CLIMATE ACTION BILL TO EXPAND ROLE OF THE CCAC 
These are interesting times for Ireland’s Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) as its new
Chairperson Marie Donnelly starts her five-year term, just as the new Climate Action Bill makes
its way through the Oireachtas. She says that the new legislation will send out a strong message internationally about Ireland’s commitment to climate change. DUBLIN BELFAST ECONOMIC CORRIDOR NOW ON TRACK
Eight local authorities from either side of the border have launched the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor in response to challenges facing the region, such as adapting to Brexit, climate change and transforming to a low carbon economy, which have been identified in a joint report by Dublin City University and Ulster University. WATERFORD ZONES IN ON NEW INVESTMENT BRAND
As the largest urban centre in the south east of Ireland, Waterford recently launched a new brand ‘Waterford - Find Your Future’ which centres on the city’s critical role in national development as a population centre, economic regional driver and a counter balance to Dublin under ‘Project Ireland 2040’. EU PROJECT TO ‘INTENSIFY’ CARBON REDUCTION THROUGH GREATER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Cork City Council is one of the project partners in the Interreg Europe INTENSIFY project, which aims to achieve greater carbon reduction and to lower greenhouse gas emissions through intense community engagement. UCC LECTURE ZOOMS IN ON DEMOCRACY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
A lack of gender quota legislation in local government, the role of a Directly Elected Mayor in providing greater democratic accountability, and attracting more young people into local government were discussed at the Sixth Annual Public Lecture Series, organised by UCC’s Centre for Local and Regional Governance. POLICY DRIVES ‘10 MINUTE TOWN CONCEPT’ IN SOUTHERN REGION
The Southern Regional Assembly is promoting the increased use of sustainable transport and
reduced carbon emissions with local authorities in the region, using its new 10 Minute Town Concept. Here's the background to the regional action plan and SRA's involvement in the EU MATCH-UP project. ENTRIES OPEN FOR INNOVATION IN POLITICS AWARDS 2021
Politicians across Ireland are invited by the European Innovation in Politics Institute to submit their political projects, which can also be nominated by local community groups, for this year’s Innovation in Politics Awards, before the closing date of 1 July. WICKLOW’S FIRST DECARBONISATION ZONE ARRIVES IN ARKLOW
Arklow has been selected as the Garden County's pilot Decarbonisation Zone, and Wicklow County Council is now working with community sectors to measure the process of decarbonising the economy and society before the end of the year. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR MATERNITY LEAVE FOR POLITICIANS
A new report has found that the lack of maternity leave is inhibiting women’s chances of election success, while other challenges outlined in the ‘Women for Election’ report include an increased risk of sexist, racist and misogynistic online abuse and lack of access to campaign financing to recognise care responsibilities. CORK COUNTY COUNCIL PROMOTES TOURIST HOT SPOTS
With the lifting of the lockdown restrictions and attention now turned towards staycations,
Cork County Council has launched a unique ‘one-stop-shop’ tourism app, featuring over 850
places to see and things to do throughout County Cork. It is the first app of its kind by any
local authority in Ireland. OFFALY COUNTY COUNCIL ROLLS OUT E-DENDERRY PROJECT
Offaly County Council has launched a new project to establish Edenderry as a leader in managing a range of public services such as parking, litter control, air quality and building energy use in the Midlands town, using smart technology provided by Cellnex Ireland. VIEWPOINT ON PROPOSED WHITE-WATER RAFTING CENTRE FOR DUBLIN
Dublin needs big ideas and people with imagination, creativity and bravery to bring forward those ideas without fear of condemnation, according to Dublin City Councillor Dermot Lacey. That is one of the reasons why he is strongly supporting the proposed development of a White-Water Rafting Centre for George’s Dock. DUBLIN BIDS FOR EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL 2023 AWARD
Dublin has been accepted as one of 16 cities bidding to win the European Green Capital 2023 Award, and a panel of independent experts will now begin a technical assessment of each application to select a shortlist of finalist cities for the award.