CAP Foundation 1: We are A Resilient City
Foundation 1: We are A Resilient City
What does this mean?
In its 1000-year history Dublin has defined itself as a city that is resilient; having experienced battles and struggles and in more recent history the impacts of the Great Recession. Dublin and its citizens always emerge stronger and more unified. Dublin brings out the best in its people, who make our city unique and give it its resilient spirit.
Dublin has a rich natural endowment that has throughout its existence provided citizens of the city with opportunities to make Dublin a city that is leading in innovation, is culturally vibrant, and is diverse, ingredients vital to being resilient now and beyond.
Dublin will be here for another millennium, and longer if we build our resilience and adapt to a changing climate. To do this we will take actions to insure that our housing, our buildings, our food system, our roads, our energy supply and our communication networks, are future proofed for the known – flooding, sea level rise, coastal erosion, heat waves, drought, cold spells, and extreme events - and unknown impacts of climate change
What actions do we take?
- Social Housing Regeneration: We are the largest landlord in the country, with a stock of 214 flat complexes and 10,000 houses, this is an opportunity to demonstrate and set the standard for sustainable living. We will build on our experience with energy retrofitting to prepare our housing for climate change. Our flagship project will be lower Dominick Street West. This project will demonstrate climate resilient housing retrofit that enables and encourages residents to live sustainably with ease through the provision of, for example: green spaces to grow, play and create; shared spaces to meet and innovate; segregated waste facilities, renewable energy generation (solar PV, geothermal and micro wind generation where feasible), and mobility options (shared bikes, micro mobility and EV charging).
- Public Buildings Regeneration: While our social housing will serve as the exemplar for domestic buildings, our public buildings will demonstrate how non residential and heritage buildings can be adapted and retrofitted for a climate resilient future. As with our social housing, our buildings – 2 galleries, 22 libraries, 12 community centres, 17 sports and recreation centres, and operations depots – will demonstrate what is possible.
- Climate Resilient Critical Infrastructure: The city’s infrastructure that enables us to live, work and play needs to be resilient. Ensuring that our drainage system, utilities, roads, public lighting and communications networks are maintained and upgraded is essential. This requires working in partnership with Uisce Eireann, the OPW, ESB, Eirgrid, NTA, and DECC. Together we will insure that these critical systems are prepared for the future. Our flagship energy project, the Dublin District Heating Project (DDHD) will contribute to our energy security by providing an alternative to electricity based heating systems. This will be further supported by geothermal. DCC is also facilitating the delivery of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure in collaboration with key partners including ZEVI and ESB Networks.
- Edible Dublin: Food Strategy: Feeding a city in a time of climate change is not easy. Our food strategy sets out how we are working to ensure all residents of Dublin City will have access to healthy and affordable food by addressing the impacts of climate change on our food system from production and distribution to consumption and disposal. The implementation of this strategy requires partnerships to deliver on the four pillars: 1. A Healthy Citizens, Healthy City; 2. Growing Food at Home; 3. Cooking and Creating; 4. Farm to Fork and Back.
How will we know we are resilient?
Headline Indicator
- Improved health and well being of citizens evidenced by for example reductions in rates of non communicable diseases (COPD, Asthma). (links to SDG 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment.)
Crosscutting Indicators
- Amount of renewable energy generation in the city (Links to SDG Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix)
- 51% reduction in emissions from energy use. (Links to SDG Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.)
- 50% Improvement in energy efficiency
- Citizens are within a 15 minute walk or cycle of repair services and fresh food