Case Study from Dublin: Building a City for Residents and Visitors through Climate Action

Q: How did Dublin develop its Climate Action Plan?

A: We insisted on creating the plan in-house. We had the expertise and institutional memory from the first plan, which I helped implement when I joined the Council in 2020. That first plan was very technical and read like a laundry list. For this second plan, we wanted to focus on systems thinking and collaboration across the organisation, and to make climate action resonate with staff and residents. We started with a simple question: What is your vision for Dublin in 2030? We asked staff to think about the city not just as professionals but as people who live here — where do you want to sit down for a coffee, how do you want to move through the city? That shift reframed climate action as improving quality of life.

Q: How did you choose which actions to include?

A: We moved away from a thematic, siloed approach and built the plan around four foundations: a resilient city, a resourceful city, a creative city, and a social city. This helped us tell a story and show the connections between actions. For example, resilience includes both district heating projects and a city food strategy, because both make the city more secure and liveable. We also separated operational actions — like litter management, which prevents flooding — from bigger projects. This made it clear that everyday tasks are climate actions too.

Q: How is tourism integrated into Dublin’s climate approach?

A: Tourism is fully part of our city-wide thinking. Barry Rogers, who led the tourism strategy, changed the definition of tourism — it’s no longer just international visitors, it’s anyone experiencing the city, including locals and visiting families. This means our climate actions aim to make the city better for everyone: improving mobility, supporting local circular businesses, and promoting inclusive public spaces. One of our key focus areas is children’s movement through the city — if we make it easy for families with children to get around safely, we make it better for both residents and visitors.

We also celebrate businesses leading on sustainability, encouraging visitors to support circular and social, local enterprises. Tourism becomes a platform to showcase what Dublin is doing — from the Dublin Bay Biosphere boat tours to festivals like Eat the Streets that link food, history, and sustainability.

Q: How have climate risks influenced your plan?

A: Flood risk is our most significant challenge. Dublin is a city defined by water, so we’ve integrated river buffer zones into the development plan, giving rivers space to flood safely will insure our long term resilience. We’ve prioritised nature-based solutions: a great example is the restoration of the Santry River, co-designed with the community to provide flood resilience, biodiversity habitat, and play space for children. These projects are not just infrastructure — they’re social spaces that make neighbourhoods safer and more connected.

Q: How do you measure progress and impact?

A: We measure emissions from our own buildings and transport with support from our energy agency, CODEMA, but city-wide data is challenging. That’s why we’ve moved to higher-level indicators: air quality, green space, noise levels, and other “climate vitals.” We are working  with the Health Sector and universities to link climate action to health outcomes — so we can say not just that emissions are down, but that people are breathing cleaner air and living in safer neighbourhoods. Measurement isn’t just about compliance; it’s a way to engage and tell the story of why climate action matters.

Q: How is implementation structured?

A: Climate action is now everyone’s job. The Chief Executive chairs a steering group with assistant chief executives and executive managers to ensure cross-department delivery. Planners, engineers, architects, and the arts office are all engaged. We’ve introduced a climate readiness toolkit — based on health impact assessment — to help teams consider social and environmental outcomes when planning projects.

Q: What role does training and culture change play?

A: It’s essential. The Climate Action Regional Offices deliver staff training across Ireland’s local authorities, and we offer professional development opportunities internally. We also use creative approaches — like a climate cabaret — because Dublin is a city of storytellers, and culture helps embed climate thinking in a memorable way.

Q: What advice would you give to other cities or destinations starting out?

A: Start with what makes your city unique. For Dublin, storytelling and arts are our strength, so we use them to bring climate action to life. Don’t overcomplicate things — focus on quality of life. Climate action is about clean air, safe streets, and vibrant public spaces. And remember it’s a journey. Progress takes time, but if you build on your culture and identity, you’ll create change people can connect with.

Q: Final thoughts on the connection between climate action and tourism?

A: Tourism helps us share the city’s story. It’s not just about visitors — it’s about celebrating identity and making Dublin welcoming and resilient for everyone. From Guinness’s legacy of social housing to the Dublin Bay Biosphere tours, we use tourism to show how climate, culture, and community are connected.

Key Takeaways:

• Dublin’s plan looks to link climate action to everyday life.
  
   

• Tourism is redefined to include locals and visitors, aligning climate action with city-wide goals.
  
   
• Nature-based solutions and river restoration are central to Dublin’s adaptation strategy.
  
   
• Measurement focuses on health and livability indicators as well as emissions.