The diffusion of sustainability through community-based climate action collaborations

Dingle Peninsula 2030 or Corca Dhuibhne 2030 (Irish translation), is a collaborative project which is seeking to transition a region in the peripheral south-west of Ireland to a low-carbon, sustainable community by 2030. The project has employed a novel governance structure through the formation of a collaborative committee. This committee consists of representatives of a local not-for-profit (Mol Téic), a local community development organisation (NEWKD), Ireland’s national electricity distribution system operator (ESB Networks), and our research institute (MaREI). This transdisciplinary configuration is grounded within the local community, whilst also having capacity at a national level.

Despite emerging as recently as 2018, Dingle Peninsula 2030 acts as a community based, transdisciplinary collaboration that has had impact both at a local community level, and on a wider national and international stage. The project has gathered national media coverage, been designated as a living laboratory by the United Nations, and has a sent a delegation to COP-26 to discuss the role of community based initiatives for climate action. Here, we represent the local community impact of Dingle Peninsula 2030, to date. Central to this representation is the concept of the diffusion of sustainability, across a range of sectors including energy, transport, agriculture, education, tourism and employment . The concept of the diffusion of sustainability is outlined in the paper as a means through which to categories the holistic impact which community led climate action projects can facilitate across a range of sectors.