The ‘Beach & Dunes for Climate Adaption’ Training for Communities project, led by Leave No Trace Ireland, was proudly represented by Atlantic Seaboard North Climate Action Regional Office’s Sue O’Toole at the National Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) Strand 2 Research Launch and Project Showcase, held at the Alex Hotel, Dublin on Tuesday, 24th June 2025.
This national event brought together community climate action leaders, policymakers, and researchers to share insights from the 19 innovative projects funded under Strand 2 of the CCAP. The Beaches & Dunes project was highlighted as a strong example of local climate and environmental action, with a focus on empowering communities through education, training, and hands-on engagement with coastal ecosystems.
The project aligns closely with the CCAP’s strategic goals of inclusive engagement, capacity building, and long-term impact. It exemplifies best practice in:
- Community-led climate adaptation, particularly in vulnerable coastal areas;
- Inclusive outreach, with training tailored to diverse community groups;
- Scalable learning outputs, including toolkits and training resources designed for replication across other coastal communities.
The event also marked the launch of the CCAP Strand 2 Research Report ‘Understanding how inclusive community-based climate action can be scaled up: A Process Evaluation of the Community Climate Action Programme Strand 2’ which identifies key success factors for inclusive and scalable community climate action.
The Beaches & Dunes project was recognised for its contribution to these national learnings, particularly in the areas of adaptive programme delivery, strategic networking, and the co-creation of practical, community-friendly resources.
Participation in the showcase provided an opportunity to connect with other project leads, share experiences, and explore future collaborations that will help sustain and expand the impact of community-led climate action across Ireland.
