Climate Dialogue origins in Peoples Energy Charter

1. Seeking Comprehensive Public Participation in Irelands National Energy
Transition Plans - Climate Dialogue
Theresa O’Donohoe May 2020

2. TINI is the Irish hub of the global Transition Movement
Building community resilience and sustainability in the face of
climate change, resource depletion and financial contraction
Begins with awareness raising, then dialogue on to visioning and action
https://www.facebook.com/TINIreland/

3. Originating in Kinsale, Co Cork, Transition is
a movement of communities coming together
to reimagine and rebuild our world.
It’s a no blame, problem solving, solutions
focused, community response!
https://transitionnetwork.org/about-the-movement/what-is-transition/

4. The Aarhus Convention
Leaflet by the Environmental Pillar https://environmentalpillar.ie/
wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Aarhus-Leaflet-Print-ready.pdf
• Access to environmental information: This includes information on the state of
the environment and/or on human health issues as well as information on
policies and measures taken. Read more in our document on Access to
environmental information. (Citizens Info site)
As well as giving you the right to access environmental information, the AIE Regulations also
oblige public authorities to be proactive in disseminating environmental information
to the public. Public authorities must inform the public of their rights and provide
information and guidance on exercising those rights. They must also make
reasonable efforts to maintain environmental information and have it in a
form that is accessible and can be reproduced.
You can read the legislative background to the AIE Regulations and the
guidance notes (pdf) on their implementation.
2013

5. • Public participation in environmental decision making: Members of the public have a right to
participate in a range of decisions where there may be an environmental impact. These
include planning matters and other environmental licensing decisions, such as foreshore licences,
waste licences and Integrated Pollution Prevention Control licences. Public authorities responsible for
decision making on such licences are obliged to publish notices on specific licence applications, which
must inform the public on how they may participate. Comments submitted by the public are to
be taken into consideration in the decision-making process.
• Access to justice in environmental matters: Members of the public and environmental non-
governmental organisations have the right to seek a review of decisions that have been made which
may affect the environment. The review procedures must provide “adequate and effective remedies
... and be fair, equitable, timely and not prohibitively expensive”.
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/environmental_law/aarhus_convention.html

6. Aarhus Compliance Committee
Article 15 of the Aarhus Convention established arrangements for reviewing
compliance with the Convention. For that purpose a Compliance Committee
has been established to discuss and decide on possible breaches of the
Convention. Ireland has been subject to the compliance mechanism since 18
September 2013, one year after the date the agreement came into effect.
Find more information about the Committee and its work.
National Renewable Energy Action Plan
Ireland lacked Public Participation - but consulted the wind industry
ACCC/C/2010/54 European Union - ruling against the EU in 2012
http://www.unece.org/env/pp/compliance/Compliancecommittee/54TableEU.html

7. November 9th 2013 in a hotel in Portalaoise …….
after years of seeking transition conversations!
Wind industry
Climate activists
Solar advocates
Community energy
Anti wind activists
Climate deniers
Microgrids
Biomass
Farmers
Environmentalists
NGOs & more
Slideshow of feedback from the event https://www.slideshare.net/
LaoisLeaf/peoples-charter-on-renewable-energy-report-courtesy-of-conor

8. Comprehensive Public Participation
in National Energy Transition Plans
Follow up meeting in February 2014 to form PEC with one binding demand
Our common ground

9. The People’s Energy Charter believes that all energy policies in our
country need to be rewritten taking into account the principles
adopted by the People’s Energy Charter:
1. Communities must be involved in planning
2. Energy efficiency must be a priority
3. Renewable energy needs to be developed to reduce our
dependency on fossil fuels - security of supply
4. Fuel poverty needs to be addressed, guided by the principles of
equality
5. Climate change must be addressed as a matter of urgency
***** PRESS RELEASE ***** March 2014

10. Within a couple of months The People’s Energy Charter was
supported by the following groups, NGO’s & networks:
• An Taisce
• CEF – Cork Environmental Forum
• COF – Claiming our Future is a national non-party-political civil society network
• Energy Co-ops Ireland
• Environmental Pillar
• FOE – Friends of the Earth Ireland
• GEAI – Good Energies Alliance Ireland
• Kilcommon and Upperchurch Wind Awareness Group
• LEAF – Laois Environmental Action Forum.
• LEN – Laois Environmental Network
• POW – People Over Wind
• Presentation Justice Network Ireland
• Ratheniska, Timahoe,Spink Substation Action
• TINI – Transition Ireland and Northern Ireland
• Transition Kerry – Southwest Transition Hub
• Tipperary Energy Agency
• Wind Aware Ireland
• And more

11. https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/energy/consultations/Documents/19/
submissions/Transition%20Ireland%20and%20Northern%20Ireland.pdf
https://theresaod.com/2014/05/12/where-were-the-public-at-the-
launch-of-the-green-paper-on-energy-policy-in-ireland/
“I was invited by association and I want to believe that the
lack of a direct invite to the People’s Energy Charter was
an oversight by department officials and not intentional. It
would be very ironic that the first priority addressed in the
green paper is “Empowering Energy Citizens”. One would
think that empowering them may actually be helped by
inviting them to the launch”
Where were the “Public” at the launch of the
Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland?
Posted on May 12, 2014 by Theresa OD

12. NESC recommendations suggests that “At national level, an
energy transition process would seem to have three
overlapping features.”
It must be:
•Intentional
•Participatory
•Problem-solving
Launch of National Economic and Social Council NESC report
“Wind Energy in Ireland : Building Community Engagement and
Social Support” July 2014
https://theresaod.com/2014/07/04/launch-of-national-economic-and-social-council-nesc-report-wind-
energy-in-ireland-building-community-engagement-and-social-support/
My proposals, which I presented at the launch, are in this blog….

13. How could we take intentional steps?
My first proposal is a national scale event replicating the ideal community meeting. That is by bringing the
national executives of organisations that are rooted in communities throughout the country, together, to
better understand the urgent challenges we face. To introduce the transition process and where they may
be able to facilitate, engage and move it forward. It would lead the way for bringing many more people to
the collaborating table. It would definitely be an intentional action to get the ball rolling – staging a national
scenario showing how it could work at local level.
Bodies such as :
• GAA – Gaelic Athletic Association and other sporting bodies
• Tidy Towns
• ICA – Irish Country Woman’s Association
• IFA – Irish Farmers Association
• Youth groups- Foroige, Comhairle Na nÓg, Green Schools, Scouts
• Rural Link
• Energy agencies
• Transition groups
• Community fora
• Religious institutions
• Credit unions
• State agencies
Who will convene it?
This would be a
cost effective way
of running a
climate dialogue

14. The intention was to host 6 seminars, based on the 6 priorities,
The end result was
• 12 workshops, 4 were regional
• All live streamed & interactive
• Additional year of consultation
This was all very new territory for Irish policy consultations. It
has never been repeated :(
***** There was a “Ministerial Steer”! *****
September 24th I attended the launch of the next phase of the National Energy Policy. This
was my first event with Alex White, the new Minister at the Department of Communication,
Energy and Natural Resources.
https://theresaod.com/2014/09/27/national-energy-policy-next-phase/

15. Within a couple of months The People’s Energy Charter
was supported by the following groups, NGO’s &
networks:
• An Taisce
• CEF – Cork Environmental Forum
• COF – Claiming our Future is a national non-party-political civil
society network
• Energy Co-ops Ireland
• Environmental Pillar
• FOE – Friends of the Earth Ireland
• GEAI – Good Energies Alliance Ireland
• Kilcommon and Upperchurch Wind Awareness Group
• LEAF – Laois Environmental Action Forum.
• LEN – Laois Environmental Network
• POW – People Over Wind
• Presentation Justice Network Ireland
• Ratheniska, Timahoe,Spink Substation Action
• TINI – Transition Ireland and Northern Ireland
• Transition Kerry – Southwest Transition Hub
• Tipperary Energy Agency
• Wind Aware Ireland
• And more
Remember all of these groups, NGOs etc?
Throughout the policy consultation process we
collaborated on submissions. We all repeatedly
sought comprehensive public participation in the
national energy transition plan as well as what we
were seeking independently.
We had a Facebook page, email
group, some met at events. We kept
in touch throughout the whole 2
years from the initial event until the
launch of the national policy.
We had one consistent shared demand

16. https://theresaod.com/changing-the-system/
A few years of policy absorption; conferences on
energy, climate, sustainable development &
economic development; inside information;
whistleblowing; agitation; coordination,
participation and eventually - one year later than
planned ………
A national energy policy to address climate
change
Including a national energy forum
Launched in December 2015 - upon Ministers
return from Paris for COP15
Within months the Minister changed

17. July 2014 - NESC recommendations
December 2015 - White Paper announcing National Energy Forum
May 2016 - Programme for Government renames NEF to Climate Dialogue
September 2017 - Citizens Assembly
July 2018 - Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action
5yrs of talk without meaningful action

18. The following excerpt on Climate Change and Energy is from A Programme
for a Partnership Government in May 2016
“Public Consultation on the Future of Energy Policy
It is clear that there is a need for much better engagement with citizens
and communities about the energy policy decisions that affect them. We
must ensure, as part of our transition to a low carbon society, that citizens
and communities are active participants in the energy transition, with
robust public and stakeholder engagement in energy policy, and effective
community consultation on energy infrastructure developments………..

19. …….We will establish a National Dialogue on Climate Change
that will involve extensive public consultation. This will
incorporate the key infrastructural, land use and economic
issues to be considered in our long-term transition to a new low
carbon future.” A Programme for a Partnership Government in May 2016
Climate Action Regional Offices - I haven’t seen or heard ours in Clare
Climate Dialogue Advisory Group - System Frustrates Action
Climate Ambassador programme - has absolutely no teeth, tokenistic

20. My report from Climate Dialogue event in
Tralee in November 2018
https://www.facebook.com/theresa.carter.549/videos/
vb.1357915964/10217868877617762/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab
The departments overview
https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/climate-action/topics/national-dialogue-on-
climate-action/regional-gatherings/tralee-november-2018/Pages/default.aspx
Includes their video report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufnNPcbnEQM&feature=youtu.be

21. This turned out to be a consultation on how to run the climate dialogue
I spoke with the guardians of the dialogue and they made it very clear that the
civil servants were controlling everything
What I think…..
Consultation is time consuming & expensive
The feedback scares the life out of them - a new vision
Neoliberal capitalism is too integral to society to challenge
Lobby groups have waaaay too much power - back door policy
They obviously DO NOT understand the implications of climate breakdown or…
Seriously believe that there is enough time to leave it to the next government

22. The energy agencies work on efficiency in local authority premises.
A recent proposal seems to have suggested there should be one person in
every Local Authority on climate. Their role would include the LA transition as
well as responsibility for the entire county and citizens.
Public Participation in the transition requires a whole team of staff in
every local authority. Much like Covid19 response teams.
• Massive awareness and validation of the facts is essential from the start
• Assistance with retrofitting and lifestyle changes for everyone
• Facilitation of engagement with SEAI including matched funding
• Energy retrofit workforce in every county - including LA employees

23. https://theresaod.com/2016/09/10/proposal-for-comprehensive-public-participation-in-
irelands-national-energy-transition-plan/
• The question everybody asks me “What is comprehensive public participation and how do we
do it?” This blog contains my answer based on 10 years of work at community, national and
international level in the transition and participation processes. The fact that I live in rural
Ireland also offers real insights and experience of the challenges to participation
• Comprehensive public participation in the national energy transition plan is vital so that its
implementation will be widely accepted at least and actively participated in at best. We need a
collaborative national vision and implementation strategy. Working together we can create a
shared vision and commitment to its success.
Proposal for Comprehensive Public Participation in Irelands National
Energy Transition Plan
Posted on September 10, 2016 by Theresa OD
You can read my proposal here …

24. ACTIONS
•Appoint Climate & Energy Transition Coordinators in each county to work in
conjunction with every Public Participation Network (PPN). They will have a
coordinating role for Climate and Energy awareness, information, education and
participation in planning at community and local authority level. They will facilitate
community led, collaborative climate and energy plans to ensure action to mitigate and
adapt to climate change. They would work in conjunction with the PPN while
collaborating with the Local authority, energy agency, local media, development
companies and other bodies within the area. They would be tasked with collating the
public vision for how the transition should happen while empowering people to engage in
the policy and decision-making as well as inspiring them to take action in their own
communities. Clares Climate Adaptation Strategy was effectively ignored
•Ideally they should be independent of the local authority. Given how most PPNs
have become part of LAs we may need to consider an alternative independent
establishment.

25. ACTIONS
• Establish a transition forum in each local authority area. This will be a space for
stakeholders – communities, council, business, industry, farmers, church, sporting bodies etc.,
to meet and explore climate and energy issues. This will also be the forum that discusses what
needs to be represented at the Climate Dialogue. This is especially important for rural areas
where infrastructure decisions have historically been made centrally without the host
communities input.
• This should be done in conjunction with a national awareness-raising campaign similar to
those addressing drinking, smoking and road deaths. Covid19 type awareness
• Network all transition coordinators to ensure parallel practices, support, shared overarching
agendas, ongoing training and policy awareness all aimed at achieving representative feedback
to the national platforms and policy.
• Establish a national transition office, coordinator, website, social media and resource portal.

26. OBJECTIVES
•To raise awareness, communicate and disseminate information in the fields of
Climate Action and Energy including climate change impacts, mitigation, adaptation,
policy and planning.
•To ensure a collaborative transition towards a low carbon and climate resilient
economy while putting Ireland on the road to implementing EU climate and energy
commitments.
•To ensure that Irelands National Energy Transition Plan is Aarhus Compliant.
•Facilitate local visioning and transition timelines that will contribute to local,
regional and national plans and policy.
•To act as a conduit for feedback to government, policy consultations and other
stakeholders.

27. REASONING
The national transition must be transparent and participatory. Public
participation in energy planning has been inadequate to date. Projects have
mostly been industry led with some having the support of government, state
agencies and strong lobby groups. This has resulted in widespread mistrust of
government, state agencies and developers.