatory to the Climate Action Charter (CAC) for Local Authorities, signed in 2019. The CAC sets out a common understanding in relation to climate change, acknowledging the need for a whole of government approach to address climate change, and acknowledges specific Local Government supports of Central Government in relation to climate change. This charter acknowledges that Local Authorities will, with the support of Central Government, ‘exercise our planning and regulatory roles to help improve climate outcomes in the wider community and beyond the public sector, by developing and implementing robust evidenced based policy and standards on climate action, through appropriate and relevant adaptation and mitigation measures’. The CAC requires proactive climate action and ensures that climate change is a key consideration of every aspect of Local Authority policy and operations. Northern & Western Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (2020) The Northern and Western Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) provides regional expression to the National Strategic Outcomes and National Policy Objectives of the NPF and identifies climate change as a key issue for the RSES. In this regard, the RSES provides policy support addressing climate change, renewable energy development, flood mitigation and adaptation and ‘Green Infrastructure’ through a number of Regional Policy Objectives (RPOs) which, in turn, have been given local policy expression within this Plan. Appendix XI contains the relevant RPOs in this regard. Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill (2021) The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 seeks to amend the principal Act of 2015 (outlined below) by reinforcing Ireland’s transition to Net Zero and achieve its commitment to a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050. It establishes a legally binding framework with clear targets and commitments set in law and will ensure the necessary structures and processes are embedded on a statutory basis to ensure Ireland achieves its national, EU and international climate goals and obligations in the near and long term. The Bill includes the following key elements: ● Places on a statutory basis a ‘national climate objective’, which commits to pursue and achieve no later than 2050, the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy. ● Embeds the process of carbon budgeting into law, through the adoption of a series of economywide 5-year carbon budgets, including sectoral targets for each relevant sector, on a rolling 15- year basis, starting in 2021. ● Actions for each sector will be detailed in the Climate Action Plan, updated annually. ● A National Long Term Climate Action Strategy will be prepared every 5 years. ● Provides that the first two 5-year carbon budgets proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council should equate to a total reduction of 51% emissions over the period to 2030, in line with the Programme for Government commitment. ● Introduces a requirement for each Local Authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan, which will include both mitigation and adaptation measures and be updated every 5 years. Local Authority Development Plans will also align with their Climate Action Plan. ● Public Bodies will be obliged to perform their functions in a manner consistent with national climate plans and strategies and furthering the achievement of the national climate objective. LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 315 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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   12.3 GHG Emissions Sources in Co. Leitrim In order to develop and provide context for key actions, policies and objectives designed to mitigate and adapt to climate change effects relevant to Co. Leitrim, an appraisal of the key sources of GHG emission within the county is required. In this regard, the Climate Resilient Opportunities for Generations Ahead (CRÓGA) Project, developed by Good Energies Alliance Ireland (GEAI) with support from the EU Erasmus + Programme and the Irish Environmental Network, has provided an invaluable source of baseline information on GHG emissions in Co. Leitrim. Figure 12.2: Sources of GHG Emissions in Co. Leitrim by Sector Agriculture 43% Commercial and public services 2% Transport 22% Residential 20% Energy industries 6% Industry 7% Source: CRÓGA Leitrim Greenhouse Gas Emissions Baseline Report, 2019 The report, published in December 2019, represented the first Irish county-based carbon inventory report of its kind, and identifies 6 no. sectors of activity in Co. Leitrim which are responsible for the vast majority of GHG emissions in the county. These are: 1 Agriculture 2 Transport 3 Residential 4 Industry 5 Commercial and Public Services 6 Energy Industries The report also identified two land use categories or habitats (forest land and wetland) capable of absorbing carbon and therefore vital to countering emissions produced by the aforementioned sources in the county. The following provides an overview of the identified sector sources of GHG emissions in Co. Leitrim. 12.3.1 Agriculture Agriculture is identified as the biggest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in the county, owing to a high proportion of both arable and livestock farming occurring. It accounts for almost 43% of Co. Leitrim’s total emissions with emissions per farm amount to 51.3 tons CO2 equivalent. The sectoral carbon load is 3.5 tons CO2 equivalent per €1,000 of farm produce. 70% of Leitrim farms specialise in beef production and livestock farming accounts for about 90% of all farming activities in the county. 316 LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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   12.3.2 Transport Co. Leitrim’s dispersed rural population and lack of public transport options have led to high levels of private car ownership. In Co. Leitrim, there is 1 private car for every 2.3 persons, similar to the national average. Emissions from transport amount to 22% of the total greenhouse gas emissions for Co. Leitrim, of which 55% are emitted by private transport, 41% by goods vehicles and tractors and 4% by public transport. The Plan promotes an integrated approach to land-use and transportation which aligns with the Core Strategy and directs the majority of future development into existing towns and settlements within Co. Leitrim, which will assist in reducing car dependency. The Plan strongly supports the principles of creating compact urban growth, consolidation of existing settlements and seeking to prioritise the development of brownfield lands across the settlement hierarchy. Achieving these principles will encourage a greater use of public transport where such options may become more viable and maximising the use of cycling and walking as viable alternatives to the private car. This pattern of development will reduce the need to travel. 12.3.3 Residential This sector includes emissions from combustion for residential space and water heating. It emits approximately 86,406 tons CO2 equivalent per annum in Co. Leitrim. It represents 20% of total emissions. The principal findings were stated as: ● the main fuels used for space heating in Leitrim are oil (66%) and electricity (17%). ● the level of GHG emissions from fossil fuels depends a lot on the age of the house. ● average emissions are 6.9 tons CO2 equivalent per house, higher than the national value (around 5.4 tons CO2 equivalent), explained by a higher (+18%) energy consumption per m², and the use of oil and solid fuels in Co. Leitrim instead of gas. 12.3.4 Industry This sector includes emissions from combustion for industries. Industry in Leitrim emits around 29,399 tons CO2 equivalent per year, 7% of total county emissions, reflecting the low level of industrial activity in the county. The main emitting activity is manufacturing accounting for 92% of the total industrial sector emissions. 12.3.5 Commercial and Public Services This sector describes emissions from building space and hot water heating (Transport and Electricity are not included.) In Co. Leitrim, the Commercial and Public Services sector includes retailers, public administration and services. It emits around 8,406 tons CO2 equivalent per year in Co. Leitrim. It represents 2% of the total county emissions. The biggest employer in this sector is Public Administration, Education and Healthcare, employing 4,557 no. people, as many as the other enterprises combined. 12.3.6 Energy Industries This sector includes emissions from electricity generation (produced by local renewable energy and by national electricity mix from the national electricity grid), petrol refining and other (national waste to energy incineration, briquetting manufacture and fugitive emissions). The Energy industries sector emits around 24,243 tons CO2 equivalent per annum, or 6% of total county emissions. 12.3.7 Sequestered Carbon The CRÓGA Project also analysed the role of carbon sinks within the county in sequestering carbon emissions with forestland, wetland and grassland the three predominant natural assets facilitating this within Co. Leitrim. The following provides an overview of CRÓGA Project evaluation of these land cover types in the county and its calculations of respective levels of carbon sequestration associated with each land cover type. Forestland Trees play an important part in the carbon cycle, absorbing and storing significant quantities of carbon. Forestland acts as carbon sinks if the amount of CO2 that the plant removes from the atmosphere while it grows exceeds the amount of carbon dioxide released, on an annual basis. The carbon absorbed from the atmosphere is mostly stored in the forest soil. The proportion of forestland to total land area in Leitrim is 18.9%, well above the national average of 11%. Deforesting an area for agricultural purposes removes this benefit, but also releases all of the previously stored carbon back into the atmosphere. The CRÓGA Project Report estimates that the current area devoted to forestland in Co. Leitrim has the ability to sequester 190,174 tons CO2 equivalent from the atmosphere per year. This equates to 6.3 tons CO2 equivalent removed per hectare of forestland per LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 317 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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   year. In addition to the above, the total carbon stored in Co. Leitrim forestland is deemed to be 12.6 million tons CO2 equivalent. The scale of commercial forest cover within the county has been well documented elsewhere in this Plan and remains a controversial subject in terms of its potential adverse impacts on residential amenity, visual amenity, biodiversity and ecological value and on soils and geological integrity. The third National Forestry Inventory, conducted in 2017, identified Co. Leitrim as being the county with the highest percentage of forest cover (18.9%), well in excess of the national equivalent (11%)36. Ireland has one of the lowest forest covers of all European countries (11%) compared to the European average of over 40%. Under current national forestry policy37, a target of 18% national forest cover by 2046 has been identified. Given that the forest cover in Co. Leitrim exceeds this national target already, in the context of its own boundaries, the justification for extensive additional commercial forestry planting in the county would appear to be limited within this policy context. Moreover, a review of national forestry policy is currently underway, including a review of consent procedure for the granting of planting and felling licences (currently administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine), with a focus on improving species diversity through enhanced native broadleaf planting. Notwithstanding, the significant carbon sequestration properties of forest cover, as documented in the CRÓGA Project report, forestry development will remain a vital feature in the overall suite of actions for mitigating the effects of climate change. Wetland A wetland is a natural ecosystem that is flooded by water permanently or seasonally. There are four main types of wetlands, namely swamp, marsh, bog and fen. The last two types are also described as mire environments. Wetlands have soils with high water content that welcome aquatic or hydrophile vegetation. Wetlands provides a wide range of ecosystem services such as water purification, water storage, processing of carbon and other nutrients, stabilisation of shoreline, and support to flora and fauna. Wetland is also the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems. 36 Forest Statistics Ireland 2021, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2021). 37 Forests, Products and People, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2014). Concerning the carbon cycle, wetlands globally store more than two thirds of the world carbon, accumulated over thousands of years. Irish wetlands include undisturbed wetlands (16.4% of total landuse in 2017) and managed peatlands (0.8%). Peat soils or bogs cover 20.6% of the national land area and contain more than 75% of the national soil organic carbon. Co. Leitrim wetlands cover more than 20.5% of total land area, with 35,513 hectares of blanket bog and 5,876 hectares of raised bog. 8,153 hectares (c. 20%) of bogland within the county comprise of designated sites owing to the importance of their habitat (including those sites at Aghavogill, Doagh/ Thur Mountains and Corry Mountain). Whilst the CRÓGA report does not detail the estimated sequestered CO2 from the atmosphere, given that the wetlands in Co. Leitrim are broadly undisturbed or marginally disturbed by small scale turf cutting, it is considered that they provide a vital source of carbon sequestration for the county. Grassland Grassland is the prevailing use of land in Co. Leitrim, accounting for 58% of total land area (92,097 ha). At national level, grassland emits 6,9 million tons CO2 equivalent per year. Due to the low-intensity of livestock farming in Leitrim, grassland in the county has characteristics that are more closely defined as semi-natural grassland. Among other ecosystem services that semi-natural grassland provides, it shows very low GHG emissions compared to intensive grassland, and under particular restoration activities, it can turn into a carbon sink. All the tree and non-tree sparse woody patches that are not included in our definition of forestland are classified as hedgerows, scrub and woodland (HSW). Co. Leitrim has around 11,000 hectares HWS cover accounting for almost 7% of total land area. HSWs are critical features of the Irish rural landscape due to the key role they play in land management and ecosystems (e.g. niche for biodiversity and carbon sequestration). Carbon sequestration by Co. Leitrim HSW area is most likely some 36,300 tons CO2 equivalent per year. With supports for increase of hedgerows biomass, HSWs could provide an even larger contribution as carbon sinks. LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I318 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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   12.4 Delivering Climate Change Action The development of a climate resilient county transitioning towards low carbon use across a multitude of sectors of society is an overarching strategic outcome of this Plan. Whilst this chapter addresses climate change specifically, this theme permeates throughout the Plan with a range of policies and objectives addressing this issue within their respective development themes. Land use planning is one of the most effective processes to facilitate local adaptation to climate change. Tools such as land use zoning, policies in relation to compact growth and sustainable transport all can assist in minimising the development risks from increasing greenhouse gas emissions, development occurring in inappropriate locations, such as flood risk or other natural hazards, or risk due to the adverse impacts of changing climate. The land use planning framework set out in this Plan provides opportunities that can assist climate resilience and achieving the long-term goal of low carbon communities. However, it requires a fundamental shift from previous business as usual practices, towards more sustainable ways of living and working. Key measures include: Facilitating population and employment growth to deliver more compact growth in appropriate locations. Reduced car dependency and transitioning to more sustainable modes of transport, including increased walking and cycling and providing for the enhanced roll-out of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure such as charging bays in appropriate locations. Enhanced energy efficiency and security through developments in renewable energy including reenergising existing renewable energy developments, enhanced energy conservation and storage technologies and micro-generation. Protection of our natural resources, including water supply and utilising blue – green infrastructure measures, urban greening and nature-based solutions to minimise the risk of flooding and address surface water disposal. 319LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

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    12.5 Climate Action – Mitigation and Adaptation Measures to address climate change can be defined as either mitigation measures or adaptation measures, with some measures incorporating elements of both. Climate mitigation consists of actions to reduce the likelihood of climate change occurring or reduce the impact if it does occur. This can include reducing the causes of climate change such as current and future greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Examples of these include reductions in energy use, switching to renewable energy sources and enhancement of carbon sinks, as well as reducing future risks associated with climate change. Climate adaptation is the principle of dealing with the negative effects arising from climate change. The aim is therefore to reduce the vulnerability of our environment, society and economy and increase resilience to such effects. Adaptation involves taking steps to adjust human and natural systems in response to existing and anticipated impacts and to take advantage of new opportunities that may arise. Climate adaptation brings opportunity through green growth, innovation, jobs, and ecosystem enhancement as well as improvements in areas such as water and air quality. One of the key issues for landuse planning in the context of climate adaptation is the consideration of flood risk. The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) undertaken to inform the Plan facilitates the appropriate zoning of areas that are at an elevated risk of flooding and the integration of flood risk management provisions into this Plan. Figure 12.3: Mitigation and Adaptation Measures Source: Eastern and Midland Climate Action Regional Office (CARO) LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I320 12 Climate Action & Renewable Energy

Source Leitrim County Council: Leitrim County Development Plan 2023–2029 (2023–2029) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.