Case Study: Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC)

How Accelerating Action Supported the Development of Ireland's Last Two Climate Action Plans

Background

The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) in Ireland needed a comprehensive software solution to aid in the development of national climate and sustainability policy. They required a tool that could facilitate holistic policy mapping, alignment, and impact reporting, ensuring coherence from local to national levels.

Solution

Over the past two years, DECC partnered with Accelerating Action, gaining full access to the software along with necessary training and support services, including for DECC's SDG Champions. This collaboration has not only refined the product based on DECC's needs but also led to seven additional county councils adopting the software.

Results

• Enhanced Policy Development: Accelerating Action’s holistic mapping and gap analysis capabilities enabled DECC to create more comprehensive and coherent policy briefs. The tag functionality facilitated detailed policy alignment, ensuring coherence from local initiatives like Tidy Towns to national strategies

  
  

• Policy Alignment and Coherence: The software allowed DECC to show alignment with the SDGs and other national policies, bridging the gap between various levels of government policy.

  
  

• Impact Monitoring and Reporting: Accelerating Action was crucial in reporting Ireland’s progress on the SDGs to the UN through their Voluntary National Review. It also mapped the national Climate Action Plan and other major policies, supporting transparency and accountability.

Impact

Accelerating Action is now a key tool for Ireland’s government, used not only to report SDG progress to the UN but also to map and develop national climate policies. The adoption by county councils, including Mayo, Offaly, Laois, Clare, and Derry City & Strabane District Council in Northern Ireland, highlights its utility and effectiveness.

From National To Local Impact