LEADER Supporting Community Based

Social Change

Dara LynottDeputy Director General

EPA

Talk outline

• What the EPA does• Sustainability• The role of Communities in

Sustainability• Examples of Energy, Food, Health

and Resource Use projects

What the EPA does

Regulation Implement effective regulation and environmental compliance systems to deliver good environmental outcomes and target those who don’t comply.

Knowledge Provide high quality targeted & timely environmental data, information and assessment to inform decision making at all levels.

Advocacy Work with others to advocate for a clean, productive and well protected environment and for sustainable environmental behaviour.

Set the boundaries of development

Enforce the

Boundary

Monitor outside the Boundary

State of the Environmen

t

Living Better, Using Less

In other words….

The role of Community-Based Social Change in developing a sustainable

Society

• Initiate and support community- led initiatives for social change;

• Support community managed social resources;

• design effective community-based social marketing strategies.

• recognise the importance of social norms in behaviour change policies;

• Build links with local clubs and Societies – hillwalking, bridge, Choirs, bowling, historical societies)

• Spend at home by source local food and products Locally

• Advocate for Infrastructure that enables

physical activity (abled/disabled)

• Advocate for Mapping of our natural heritage, (geoparks, bird colonies, waterways)

• Bolster long-term resilience in the face of the resource challenge

What Projects should you Choose?

15 potential resource productivity measures account for roughly 75 per cent of the

total resource productivity prize ($2.9 trillion in 2030) . The top three opportunities would deliver roughly one-third of the total potential.

Top ten opportunities are; 1. Building energy efficiency 2. Increasing yields on large-scale farms 3. Reducing food waste 4. Reducing municipal water leakage 5. Urban densification (leading to major transport efficiency gains 6. Higher energy efficiency in the iron and steel industry 7. Increasing yields on smallholder farms 8. Increasing transport fuel efficiency 9. Increasing the penetration of electric and hybrid vehicles 10. Reducing land degradation

McKinsey & Company - Resource Revolution: Meeting the world’senergy, materials, food & water needs

Focus on the big wins…

EnergyProjects

Theme Project Cost

Payback Total

Environment

Produce Local energyReduce Energy ConsumptionIncrease Energy Efficiency

€€€ Reduced Carbon emissionsIncreased Resilience to climate Change

€

Health Reduce Fuel PovertyImprove Living Conditions

€€€ Increased Wellbeing better HealthBetter Air Quality

€

Economy Material supplies, Distribution, installation

Increase EmploymentEnergy Saving into the Community

€

Total €€

Ireland’s Sustainable Energy Supply Chain Opportunity

Food Projects

LEADER Examples

• WCK000071- Tommy O Donovan- Community allotments Garden for Urban Dwellers, with over 50 allotments on a 2 acre site

• Kilkenny - Horticulture mentors and Business mentors (with particular focus on brand development and display)   targeted at existing and emerging community gardens. The project is aimed at acquiring, developing and improving skills of local residents and community groups to grow various produce such as fruit and vegetables.

Theme Project Cost

Payback Total

Environment

Food Pantries and distributionWonky VegetableGrow your ownFarmers marketsLocal product developmentSeasonal produce

€€€ Reduced Carbon emissions – food milesIncreased Resilience to climate ChangeStronger supply chain

€

Health Reduced food povertyReduced Processed foodsGreater well beingReduced social isolationMeals on wheels

€€€ Reduced nutritional deficit.Social inclusion wellbeing

€

Economy Productive farmsDistribution ServicesFood Start upsExport substitution

€€€ Increased Employment

€

Total €€

Health and WellbeingProjects

LEADER Examples

• Eco-system services/eco-tourism• Rathcormac – Nature reserve• Ballyhoura – bird suvey• Duahllow – restoration of large river reach• Duahllow – raptor survey• Westport – Delivery of bee keeping courses• Knockmealdowns Mountain  - To train a group of volunteers to become

keepers and protectors of the Knockmealdowns Mountain area through the management of the area

• Inishowen – ecotourism network• Tramore- develop a heritage trail

• Copper Course - development of a socio economic strategy for the Geo Park Area in the Copper Coast in Co. Waterford. The strategy was developed through local consultation and detailed analysis of the CSO

figures and other relevant metrics.

LEADER Examples• Cross boyne – strategy for rural outdoor pursuits–

development of community looped walk• Claremorris – clare lake loop walk• Dunhil – development of recreational walk through

wetlands• Nire Valley – develop a biking trail• WCK000336 – Development of an off road running track

and auxiliary facilities as a health promoting recreational facility

• Thamastown -  to provide a safe swimmimg area for the community of Thomastown.  Renovating mill race/weir system and restoring riverbanks

• Carndonagh – town park development

Theme Project Cost

Payback Total

Environment

Increase access to local amenities, rivers and heritage.Enhanced biodiversity - HeritageWalking/cycling/exercise loops/greenwaysDevelop walking access to schools

€€€ Reduced Carbon emissionsEnhanced and protected Biodiversity

€

Health Increased exerciseGreater exposure to the environmentSocial engagement

€€€ Reduced ObesityIncreased WellbeingBetter Fitness across all age groups

€

Economy Project Design, construction, maintenance,Tourism services

€€€ Increased Employment

€

Total €€

Focus on the Demographics

Resource efficiency Projects

Winners 2014

The shop’s aim is to minimise waste in the community by providing a friendly service for taking unwanted items off peoples’ hands, while at the same time giving a local opportunity to get high quality clothes, furniture, household items, books and vintage bits and pieces at knock down prices.

Bird boxes and bird tables made by the local Men’s Shed have also been sold from the Siopa.

The Siopa Glas is now the main source of funding for the Ballon Improvement Group and the money raised is used to enhance the village, the Ballon school garden and the wildlife area. A regular garden swap shop is held too.

Ballon Improvement Group

Theme Project Cost

Payback Total

Environment

Food waste reductionCompost master classesReuse/recycle Barter/RepairBring/take centersMen’s shedsCommunity initiatives

€€€ Increased Resource Efficiency

€

Health Social engagementActive retirementAge action initiatives

€€€ Increased Wellbeing

€

Economy Social entrepreneurship Social activisim

€€€ Increased EmploymentTown regeneration

€

Total €€

By 2020…• Recycling and re-use of waste are

economically attractive options for public and private actors due to widespread separate collection and the development of functional

markets for secondary raw materials. • More materials, including materials having a

significant impact on the environment and critical raw materials, are recycled.

• landfilling is virtually eliminated and • high quality recycling is ensured.

EU COM (2011) 571

31

What the EPA are doing in this space

EPA Goal – To maximise drawdown of LEADER funding to Projects that increase the sustainability of communities

Planned Actions• Develop our thinking on Sustainable Communities• Deliver guidance to community groups/volunteers on

the establishment of governance structures for community led initiatives in the sustainability space (administration, legal / liability issues, financial control, funding opportunities, support services, etc).

• Develop a toolkit for successful drawdown of Leader funding

• Develop Template for Mapping Community Assets, activities, and actors

• Work with LEADER and Department on funding for these initiatives

What can you do to help?

Tramore valley park master plan, Cork