Waterford City and County Council success at All Ireland Community & Council Awards
Waterford City and County Council was successful in the Best Green Sustainable Initiative category at the recent All Ireland Community & Council Awards, for its Business Pledge for a Cleaner, Greener Waterford initiative.
The awards, presented by the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) recognise the collaborative spirit demonstrated by communities and councils across the island and offer a valuable platform to showcase the achievements and positive impact of these partnerships within local areas.
As part of the Council’s roadmap to delivering a Carbon Neutral Waterford by 2040, the initiative invites local businesses to take the Business Pledge to strive towards a cleaner, greener Waterford, and commit to completing at least two actions over 12 months to reduce the carbon footprint of their business and avail of a 9% discount on their commercial rates bill.
The premise of the project was that a baseline emissions inventory of Waterford City revealed that businesses were the largest source of emissions in the city, accounting for 28% of emissions. Many are small businesses that struggle to find the time or capital to invest in changes that would make their business more sustainable.
Over 1,000 businesses have taken the pledge, and Waterford City and County Council continues to work with these businesses to give them the support, resources and the advice they need to become more sustainable.
Speaking at the awards event, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Seamus Ryan said, “Congratulations to the Environment and Climate Action teams on the continued success of this outstanding scheme. Now in its fourth year, the Business Pledge has gone from strength to strength, enabling businesses across Waterford to meaningfully reduce their carbon emissions, with expert guidance, resources and practical incentives.”
“While the individual actions may seem small, their collective impact is significant, delivering measurable benefits for our environment, and reinforcing Waterford’s commitment to climate leadership.”
Sean McKeown, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council added, “I must commend the Environment team, which worked in tandem with our rates department on this incentive, which is unique to Waterford.
“By becoming more aware of energy saving opportunities and exploring renewable energy options, businesses can not only reduce costs but also drive meaningful change. Embracing a clear sustainability strategy and committing to lower carbon emissions strengthens both environmental performance and long-term resilience. Collectively, these actions have the power to deliver lasting, positive impact for businesses across the city and county.”
The All Ireland Community & Council Awards, presented by Marty Whelan, took place in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Saturday 28th February 2026.
