Local action on nature, active travel, healthy homes, food and climate resilience to support a healthier Limerick
Limerick has committed to the Cork Call to Action on Climate and Health, committing Limerick to further local action to tackle the health impacts of climate change and create a healthier, more sustainable and resilient city and county.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran signed the Cork Call to Action on behalf of Limerick following his participation in the WHO Summit of Mayors on Climate and Health in Cork, held on 5 and 6 October and hosted by Cork City Council in collaboration with the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.
More than 100 mayors, deputy mayors and elected representatives from 60 cities in 22 European countries signed the Call, which identifies five key areas for local action: nature-positive cities; healthier and more sustainable food systems; active cities; healthy homes; and resilience and preparedness for extreme weather.
The commitments are closely aligned with work already underway across Limerick through the Council’s Climate Action Plan 2024–2029, Biodiversity Action Plan 2025–2030 and the More for Limerick Mayoral Programme, including its ambition to deliver a More Healthy Limerick.
Mayor of Limerick John Moran said climate action and public health must increasingly be viewed as two sides of the same challenge:
“What was most evident from our discussions in Cork is that the health effects of climate change play out at several levels at once. Heat and flooding put people at risk directly, while the vagaries of the weather affect crop yields and, in turn, food supply chains. Housing matters, because insulation and ventilation shape how people cope with damp and extreme temperatures. So does how people get around, since a sunny spell or a shower often decides whether they walk or drive. The mix differs from place to place, and as local government is closest to the ground, we’re best placed to tackle it head on.
“A More Healthy Limerick is a key pillar of the More for Limerick Mayoral Programme, so this commitment sits squarely within it. We have a Climate Action Plan and a Biodiversity Action Plan in place, an active travel network that keeps expanding, and communities delivering projects through Going for Gold. I want Limerick to continue leading this work, and the Call gives us a clear framework for doing it.”
Príomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Tom Ruddle commented:
“The work we are doing in Limerick already demonstrates how practical climate measures can deliver multiple benefits. The opportunity now is to build stronger connections between these areas of work and to make sure that health, climate resilience and environmental sustainability are considered together when we plan and deliver for Limerick’s future.”
Dr Pat Daly, Director General of Limerick City and County Council, said the commitment would build on a strong foundation of climate and environmental action across the Council:
“The Cork Call to Action reflects the direction in which Limerick is already moving. We are increasingly seeing that investment in climate action is also investment in healthier, more attractive and more resilient places for people to live and work.
“From active travel and biodiversity to sustainable drainage, community climate projects and improvements to our public spaces, the Council is working across its services to respond to climate change while delivering tangible benefits for communities.”
The five priorities set out in the Cork Call to Action will provide an additional framework for collaboration across Limerick:
Nature-positive Limerick: protecting and restoring biodiversity, green and blue spaces and using nature-based solutions.
Healthier, sustainable food: supporting healthy food choices, local food economies and reducing food waste.
An active Limerick: continuing to develop walking, wheeling, cycling and sustainable transport options.
Healthy homes: supporting better housing quality, energy efficiency and healthy living conditions.
Resilience and preparedness: strengthening Limerick’s ability to respond to heat, flooding and other extreme weather events.
The Cork Call to Action also commits signatories to placing health, equity and climate justice at the heart of local decision-making, ensuring that the benefits of climate action are shared across communities.
Limerick’s Climate Action
Limerick City and County Council’s Climate Action Plan 2024–2029 sets out the ambition for Limerick to become a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy by 2050. The plan also recognises the significant health co-benefits of climate action, including the benefits of walking and cycling, nature-based solutions, improved energy efficiency and better air quality.
Limerick is also one of Ireland's five Mission Minded Cities, a designation recognising ambitious climate action and a commitment to climate neutrality by 2030.
That approach is also reflected in Limerick’s accreditation to the WHO European Healthy Cities and Counties Network in 2025, which recognises the importance of local government action on the wider determinants of health and includes protecting the planet from environmental degradation among Limerick’s priorities.
Among the work already underway in Limerick are the Limerick Biodiversity Action Plan 2025–2030, the Limerick City and Environs Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, the Community Climate Action Programme, continued expansion of the Active Travel network, and the Limerick Going for Gold environmental programme, which supports communities to deliver biodiversity, pollinator, waste prevention, circular economy and sustainable-living projects.
This aligns with the objectives of the Healthy Ireland Framework, which promotes better health and wellbeing through action across a range of sectors, including the environment, housing, transport and community development.
Image Caption (L-R) Laurence Fallon Leas-Cathaoirleach Roscommon County Council, Tim Durkan Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council, Liam Brazil Mayor of Waterford, Damian Boylan Lord Mayor of Cork City, Gary Doherty Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Helen Ogbu Mayor of Galway City and John Moran Mayor of Limerick
