City Council working on plan to tackle future heatwaves

Cork City Council is working on a plan to equip the city and its residents for future heatwaves.

Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins proposed at the last council meeting that Cork City Council put in place a ‘Heat Plan’ acknowledging increasing temperatures.

John Stapleton, the council’s director of local area development and operations, said that council management recognises the potential impacts on public health, vulnerable people, infrastructure and biodiversity of high-temperature events which are getting more frequent and intense.

He said that the council has already incorporated climate adaptation measures within its climate action plan, including tree planting, sustainable drainage systems and biodiversity enhancement.

This year, the council has also undertaken a process to update their climate change risk assessment.

Mr Stapleton added: “Extreme heat is at the forefront of our minds due to the hot and dry weather this summer.

“Our evidence-based assessment is that heat is an emerging risk that will impact sections of the population with clearly identifiable vulnerability characteristics, including age, underlying health conditions, socioeconomic disadvantage and relatively poor quality housing.

“Heat risk is highest in the urban core.” 

Using the most up-to-date climate change projections, the council assess that under a high-emissions scenario, there will be an increase of up to 26 summer days with average temperatures above 25 C between 2070 and 2100.

Mr Stapleton added that the council will further examine its response to changing frequency and intensity of temperatures, looking at potential risks, how to protect vulnerable people and integrating heat resilience considerations into future housing and infrastructure projects.

Niamh O’Connor of the Social Democrats also had a motion in calling for the incorporation of shaded areas into the development of all playgrounds in future.

Mr Stapleton said that the parks and recreation division “will continue to incorporate shade, through both existing and new tree planting and, where appropriate, built shade structures, in the design and development of playgrounds wherever practicable.” 

Labour’s Peter Horgan said that measures to protect from heat were hugely important, as for every degree a person’s body temperature rises, their heart beats roughly 10 extra beats per minute faster.

“We need to take this seriously,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Dr John Sheehan said that councils should be providing access to water, such as through fountains.