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Climate Action Fund
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
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The Climate Action Fund (CAF) was established to provide assistance and financial support to projects which will help Ireland achieve its climate and energy targets. The CAF will provide at least €500 million in government funding up to 2027 towards this aim. The Fund will allow for the development of innovative initiatives which, without this support, may not otherwise be possible to accomplish. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is responsible for the Fund's implementation.
The Climate Action Fund (CAF) which extends to 2027 will have a number of calls for applications. The scope and scale of projects that will be supported by the various calls may need to vary to ensure the full objectives of the CAF are realised. This may include calls focusing on specific sectors (such as electricity, transport, heat or agriculture) or specific areas (such as capacity building, innovation or community participation).
The first call for applications aimed to provide grant funding to larger scale projects – seeking total support in excess of €1 million – that were scheduled to commence development in 2019 or 2020. The deadline for applications as part of the first call, closed at 5pm on 1 October 2018. Seven projects in the first call were approved to proceed to validation stage at a maximum CAF support level of €77 million.
Early in 2020, DECC held an open call for Expressions of Interest to help inform the design of the next round of funding for the Climate Action Fund. 190 submissions were received from public and private sector bodies, as well as non-governmental organisations and community groups from across the country. These submissions were analysed and a Summary Paper was published below. No individual feedback will be given on the Expressions of Interest received.
Following on from the Expressions of Interest process held in 2020, DECC is currently developing proposals to provide further support from the Climate Action Fund through a community climate action programme. The design of this programme will be informed by feedback received through the climate conversation and, in particular, the conversations that are taking place at local level through the Public Participation Networks. The feedback from these conversations will help shape the community programme in terms of identifying where financial support is required, where capacity building is needed, and the types of projects and initiatives that are being considered at local level.
Information on the types of projects that may be supported, who may apply for this support and the application process, will be published on this page when the programme is launched.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to "support Creative Ireland in engaging the public on climate change through the creative and cultural sectors".
Creative Ireland, in collaboration with DECC, are delivering on this commitment through Creative Climate Action, a competitive fund of €2 million supported by the Climate Action Fund and the Creative Ireland Programme.
The Fund will support creative and cultural projects up to the end of 2022 which will connect people with the profound changes that are happening in our environment, society and economy arising from climate change, and can transform that connection into behaviour change or climate action.
Two strands of funding are available:
- An open call – to organisations, NGOs, charities, enterprises, institutions and collectives/networks working with creative and cultural practitioners
- A closed call – to local authorities, either individually, with other local authorities or external partners
Further information including a briefing note and details on how to apply are set out on the Creative Ireland website.
Applications are now open, and the closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm Monday 31 May 2021
An online briefing session took place on Friday 16 April 2021. Queries raised at that session and responses are available online.
Given the potential for the Climate Action Fund to support private sector projects and public sector bodies competing in open markets, state aid is a key consideration. The support granted under the Climate Action Fund will be subject to European Union state aid rules. The first Call for Applications complies specifically with the criteria set down in the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).
Other relevant information can be found in the following documents which relate to the first round of funding as well as the overall process of the Climate Action Fund. For further information, contact: ClimateActionFund@decc.gov.ie
Expressions of Interest 2020 - Summary Paper
Download
Expressions of Interest 2020 - Clarification Note
Download
Expressions of Interest 2020 - Overview
Download
Expressions of Interest 2020 - Input Form
Download
Information Session Presentation: February 2020
Download
Climate Action Fund: First Call Assessments Announced - 2018
Download
State Aid (Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014
Download
