Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan launched a new, first of its kind campaign and fund specifically for climate engagement to support and inspire people to take and talk about the climate actions that can improve their local areas.

The campaign, called Climate Actions Work, will focus on encouraging and supporting climate engagement and communications actions. A national radio, print and social media campaign will also get underway to amplify climate actions that are already happening and encouraging more people to get involved. This campaign will roll out over the coming weeks, with a particular focus on local media linked to local actions as it progresses.

The fund is designed as a unique, small-scale, flexible fund that can help community groups spread the word about what they are doing or what they might be planning to do. With a starting pot of €1 million to be distributed over this year and into next, it is intended to support the vital activities that are often not funded – like event organisation, climate advocacy, social media, developing leaflets and information materials, or joining up and working with other groups to take on bigger projects, for example. The fund will be administered by Community Foundation Ireland which as part of its mission of Equality For All in Thriving Communities has been empowering local groups, researchers and advocates to take action on climate and nature since 2000. The foundation's work in this space is informed by its experience of partnering with 5,000 voluntary, community and charitable groups as a philanthropic hub. A network which continues to grow.

The fund emerged from what the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications learned from working with community groups through the National Dialogue on Climate Action over the last few years. Many community groups and organisations are supported through volunteers who often have to give up nights and days to undertake engagement and communications activities. The fund is intended to provide some support to the incredible work already underway, and to encourage new participation. The fund is particularly designed to support groups to work with audiences who have not previously talked about climate change or the local actions they can take. Priority will be given to funding projects that are innovative – trying out new ideas to reach new audiences.

In addition, this campaign will be supported by a comprehensive training programme and a toolkit supporting community groups in developing and delivering their projects. These will be available for anyone interested in knowing more about how to talk about and engage people on climate action.

Launching the fund at a visit to Baldoyle Wild Town, a 2023 winner of the Tidy Towns Special Award for Climate Action, Minster Ryan said:

"We know that Irish people care about climate change, that they are concerned about its effects on their lives, but importantly that they believe that climate actions work. What’s often difficult is talking about that and spreading the word in a way that will encourage others to get involved. This fund will help communities and organisations come together to discuss how climate change is affecting them and what are the most suitable actions they can take.

"Baldoyle Wild Town is a really inspiring example of what a community can achieve when they come together, talk about climate change in their community, and what they can do to take action. During my visit today I’ve seen diverse examples of how a community can start small to make big changes. Baldoyle Wild Town have undertaken tree-planting, biodiversity, water quality and recycling projects among others, to make their community more climate resilient and a healthier, greener place to live."

The fund is welcoming applications under three strands:

1. Community Awareness
2. Community Engagement, and
3. Community Activation

Grants of from €2,500 up to €10,000 are available under the different strands.

Applications are open from 2 September and close on 4 October. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their applications by the end of November.

Information is available at: www.gov.ie/climateactionswork.

The Climate Actions Work fund is not intended for taking climate actions themselves, like, for example, installing solar panels or bike racks or purchasing trees or plants for a community garden. There is a variety of funding is already in place to support this kind of local climate action, including the following:

• The Community Climate Action Programme is making €27 million available to community organisations to enhance their climate action, with Community Climate Action Officers in place to work with local authorities and community groups
• The EU Just Transition Fund has made €169 million available to support midlands communities vulnerable to the climate transition
• The National Just Transition Fund has made up to €22.1 million available to a variety of projects to further support communities in this region

Local authorities are key partners in the delivery of community climate initiatives. Each local authority has developed a Climate Action Plan, identifying local climate mitigation and adaptation measures planned and underway and there is a Climate Action Officer and Climate Action Coordinator in place in every local authority to facilitate and support local initiatives.

In addition, the National Dialogue on Climate Action, through its Climate Conversations programme, is identifying barriers to local climate action, and developing tools to evaluate, measure and support climate engagement activities.