At the County Council Meeting on Monday 9thMay 2022, An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Lettie McCarthy, signed the European Circular Cities Declaration. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is the first local authority in Ireland to join this European wide network of like-minded and ambitious cities and local authorities.

The European Circular Cities Declaration is a commitment from cities and regions to enhance efforts to transition from a linear to a circular economy. Signatories are committed to the need to decouple economic growth from resource use, recognising that local and regional governments have a critical role to play and share a common vision of a circular economy.

Speaking of the European Circular Cities Declaration, An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Lettie McCarthy said:"I am delighted to sign the European Circular Cities Declaration on behalf of the Council, and in doing so, joining over sixty innovative cities and local authorities across Europe. As the first local authority in Ireland to sign the Circular Cities Declaration, the Council is continuing to show leadership in climate action, sustainability and resource management. I very much look forward to collaborating with colleagues from across Europe and working with Council staff and the Elected Members of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, as we continue to make the circular economy transition together".

Paul Kennedy, Acting Director of Infrastructure & ClimateChange said: "Resource Management is one of the five themes of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024.By signing the European Circular Cities Declaration, the Council is committed to enhancing its efforts to move towards a circular economy and to influence a wider transition across the County.This is also aligned to Council’s Litter Management Plan 2021-2023, which is framed by national circular economy objectives. The Circular Cities Declaration provides the opportunity to learn from and contribute to best practiceacross other European cities and local authorities".

The European Circular Cities Declaration is managed by ICLEI -Local Governments for Sustainability, to which there are currently sixty-one signatories. ICLEI is a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Over the coming years, the Council will embed the Circular Cities Declaration commitments into the continued implementation of its Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024 and Litter Management Plan 2021-2023, in collaboration with other European cities