Ms Cliona Kelliher:

I am delighted to be here to be able to talk about PPNs. I am an environmental representative on the Kildare PPN secretariat and am also a member of the national secretariat network and of the national advisory group. I completed a master's degree in climate change this year in Dublin City University and the topic of my research was PPNs and how they can be used to further climate action at local level. My research highlighted the huge benefits which PPNs can offer in terms of partnership and collaboration in achieving climate goals. Weber and Khademian speak about "lay knowledge of communities who are directly tied to their locale and understand the practical implications of structural or policy changes, in a way that may not be obvious to those coming from an official perspective." The existence of a national structure, which connects communities, offers huge potential for engagement on climate. It also creates the possibility of influencing behaviour and acceptance of climate action measures.

Other research has shown that public participation increases trust in Government and leads to better decision making. My research showed that 66% of PPN members surveyed felt that being part of a PPN increased their climate knowledge. This was via various means such as PPN newsletters, workshops, social media and peer knowledge sharing.

Across the country, PPNs connect with community groups and engage in projects and education around climate. PPNs also took part in the climate conversations this year, and Mr. Stanley-Smith referred to the great work that Kerry did in this. The idea of partnership and collaboration also connects to sustainable development goal No. 17 - partnerships for the goals.

I refer to some of the work done by PPNs around the country. Cork City Council and Cork PPN worked together in 2021 and 2022 with the Cork Environmental Forum to deliver a pilot community climate action programme, where participants attended a number of workshops and compiled a list of community actions. In Kildare PPN, we held our third annual climate action weekend this year, which looked at topics such as energy, circular economy, biodiversity and health. These climate weekends were designed to be engaging and to connect with people’s lives in a practical and fun way, and to bring communities together for support and connection. In 2019, Sligo PPN hosted a climate change seminar with Professor John Sweeney. More recently, an environmental event for south-east PPNs was held in Kilkenny, which was attended by up to 80 PPN members and representatives. This is just a snapshot of some of the climate actions undertaken by PPNs. In addition, PPNs offer training and information on an ongoing basis and provide peer support, which was flagged as a big positive of PPNs in my research.

The key role of PPNs in policy creation has to be highlighted, because this is essentially why PPNs were set up in the first place. Member groups and representatives on strategic policy committees offer a wide range of expertise and lived experience. The Kildare Climate Action Linkage Group put a huge amount of work into its submission on the Kildare County Council development plan consultation, and this kind of work is replicated across the country, as Mr. Stanley-Smith mentioned, with representatives and groups engaging actively in policy creation. This is an area that needs further work and a greater commitment from local authorities to fully acknowledge the important role of PPNs in decision making. Previous research on PPNs, as well as my research, shows that many PPN representatives do not feel their input is incorporated directly into policy decisions. Another article highlights the importance of moving from top-down decision making to a more participatory model. It states, "local people and organizations ... are often left out of critical decision-making processes ... such as the design of adaptation programs or plans."

The structure of PPNs, with their three pillars – environment; social inclusion; and community and voluntary - means they are uniquely placed to create connections and understand the whole-of-society implications of climate change. Working with marginalised groups can give insights into how climate measures will impact them and it is essential, from a climate justice perspective, that all of those diverse views are incorporated into decision making. Furthermore, PPNs can play a role in the commitments of Ireland’s Open Government Partnership national action plan to progress civic participation and strengthen inclusion and civic deliberation in local decision making.