Climate Action Plan (CAP) Newsletters

Keeping Up To Date

If you would like to receive our quarterly newsletters, which share developments about the Climate Action Plan and other related work, please email the Sustainability Policy Team at sustainability@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or call 0300 123 4510. 

Jump to newsletter:

Winter 23

Welcome to the 10th edition of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) newsletter, which provides an update on key climate change developments following our Autumn 2023 edition.

Climate Change Overview

COP 28

A new deal has been agreed at the UN climate summit COP28 which was held in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December 2023 [opens in a new window]. The deal calls on all countries to move away from the use of fossil fuels - but not to phase them out, which many governments had called for. It also recognises the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in emissions if humanity is to limit a global average temperature increase to 1.5C.

Climate Action Plan & Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES)

Since Council approved the Evidence and Options report of the CAP, as detailed in the last edition, progress on the CAP and LHEES’ development has continued with a draft of each expected to be taken to Council in the first half of 2024.

General Sustainability Updates

Traffic Free Schools

A Traffic-Free Schools pilot project was introduced at four schools across East Dunbartonshire to improve road safety, improve air quality and improve the surrounding environment outside of schools for pupils, carers and neighbouring residents. The pilot project began on 20 November 2023 and will run until 20 December 2024. Find out more on our traffic-free-schools webpage.

Over To You

Business Support Grant

East Dunbartonshire Council will be launching the Green Business Support Grant, which is designed to help businesses make long term sustained reductions in their energy bills and make progress towards net zero objectives. Up to £10,000 is available and can be used to fund anything that contributes to these targets. The support will only be available to businesses that have acquired a business energy audit (please speak with a Business Gateway adviser if you require this). More information is to follow.

FREE Community Carbon Literacy Training

The first round of training is provisionally set for 25 January, and the 6, 22 and 27 February. Keep Scotland Beautiful will be contacting community groups imminently. A 1-hour introductory session will take place on the 23 January which will be online. The locations of the sessions are spread across Kirkintilloch, Bishopbriggs, Lennoxtown and Milngavie. Keep an eye on social media posts and our website for venue details and how to sign up. To find out more, contact sustainability@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Reduce your Xmas Waste

At this time of year around 30% more waste is generated. Each year, over 1 billion Christmas cards are thrown away; 50,000 trees are cut down for wrapping paper, and around 12 million tonnes of plastic are wasted. Find out 24 ways to reduce your waste this Christmas on the Government website [opens in a new window].

Autumn 2023

Welcome to the 9th edition of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) newsletter which provides an update on key climate change developments following our Summer edition.

Climate Change Overview

Recent Global Trends

June, July, August and September 2023 have smashed temperature records, with September temperatures being described as ‘off-the charts’ at 1.75°C hotter than pre-industrial levels – the hottest in 174 years of climate data keeping [opens in a new window]. These observed temperatures put 2023 on track to be the hottest year on record.

Antarctic winter sea ice was the lowest on record for this time of year while the average sea surface temperatures for September over the ocean areas excluding the north and south poles (known as the extrapolar area - from 60°S to 60°N) reached 20.92°C – a record for September and the second highest across all months, only behind August 2023.

Since El Niño, a pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that occurs every two to seven years, is still developing, we can expect a continuation of these trends in the future.

Local Trends

October has seen exceptionally heavy rainfall across Scotland, with flooding across Greenock, Dumbarton, Aberfoyle and Grangemouth, and more recently Storm Babet has caused significant flooding to civic infrastructure and properties, mainly affecting the East coast [opens in a new window]. In East Dunbartonshire, key networks were disrupted by heavy rainfall which flooded roads and drainage systems [opens in a new window] . While it is complicated to say that specific events are purely a result of human induced climate change, it is well documented that climate change will continue to make flooding more frequent and intense across Scotland [opens in a new window].

General Sustainability Updates

A reminder that you can become Carbon Literacy Certified with our FREE Carbon Literacy Training programme for members of community groups in East Dunbartonshire. Funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund the programme will run until March 2025. To express an interest and find out more details, contact sustainability@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk or visit our news page Help to create the climate for change.

Local Development Plan 3 Early Engagement

As part of gathering evidence and data for the Evidence Report for the emerging LDP3, the Council will soon be commencing a series of public engagement and consultation events, likely to take place in late 2023 and early 2024. For further information keep an eye on the News section on the Councils website or contact development.plan@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk.

Budget Consultation

Have your say! The Council has identified the cost-of-living crisis and the Climate Emergency as the two biggest priorities it faces. Ahead of setting the Budget for 2024/25 in February 2024 we are carrying out a Budget consultation with residents to inform next year’s Budget. For more information, please visit our  Your Budget Priorities 2024/25 consultation page.

Climate Action Plan & Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES)

East Dunbartonshire Council approved the Evidence and Options stage of the CAP in September and has now agreed a net zero target of 2036 for our direct emissions (including emissions from our fleet of vehicles and buildings) and energy that we purchased (such as electricity), in addition to a target of 2045 for all other emissions including area wide. Details will be drawn up on how to deliver on these ambitious targets and included in a report that will be taken to Council in the first half of 2024.

 

Summer 23

Welcome to the 8th edition of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) newsletter which provides an update on key climate change developments following our winter 2022/23 edition.

Community Champions Awards

Provost Gillian Renwick launched the East Dunbartonshire Community Champion Awards to recognise those in the community that make an outstanding contribution across a range of themes. There are six different awards, including Sustainability Champion which went to Amanda Stark. You can read more about Amanda and why she is a worthy winner by visiting our Winner of the Sustainability Champion Award page.
 

Climate Change Overview

Recent Global Trends

With record-breaking wildfires causing devastation across the world, sea surface temperatures hitting new records, and France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Algeria and Tunisia all reporting new maximum daytime and overnight station temperature records in July 2023 (with July 4th being the world’s hottest ever day on record), the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly stark.

Heatwaves, wildfires mark summer of extremes | World Meteorological Organization (wmo.int) [opens in a new window]
Did climate change cause Canada’s wildfires? - BBC Future [opens in a new window]
Future climate change impact on wildfire danger over the Mediterranean: the case of Greece – IOPscience [opens in a new window]

New Area-wide emissions data

The newly released 2021 data for greenhouse gas emissions has shown that East Dunbartonshire has the joint third lowest per-person carbon footprint of the 32 local authorities in Scotland. While there was an increase in overall emissions for the East Dunbartonshire area in 2021 compared to 2020, the 2021 emissions are still below every year excluding 2020.

UK local authority and regional greenhouse gas emissions national statistics, 2005 to 2021 -(Gov..Uk) [opens in a new window] 

Climate Action Plan & Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy LHEES

Progress continues to be made in the development of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and related Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES). The CAP Evidence & Options Report is scheduled to be reported to Council in September 2023, outlining potential pathways to reach net zero emissions. The Evidence & Options Report was developed by Ricardo and was informed by consultation with internal and external stakeholders.

Sustainability Updates

There are a range of current initiatives that all residents should be aware of which can be of benefit to individuals and East Dunbartonshire as a whole.

Environmental Health’s Campaign to Reduce Emissions

Car fumes contain harmful gases that contribute to climate change. Idling for just 30 seconds can produce twice as much pollution as switching off and restarting your engine. We all Breathe easier when you turn your engine off. Find out more Vehicle emissions | East Dunbartonshire Council

Tree Planting

Some tree-mendous news for Meadowburn Park. The popular park in Bishopbriggs is now home to over 40 new trees to help enhance the area for biodiversity. The work was funded by @treesforcities [opens in a new window] – an independent UK charity working to improve lives by creating greener cities – as part of Clyde Climate Forest ( Clyde Climate Forest - GCV Green Network) opens in a new window]. Apart from the visual amenity value of these trees, they have been planted in such a way to provide a biodiversity corridor through the park. That really puts the Wild Cherry on the cake.

Campaign to Increase Food Waste Recycling rates

Find out more here: Recycling your food waste is eggs-cellent | East Dunbartonshire Council

Food For Life Served Here

East Dunbartonshire achieves the Food for Life Served Here bronze award. Find out more here: East Dunbartonshire achieves Food for Life Served Here Bronze Award (soilassociation.org) [opens in a new window]

Over to You

We are always looking for ways to increase capacity in community action!

Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy

Following some delay due to data sharing issues, work is re-commencing on the LHEES with the final evidence stages due to be completed in the autumn.

Adaptation & Nature Based Solutions

The Adaptation & Nature Based Solutions strand of the CAP is also progressing. This has been an iterative process to develop the strands of work required from the Local Climate Change Impact Profile, Risk & Opportunities Assessment, as well as the Options and Evidence Sheets. These were developed by Council officers and are now being finalised prior to being reported to Council in September. This has been an ongoing process with internal and external stakeholders having been consulted throughout the various stages of its development.

Community Carbon Literacy Training

Become Carbon Literacy Certified! The Council will shortly launch a new Community Carbon Literacy Training programme. Funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme will run until March 2025. The three key main aims of this programme will be to:

  1. Educate and empower participants in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
     
  2. Provide Carbon Literacy Project ‘Carbon Literate’ certification of this learning.
     
  3. Provide a training course to ‘train the trainer’, to provide certified training to a standard that enables individuals to deliver carbon literacy training within their organisation and  to provide initial support on delivery


The Programme will be open to local community groups and organisations, such as:

  • Community Councils
  • Community Development Trusts
  • Community Interest Companies
  • Co-operatives
  • Voluntary associations and charitable organisations
  • Climate action and sustainability groups

If you would like to apply to become Carbon Literacy certified or have any comments or enquiries, please email mailto:sustainability@eastdunbarton.gov. uk