Projects
The Council is responsible for implementing several projects related to the circular economy, zero waste, energy, green infrastructure, and biodiversity. Currently, Council teams are developing our first Climate Mitigation Plan to reduce emissions from operations, waste, services, and facilities. Additionally, a Sustainable Procurement Strategy and screening checklist are being created to ensure alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Other current programmes include:
Active & Sustainable Travel
The Council, in partnership with others, has developed 100 km of traffic-free routes across the city and district, with an additional 45 km under development and 120 km identified for future routes.
Sustainable Food System
The Council is working on various projects to establish a sustainable food system for the city and district, including:
Acorn Farm I Can Grow Project:
Funded by the National Lottery and led by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland in partnership with DCSDC, this project aims to enhance local capacity for growing and cooking food while researching local food systems, resilience, and climate change.
Sutainable Food Place:
The Council is pursuing designation as a Sustainable Food Place and has established the Acorn Food Network to collaborate with various stakeholders on delivering positive change.
Acorn Farm Hub:
The Council has received £5.6 million from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund for the development of the Acorn Farm Sustainable Food Hub (£6.2 million total). This hub will feature geodesic domes, growing spaces, and learning centres within St Columb’s Park. It will utilise innovative climate-smart technology for local food production, support new culinary practices, and serve as a key eco-tourism destination and community focal point for climate action and food growing.
Further information on the sustainable food programme can be found here: https://acornfarmni.com/
Green Clubs
The Green Clubs Project was launched at Sigersons GAA Club in Strabane on September 21st 2024. Supported by PEACEPLUS, a program managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan, this initiative invites local clubs in the North West to apply for support in enhancing their sustainability practices.
The project will focus on raising awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will involve leadership and capacity building, best-practice sharing, practical environmental initiatives, and the dissemination of a green club toolkit. The goal is to help clubs implement simple yet effective changes in their operations and facilities to achieve long-term environmental sustainability.
As key community anchors, local sports clubs can lead the way in ensuring that people of all ages benefit from the green transition.
The programme is being delivered by North West Regional College in partnership with the DCSDC Green Infrastructure Team - Further information on how to apply will be available shortly.
Blueprint
The BluePrint project engages flood-affected communities in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, including the villages of Eglinton and Newtownstewart, in an artistic co-creation process to share their lived experiences related to flooding and climate adaptation.
The project features an All-Island learning exchange with Mayo and includes a creative co-creation toolkit to assist those working with communities on climate adaptation and flood resilience across Ireland.
Funded by the Creative Climate Action fund, an initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme, the project is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Project partners include Derry City & Strabane District Council, the Playhouse in Derry, University College Cork, and Mayo County Council, with support from artist Sara Walmsley.
The final artwork will be showcased at The Playhouse on October 24th 2024
For further information please visit: https://www.marei.ie/project/blueprint/
Blueprint All-Island Learning and Exchange Workshop - Crossmolina, Co. Mayo on 5th of July 2024.
Artitude
Council are partners in the National Lottery Funded Artitide project lead by the Playhouse.
This exciting community engagement project is grounded in the circular economy and uses the arts and creative practice to encourage behaviour change and challenge attitudes to waste, consumption and climate action.
The projects aims are:
Using the arts & creative practice to strengthen the climate movement in the Northwest.
Bringing together activists to grow ideas through arts-led engagement.
Engaging with the arts for joy and community care.
The Playhouse will work with partners Zero Waste Northwest, Northern Ireland Resources Network, Queens University Belfast and Derry City and Strabane District Council to co-ordinate and deliver a programme of creative activities.
For further information please visit: https://www.derryplayhouse.co.uk/learning/artitude