€10m for county climate change project
Cork County Council has secured €10m in funding for a new collaborative project aiming to combat climate change in coastal areas.
Working with the MaREI Research Centre in Ringaskiddy, the council will use the funding to develop methodology for employing nature-based systems to boost resilience to climate change along Cork’s coastline.
The 4 year Horizon Europe project, called A-AAGORA, will be implemented with the support of the Atlantic Seaboard South Climate Adaption Regional Office (CARO) in collaboration with partners from Germany, France, Portugal, Norway, Finland, Romania and the UK.
MaREI is a Science Foundation Ireland funded research centre for energy, climate and marine research, and innovation co-ordinated by the Environmental Research Institute at UCC. The centre comprises over 220 researchers focusing on defined global challenges such as the energy transition, climate action and the blue economy.
CARO supports and coordinates climate actions undertaken by the five local authorities of Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Cork city and county. The office is funded by the Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport and is hosted by Cork County Council as the lead authority within the Southern Region.
In welcoming the awarded funds, the Mayor of Cork County, Cllr Danny Collins highlighted the vital importance of coastal resilience.
“As a coastal county with responsibility for 19% of the country’s coastline, Cork County Council plays a critical role in the management of coastal environments and climate adaption. On behalf of the council, I am looking forward to working closely with local, national and international partners on this exciting project,” said the Mayor.
Tim Lucey, Chief Executive of Cork County Council, added: “Cork County Council is committed to building climate resilience into every aspect of the work we do. We have a strong leadership role in delivering effective climate action.
“This project will help guide county Cork and other coastal regions throughout the EU to address the challenges together while developing innovative and sustainable solutions that address adaptation and importantly enhance our resilience to a changing climate.”
A-AAGORA will involve collaboration with coastal communities and citizen scientists. Using pilot sites along the coast from Youghal to Barleycove, the project will provide both practical and best practice examples of new and innovative coastal management techniques which aim to deliver nature-based solutions to assist marine ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection.