Cork City Council to hire behavioural scientist as part of bid to become climate neutral city 

Cork City Council is set to recruit a behavioural scientist to work on projects such as pedestrianisation in the city as it works to achieve its greenhouse gas emission goals.

City Hall said it wanted to embed “behavioural science principles into policy and service design” in Cork, as it seeks to change its organisation as part of its overall plan to reach net zero emissions by 2030.

With a 19-month contract, the council has set a maximum budget of €130,000 for the position.

While the country has an overall aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly in the coming years, Cork has even more ambitious targets, as it is part of a Europe-wide project to achieve 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030.

Highlighting this in its most recent climate action plan, Cork City Council said: “That transformation requires a dramatic acceleration of our progress, achieved through careful examination of the barriers we face and a systemic approach to overcoming them.” 

To achieve net zero, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we produce must be no more than the amount taken away from the atmosphere. Achieving net zero will require significant investment and adaptation in the coming years.

The recruitment of a specialist in behavioural science as part of this initiative funded by the European Commission will also see collaboration with University College Cork’s Environmental Research Institute.

Cork City’s climate action plan includes significant funding aimed at achieving the goal of net zero, such as a €190m investment in the Cork docklands project to create a new liveable and walkable urban centre. Picture: Cian O’Regan

The range of tasks facing the behavioural scientist will include assessing the existing knowledge, capacity and opportunities for applying behavioural science within Cork City Council and supporting staff on how this can be integrated into how they deliver projects and services in the city.

The project also aims to upskill staff while using best practice on the likes of pedestrianisation events in the city.

“[The person must] assist staff in applying behavioural insights to various policy areas, including active travel, service design, housing, and energy use,” it said. 

“[And] provide guidance for internal project selection through open calls, ensuring minimal bureaucracy while capturing innovative ideas.” 

Furthermore, the work must also foster a culture of behavioural change and “evidence-based decision-making” within Cork City Council.

Cork City’s climate action plan includes significant funding aimed at achieving the goal of net zero, such as a €190m investment in the Cork docklands project to create a new liveable and walkable urban centre, and a €134m spend on walking and cycling facilities.

After the climate action plan was adopted by the council last year, then-lord mayor Kieran McCarthy said it would not just be the work of the council alone as part of the EU 100 cities project.

“To succeed we must all work together,” he said. “Business as usual is no longer enough. Radical collaboration is needed.”

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