Tyrone council first to launch climate action plan

ONE of Tyrone’s three councils has become the first local authority in the North to launch a climate change and sustainable development action plan.

Known as ‘Restore, Revive, Thrive – Our Environment’, the plan for the next three years has been developed by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC).

It follows up on FODC’s ‘Climate Change and Sustainable Development Strategy: Restore, Revive, Thrive – Our Environment’, which was approved by the council earlier this year.

The launch of the action plan last Thursday coincided with Local Government Day at the COP26 event, which took place in Glasgow.

FODC chair, Errol Thompson, said, “I am delighted to see that our council is leading the way in the fight against climate change.

“Our Climate Change and Sustainable Development Action Plan details the actions behind our strategy including how we will focus our efforts on reducing council emissions in areas such as energy and buildings, resource management, transport and land use.

SUPPORTING A CLIMATE RESILIENT ECONOMY

“We will embed ‘Just Transition’ principles into our actions to support a net zero and climate resilient economy in a way that delivers fairness and tackles inequality and injustice.”

Mr Thompson added, “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the pupils from the Post-16 class in Arvalee School in Omagh for coming up with the name of our strategy and action plan: Restore, Revive, Thrive – Our Environment.”

Nichola Hughes, director of Sustainable NI, said, “Sustainable NI was pleased to work with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on the development of this plan which explains how the council will respond to the climate emergency and transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy.

“We hope other councils will follow their lead in bringing forward ambitious integrated plans designed to tackle the climate and nature crisis head-on.”

l For further information and to view copies of the council’s Climate Change and Sustainable Development Strategy and Action Plan, click here