The views of more than 200 East Dunbartonshire residents who recently took part in the Council’s ‘Climate Conversation’ will help to inform the Council’s Climate Action Plan.
The ‘Climate Conversation’, which ran from 8 March to 2 May, was an early engagement exercise to assess local public opinion on climate change and related issues, including biodiversity loss. It was also a platform to discuss potential actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience to the impacts of climate change. Transport, biodiversity, reducing emissions from homes and businesses and reducing waste were raised as being important to those who took part.
The Council noted the outcome of the ‘Climate Conversation’ at the meeting on 17 June and agreed to move forward with preparations of the Climate Action Plan and Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy. The Council also endorsed the Glasgow City Region Adaptation Strategy & Action Plan at the meeting.
Joint Council Leader, Councillor Vaughan Moody, said, “The ‘Climate Conversation’ was a listening exercise and revealed high levels of concern about climate change in East Dunbartonshire and calls for strong ambition to address it. The Council is committed to taking a strong leadership role in tackling climate change, both locally and nationally, and is preparing an ambitious Climate Action plan in response. It will build on the achievements of the Council’s existing Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan and Carbon Management Plan, which include a 44% reduction in the Council’s emissions between 2012/13 and 2019/20.”
The Climate Action Plan will cover the period to 2033 to align with the Scottish Climate Change Plan. This period includes the 75% interim emissions reduction target, which must be achieved by 2030, as well as the first half of the period leading to the 2045 net zero emissions target.
The Climate Action Plan will:
• Set a date by which the Council can achieve zero direct emissions, that is, for its own activities and operations, along with interim targets and actions to support this reduction;
• Identify opportunities to reduce indirect emissions (emissions from sources that are not owned and directly controlled by the Council, including the Council’s supply chain), including from procurement activities;
• Work with partners to establish a realistic target date by which net zero emissions can be achieved in East Dunbartonshire as a whole, and identify the main actions necessary to support this achievement; and
• Set out a local strategy to adapt to the increasing effects of our changing climate and ensure resilience against the future impacts of climate change.
The Council is also a member of Climate Ready Clyde; a cross-sector initiative funded by 15 organisations, supported by the Scottish Government and managed by sustainability organisation Sniffer. As a member, the Council contributed to the Glasgow City Region’s Climate Adaption Strategy and Action Plan, which was launched on Tuesday 29 June.
Joint Council Leader and Chair of Glasgow City Region Land Use and Sustainability Portfolio, Councillor Andrew Polson, said, “The Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan is a catalyst and a call to action for all organisations, communities and business with a stake in Glasgow City Region to join in, step forward and step up to build the region’s social, economic and environmental resilience to climate change.
“The strategy presents a bold and ambitious vision and statement of the future we want, one where the region flourishes despite the future challenges of our changing climate.”
The full Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan and supporting evidence is available to download on the Climate Ready Clyde website [opens in a new window].