Climate Action Plan (CAP)

Climate change is no longer a distant threat – it is reshaping Scotland’s environment now. 

In 2025 wildfires have burned a record area across the UK, all of Scotland experienced water scarcity following the driest start to a year since 1964, and Met Office data confirms this summer was the hottest on record. These extremes follow a broader trend: Scotland’s ten hottest years have all occurred since 1997. Despite this, average annual rainfall in Scotland has been 10% higher in the last decade (2014-2023) compared to the 1961-1990 average, with winters bearing the brunt of the wetter weather. Climate impacts that were projected to occur in the middle of this century are already happening now. Acceleration of heatwaves, intensification of rainfall, and water stress are no longer future risks but present realities.

To reduce our contributions to the impacts of climate change, Scotland has set a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2045, replacing interim targets with a carbon budget-based process as well as setting out actions to drive forward climate change adaptation. East Dunbartonshire is also playing its part by developing its Climate Action Plan (CAP) – a strategic action plan to reduce emissions, build resilience to the on-going effects of climate change and deliver co-benefits for our communities. 

A draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) has been prepared to deliver on the following Council targets:

• To reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2036 for our direct greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from our fleet of vehicles and buildings) and energy that the Council purchases (such as electricity)
• To reach net zero by 2045 for all other emissions including those for the East Dunbartonshire area
• To improve resilience to the on-going impact of climate change

Council approved the draft CAP on 2 October 2025. The draft provides details on how the Council will deliver its ambitious targets. A 10-week public consultation period followed to gather views on the draft CAP and the proposed actions set out under each strategic theme. All comments and suggestions gathered during the consultation will be considered in the preparation of the final CAP.

Given the rapid evolution of climate change legislation and the growing responsibilities placed on local authorities, the draft CAP helps to align climate policy with carbon reduction targets and adaptation duties while outlining the range of actions required to deliver on the Council’s net zero and adaptation targets. The draft introduces a live and dynamic approach to driving forward action on climate change.

The draft CAP builds on the considerable progress the Council has already made in reducing our own carbon footprint as set out in our Carbon Management Plan (CMP) 2015-25. The table below illustrates the long-term reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by scope since record keeping for the Council began. It is important to note that the data will be affected by changes in definitions and factors from year to year:

The CMP estimates corporate emissions arising from the use of electricity, natural gas, other fuels and transport (fleet and business travel), and those arising from waste disposal. The most recent iteration was published in November 2025 Agenda for Council on Thursday 6 November, 2025 5.30 pm after Council achieved the emissions target set in an update report in January 2024. The Carbon Management Plan 24/25 has been extended to include estimated homeworking emissions and commuting emissions. A target to reduce emissions to 13,820 tCO2e in 2025/26 and 13,450 tCO2e in 2026/27 have been set to continue the strong track record of emissions reductions.

The draft CAP supersedes the Council’s Sustainability & Climate Change Framework (SCCF) Action Plan, with A progress report on the delivery of the SCCF Action Plan being approved by the Council’s Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets Committee in January 2024. While many SCCF actions were  amalgamated into the draft CAP, completed and superseded actions were outline in a report accompanying the draft CAP.

A variety of emerging Council strategies will support the objectives of the CAP including the emerging Active Travel Strategy, the Circular Economy Strategy, the emerging Greenspace Strategy and Local Development Plan 3.

A range of other work also supports the climate change adaptation agenda including the delivery of our Flood Risk Management Plan, which is vital in responding to the increasing and intensifying weather events being experienced as a result of climate change.

The Council is also a partner with Climate Ready Clyde which has developed Glasgow City Region’s first Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan launched in June 2021, ahead of COP26 in Glasgow. The Strategy aims to ensure Glasgow City Region’s economy and society is prepared and continues to flourish in the face of the impacts arising from the climate crisis. 

Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan | Climate Ready Clyde