A new study of a whale which stranded off the Pembrokeshire coast in 2012 has revealed it to be the first short-finned pilot whale ever to be found in British waters.
The short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, is more frequently found in tropical to warm temperate seas and is not normally encountered in Europe north of the Bay of Biscay.
The whale, which stranded on 1 March 2012 at Hazelbeach near Neyland, Pembrokeshire, was initially identified as a long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas. Long-finned pilot whales are far more commonly found in British waters and strand frequently. The two species are similar and difficult to distinguish based on skeletal remains.
However, features of the Hazelbeach whale’s skull and teeth, described by scientists in a newly published article in the journal Mammal Communications, confirm that it is a short-finned pilot whale, the first found in British waters.
Dr Andrew Kitchener, Principal Curator of Vertebrates at National Museums Scotland, where the whale’s remains are now held, said: “This is one of a growing number of examples in our collection going back to the 1980s of what we would normally think of as warm-water species being found for the first time in British waters.
“Others include striped dolphins, pygmy sperm whales and a Fraser’s dolphin. It’s important to develop our understanding of changing marine populations and their distributions, and the existence of collections and research facilities such as ours are crucial to building that understanding over time.
“This discovery means that we can no longer assume that every stranded pilot whale in Britain is a long-finned pilot whale.”
Rob Deaville of the Institute of Zoology in London where the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme is based, said: “The identification of this short-finned pilot whale in UK waters adds to the evidence of a clear trend of cetacean life being affected by climate change, part of a wider impact on our seas and oceans.”
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is calling for voluntary organisations and individuals across the country to apply for its annual Scottish Charity Awards.
Now in its 17th year, the Scottish Charity Awards are designed to celebrate the best of the voluntary sector, and to highlight the incredible organisations, inspiring people and innovative projects that have made an immeasurable difference to the communities they support over the past year.
Applications are now being accepted for 2023, with SCVO placing particular importance on hearing from voluntary organisations and individuals that reflect the diversity of the sector.
The award categories are Employee of the Year, Trustee of the Year, Community Action, Campaign of the Year, Charity of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Digital Citizen, Pioneering Project and Climate Conscious; with the winners to be decided by a panel of judges.
All finalists will also be entered into the running for the People’s Choice Award, giving members of the public a chance to vote for their favourite finalist to win. SCVO received an overwhelming response last year with hundreds of applications and over 18,000 votes cast for the People’s Choice Award, and hopes that even more organisations will be inspired to apply this year.
This year, SCVO will be bringing its glittering awards ceremony, hosted by Sally Magnusson, to Edinburgh on 23 June.
Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SCVO, said: “Every year, the Scottish Charity Awards remind us just how amazing voluntary organisations, their staff and their volunteers are.
“It’s a unique chance to see the life-changing contributions they make every day in our communities, and I would urge you to apply to make sure your work gets the recognition it deserves.
“Not only can being a finalist promote your organisation’s cause and attract new funding streams, it will let people across Scotland see what you do and understand the vital contribution charities, community organisations and social enterprises make to our society. Don’t be shy – apply!”
Applications are open until 12pm on Friday 17 March 2023 and can be completed on the SCVO website: scvo.scot/scottish-charity-awards/apply.
A free independent advocacy service to support disabled people to access Scottish Government benefits has marked its first year in operation.
The Scottish Government is investing more than £20 million to deliver this service over the course of four years. This independent service is available to people with a disability who may need extra support. This could include people with a sensory disability, mental health condition or learning disability. The service is also available to parents or carers who need support to access benefits for a child.
The service, which was introduced in January 2022, enables disabled people to be more involved in the processes and decisions which affect them and advocates will provide the most appropriate form of support to each individual based on their circumstances.
Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “I am delighted that, in its first year, the Independent Advocacy Service has supported over 550 people applying for Scottish Government social security benefits.
“The service is a key part of our human rights approach to social security and how the values of dignity, fairness and respect in our social security system work in practice.
“The service helping disabled people to access the financial support they are entitled to, and is delivering on our commitment to make our system as inclusive as possible.
“With the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest more than £20 million in it, the advocacy service will be able to assist even more disabled people access the help they are entitled to over the coming years.”
CEO of VoiceAbility, Jonathan Senker said: “Over our first year of delivering the Independent Advocacy Service, people tell me that it enabled them to apply for social security benefits when before they felt daunted by the process. They say that advocates supported them to express themselves openly, when previously they felt obliged to ‘put on a brave face’ or underplay their needs.
“It’s vital that people can access the benefits to which they are entitled. I am proud of VoiceAbility’s skilled team of advocates, who are ready and available to support disabled people across Scotland. I encourage anyone who thinks an advocate could help them to access benefits to contact us. We’re here on the phone, online and in-person to make sure you’re heard when it matters.”
The independent service was introduced in January 2022, ahead of a pilot for Adult Disability Payment – which replaces Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland. Adult Disability Payment was introduced across Scotland in August 2022.
Did you know you can get free, independent support to access Social Security Scotland benefits if you’re disabled? If you’re based in or near Edinburgh, come and chat to Alex at one of our drop-ins:
Alternating Mondays, 1-3pm: Edinburgh Food Project, Pilton food bank at St Margaret Mary, Boswall Pkwy, EH5 2JQ – from 16 January
Every Wednesday, 10am-2pm: The Salvation Army, 36 Wardieburn Drive, EH5 1BZ
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 1-3pm: Edinburgh Food Project, Broughton food bank at Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church, Bellevue Crescent, EH3 6NE
Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, 9.30am-1pm: Citizens Advice Bureaux at 23 Dalmeny Street, EH6 8PG – from 12 January
Every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, 11am-1pm: Craigmillar Library at 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DS
New analysis by IFS researchers shows the stark funding challenges facing the Scottish Government, and the public services it is responsible for, over the next five years and beyond.
In the next two financial years, the budget for day-to-day non-benefit spending looks very tight:
After taking account of in-year funding top-ups this financial year, which under current plans will not be available in 2023–24, funding will fall by 1.6% in real terms in 2023–24 compared with this year. Even after adjusting for major one-off costs this year, such as council tax rebates, the reduction will still be 0.8%.
Official projections imply that funding will fall by a further 1.6% in real terms in 2024–25, and then grow only modestly over the next three years. This means that funding is set to be almost 2% lower in 2027–28 than in 2022–23.
Such cuts would imply difficult trade-offs for the Scottish Government. Increasing spending on health to meet rising costs and demand, and boosting spending on net zero policies could require cuts of around 13% to other public service spending between 2023 and 2027.
These are among the key findings of two pre-released chapters from the inaugural IFS Scottish Budget Report, focusing on the Scottish Government’s funding outlook and devolved income tax revenue performance. Other key findings include:
Medium-term outlook
The baseline projections above rely on Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) forecasts of a significant improvement in income tax revenues. This largely reflects faster expected growth in Scotland’s underlying income tax base relative to the rest of the UK, rather than the effects of tax rises announced in the Scottish Budget last month. If this faster growth doesn’t materialise, then the Scottish Government’s choices would be harder still, with funding for non-benefits spending in 2027–28 still 5% below 2022–23 levels.
The faster growth in Scotland’s tax base forecast for the next few years follows a period during which the tax base has grown more slowly than in the rest of the UK. Because of this, SFC forecasts imply that even by 2026–27, almost one-third of the yield from Scotland’s higher income tax rates will be offset by slower tax base growth since the devolution of income tax in 2016–17. This would still be a substantial improvement from this financial year though, for which the SFC estimates that revenues from Scotland’s income tax policy changes since devolution will be more than fully offset by slower underlying growth in the tax base.
Long-term outlook
While the Barnett formula used by the UK government to allocate funding is often thought to benefit Scotland, in the long term it is likely to lead to relatively smaller increases in funding for Scotland than for England. The speed of this ‘Barnett squeeze’ depends on the rate of growth in spending in England (both real-terms growth and that which merely offsets inflation), and the rate of population growth in Scotland relative to England.
Using long-term projections for inflation and GDP growth from the Office for Budget Responsibility, assuming public spending is held constant as a share of GDP, and taking into account population projections from the Office for National Statistics, we project Scottish Government funding per person would increase by an average of 1.2% per year in real terms over the 30 years between 2027–28 and 2057–58. This compares to an average of 1.4% in England over the same period. Under this scenario, spending per person in Scotland would fall from 124% of English levels in 2027–28, to 121% in 2032–33, and to 115% in 2057–58.
Faster real-terms spending growth in England to meet the rising costs of health and social care (which are expected to grow faster than GDP) would result in bigger absolute increases in funding for the Scottish Government, making it easier for it to meet these costs in Scotland. However, it would increase the Barnett squeeze on funding levels relative to England – making it harder for the Scottish Government to maintain enhanced levels of service provision over and above those in England.
Bee Boileau, a research economist at the IFS and an author of the report said: “Additional funding from the UK government and a forecast boost to devolved tax revenues mean the outlook for funding has improved a little since last May’s Resource Spending Review.
“But the picture is far from rosy. Official projections imply that funding for non-benefit spending is set to fall over the next two years and then grow only slowly over the following three years. Indeed, it would still be close to 2% below 2022–23 levels in 2027–28. And that assumes a significant improvement in the performance of Scotland’s devolved income tax revenues – without that, this funding would be close to 5% lower than this year in 2027–28.
If either of these scenarios were borne out, the Scottish Government would likely need to make significant cuts to a range of public services. Further big increases in devolved tax rates would be one way to avoid such cuts.
“The Scottish Government will instead be hoping for additional funding from the UK government – which may not be in vain as the UK government would also need to make cuts to many services if it sticks to the plans for spending it has pencilled in.’
David Phillips, an associate director at the IFS, and another author of the report said:‘The Scottish Government’s long-term funding outlook beyond 2027–28 will also be determined, to a large extent, by UK government spending decisions via the Barnett formula.
“This formula is often seen to benefit the Scottish Government, by providing it with a much higher level of funding per person than is available for comparable services in England.
But this is a misunderstanding of the nature of the formula and its purpose. Because it provides the Scottish Government with a population-based share of funding changes planned for England, and Scotland starts with a higher-than-population share of funding, it delivers a smaller percentage increase in funding for Scotland than England.
This so-called Barnett squeeze will make it more difficult for the Scottish Government to meet rising costs and the demands on public services associated with an ageing population, and to maintain enhanced service provision relative to England, such as free personal care and free university education, in the longer term.”
This week always feels like a bit of a transition every year – it starts to feel a bit late to say “Happy New Year”, and the start of the week is dubbed “Blue Monday” as people realise that those well-meaning new year resolutions have already been broken (writes Fraser of Allander Director MAIRI SPOWAGE).
One of mine was to think hard to find the optimistic news in what can sometimes feel like the unrelentingly negative economic situation we are in, which is likely to remain tricky throughout the year. I was tested hard this week as new inflation data was released on Wednesday.
Inflation falls to 10.5% – but let’s not get too excited
The ONS released the official inflation data for December, which showed CPI inflation had fallen from 10.7% in November to 10.5% in December.
The main items driving the fall in inflation are petrol and diesel prices, and prices for clothing in footwear. Prices at the pump have been falling since their peak in July, and in December they were back to roughly the levels they were at before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Clothing and footwear has fallen really due to a lack of discounting in December 2021, so when compared to December 2022 it appears that prices have fallen.
Obviously, energy prices are still contributing hugely to this very high inflation rate (which, let’s not forget represents a 40 year high of inflation apart from the preceding three months in 2022). That increase is currently stable in the figures due to the UK Government’s Energy Price Guarantee – but this cap on unit prices is only in place until end March, when it increases to £3,000 for a household with typical use. The ONS estimate that this will add 1 percentage point to inflation when it comes into effect.
Worryingly for those on the lowest incomes, food prices continue to increase faster than the headline rate. The inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased to 16.9% in December from 16.5% in November.
We were asked two main questions when the data came out on Wednesday.
The first was, of course – what is the outlook for inflation for the rest of 2023? The expectation by the OBR is that inflation is likely to fall to under 4% by the end of the year. But remember, this does not mean that prices will start to fall at this point – just that they will grow less quickly.
This is somewhat simply due to the definition of inflation – it compares prices now to prices a year earlier, so as we move into October, we will be comparing to the much higher energy costs from October 2022. It was therefore inevitable that growth was likely to slow down – a point to bear in mind when some try to take credit for the fall in inflation.
The second is whether we are likely to see further increases in the Bank of England’s base rate at their next meeting on 2nd February – especially given that inflation has come down a bit. Unfortunately for mortgage payers, it is still very likely that we will see further increases in the base rate.
Why? Because inflation is not just been driven by food and energy costs. CPI excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco (often referred to as core CPI) is at 6.3%, and has been around this level since July 2022. This is being generated by domestic factors, including the tight labour market, which means the Bank is likely to take the view that they need to continue to cool demand in the economy.
Scottish unemployment remains at 3.3%
We also got updated figures on the labour market on Tuesday, covering the three months to November. Scottish unemployment remained at 3.3%, slightly below the UK rate of 3.7%. Employment remains high, at 76.1%, with inactivity at 21.3%.
Changes in inactivity over the period of the pandemic have been a focus of much analysis – because although the level is now similar to before the pandemic, the underlying reasons why people are inactive seem to have changed – with an increasing number saying that they are not in work or seeking work because of ill health or disability.
See a great Twitter thread on this by our colleague Professor Stuart Mcintyre – as part of his monthly analysis of the labour market.
Alongside the headline labour market numbers, there is also information ONS publishes monthly on earnings and vacancies.
The vacancy level alongside the labour market data helps us understand how tight the labour market continues to be. The total number of vacancies has been falling in recent months, since the record highs in Q2 2022. However, the number of vacancies remains historically very high, with 1.0 unemployed people for each vacancy – a rate which remains indicative of a tight labour market.
Earnings (ex bonuses) grew by 6.4% in the year to the three-month period Sept-Nov. Given the inflation rate over this period, this means that earnings are continuing to fall in real terms. In the face of continuing public sector pay disputes across the UK, the split between the public and private sectors is particularly interesting. Private sector pay grew by 7.2% compared to 3.3% for the public sector.
Health Foundation publishes important research into health and health inequalities in Scotland
This week the Health Foundation published a report to provide a picture of health and health inequalities in Scotland, in order to inform future efforts to improve both.
An independent review underpins their report, and we were delighted to work with the Health Foundation on this programme of work, as one of four independent organisations to carry out supporting research. See our research here.
And finally, I don’t care if it’s too late – Happy New Year everyone! But that is the last time I’ll say it this year.
DURING the summer of 1940 I spent a few days with my sister Beattie and her husband CHarles at their home in Chipstead in Kent.
I recall very clearly witnessing the dog fights between the RAF and their Spitfires and Hurricanes and the German fighters as the air battles of what we now know as The Battle of Britain played out.
I stood and watched as the planes whirled round and round each other and the bursts of their machine gun fire could be clearly heard.
In September 1940 our house at 12 Holmshaw Road and several others were destroyed in a night air raid.
This included my grandmother’s house at number 10, the Hargreaves family at number 8, Mr and Mrs Ashleigh’s house at number 6, Mrs Woodham’s at number 4 and numbr 2, which I recall was an empty shop on the corner of the street; all these were destroyed.
In the other direction, our next door neighbours at number 14 were the Legge family, who were also made homeless that night. Jackie Legge, who was a little older than me, by strange coincidence would turn out to be the pilot of the landing craft that took me ashore in France following D Day.
Fortunately, at the time of the air raid we were sheltering in the Anderson Shelter in our back garden; thankfully there were no casualties in our family.
The next day we relocated to a different house in Byne Road, Upper Sydenham.
THE air raids and bombing around this time had a profound effect on my father, who had been badly affected by his experiences on the Somme during the First World War.
Now, with the recent loss of our home, he had a terrible reaction to the bombing. Each day before the anticipated air raids he had a compulsion to get to the safety of the deep caves at Chislehurst.
I can remember walking with him almost every day from our home in Byne Roda to Penge High Street where he would catch the 227 bus that would take hin to Chislehurst and safety. It is also worth noting that during the First World War both of his parents and three sisters had been killed in a bombing raid. Also, his brother Walter had been killed while fighting in France in 1916. Little wonder then that he had such a reaction to what must have seemed to hom a never-ending cycle of horror.
In North Africa there were battles between the 8th Army and the German Afrika Corps. My older brother Ted was at this time serving in North Africa and was reported missing.
This was an anxious time, although later we had news that he was confirmed as a Prisoner of War. He was transported from North Africa through Italy and into Germany. He would remain in captivity in Stalag 344 until the end of the war in Europe in 1945.
HELEN
IT was during this period I met Helen West, the daughter of one of my customers. Helen had dark hair and lovely brown eyes; we grradually got to speak and know each other.
Helen was a court dressmaker before the war, but of course most trades like those simply folded when the war started. Helen was then directed to work with the Co-operative Bakery, delivering bread.
This was certainly a contrast to her former work but she really enjoyed it. Initially the bread was delivered by hand cart but later on Helen had a horse and cart, so Helen and I had similar jobs for a time.
We saw each other most days: cinema going, cycling and visiting friends, etc, all of this during the times of day and night air raids.
CALL UP and MARRIAGE
In January 1942 on my 19th birthday I received my call-up papers for the Army to train as an Anti-Tank gunner at Catterick Camp in Yorkshire. During this time one or two periods of leave were granted and I would return home to see Helen.
Of course we discussed the future and the chances of survival, and we decided if possible to get married in the August of 1942. Helen and I were married on the 19th of August 1942. I was 19 and Helen just 21.
THE Edinburgh Community Climate Fund (ECCF) has officially opened to applications from local groups across the city.
The initiative is designed to support the delivery of the Council’s climate change targets together with providing learning to inform the wider approach to participatory budgeting (PB). Participatory budgeting is a way for citizens to have a direct say on how money is spent. In Edinburgh, PB has been used as an approach to distribute funding since 2010.
The Edinburgh PB Framework was approved in 2021 which included a commitment to a number of PB initiatives including the ECCF.
The ECCF provides £100,000 of one-off funding which is available for local groups to undertake projects which align with the objectives of the Edinburgh Climate Strategy and goal of becoming a net-zero city by 2030.
Groups can apply for up to £20,000 worth of funding, providing that the activities can be delivered within 12 months, do not replicate or replace a Council service, and are in line with at least one of the project’s aims.
Applications are open until midnight on 12 February. The final projects will then be shortlisted and put to a public vote. We hope to announce the results of the ECCF in mid-March.
To apply please visit the Your Voice webpage where you can download an application form.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “The Edinburgh Community Climate Fund is a brilliant opportunity for local groups across our fantastic capital city to make their voices heard on how this money should be spent, as we deliver on our key priorities.
“We have a bold and ambitious plan to become a net-zero city by 2030, alongside our wider Climate Strategy. Our citizens and communities should rightly be at the heart of this process. I am confident that in the ECCF projects, Edinburgh and her citizens will once again show the creativity, innovation, and care that we have so often seen over the years.
“I would also like to thank all the organisations and individuals who have contributed to the development of the ECCF.”
Criteria for the ECCF are set out below:
Creating opportunities for community leadership and learning on climate change.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions within communities and contributing to the net-zero agenda for Edinburgh.
Generating sustainable projects for the benefit of local people to build resilience or adapt to climate change within communities.
Building relationships between neighbourhoods of different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds to work together on just, equitable and accessible climate and resilience activities contributing to the city’s net zero agenda, also ensuring that activities work towards reducing or removing barriers for disabled people in the transition to net-zero.
A unique group to help blind and partially sighted people find work in the performing arts has been launched in Edinburgh.
Visually Impaired Creators Scotland (VICS) will inspire established and aspiring artists with sight loss through sharing ideas, collaborative performances, workshops and supportive monthly meetings.
It’s founder Kirin Saeed, a trained professional actor who lives in Leith, was partially sighted until the age of eleven when she then lost most of her remaining vision. “I can just about make out a bit of light and dark now,” she says.
Kirin, herself, was inspired by Extant, a theatre company for people with sight loss that she worked with for six years in London.
“I don’t think there are really any major barriers to actors and performers with a visual impairment apart from the ones that other people create,” she says. “I don’t think memorising a script is a barrier. I don’t think getting around the stage is a barrier. The biggest one is just getting opportunities to perform, trying to infiltrate the industry.
“But how do you communicate the message to theatrical agents, the musical companies? How do you push the message out that people with a vision impairment can still have talent? That’s what our group wants to try and open up. To create a network where we can support each other and promote the work we do when we can get it.”
VICS will run a series of exciting and fun taster-workshops in February open to all visually impaired people aged 18 and over to improve performance-skills and develop new ones.
The workshops will take place at Crannie Community Centre, 9 Cranston Street, Edinburgh on February 18th and 25th and Match 11th from 11am to 3pm. Transport expenses and lunch will be provided.
“Places are limited so first come, first serve,” emphasises Kirin. “You are the performers of the future and we would be delighted to meet you! Come along to try out exercises that explore sound, movement, music and your own experiences in a safe and warm environment.”
You can also call VICS on 07770614747 and they’ll call you back to chat.
And before then you can enjoy a ‘Cabaret In The Dark’ by VICS, with songs, comedy and activities, all in complete darkness! The one-hour entertainment is taking place on Friday, February 10th, at 4 Duncan Place, Edinburgh EH6 8HW.
Drivers have been warned that stopping distances will be at least double during the wettest months of the year posing a serious threat to all road users.
Motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have urged motorists to follow six simple steps when driving in wet conditions to reduce the risk of accidents from occurring.
October to January are typically the wettest months in the UK and motorists should be aware that the highway code advises drivers to drive according to the road conditions as tyres will have less traction in wet conditions.
Image credit: Pexels
Drivers can more easily feel the lack of grip in the ice and snow of winter but in the wettest autumn months modern car tyres will grip the road effectively in the wet until they lose grip under hard braking often taking drivers by surprise.
Stopping distances are worked out by adding the thinking distance and the braking distance, which can vary depending on the road conditions and the condition of the car.
At 60mph total stopping distance is around 75 metres but in the wet this doubles to 150m – approximately the height of the Blackpool Tower.
Checking parts of the vehicle such as the condition of the brakes and tyres can help reduce stopping distances while managing the space to the car in front will make sure drivers have room to stop safely in the wet.
A spokesperson from LeaseCar.uk said: “It’s important for drivers to be aware that stopping distances will at least double in the wet.
“As we enter the wettest months in the UK it’s vital that motorists manage their speed and distance to the car in front to prevent any serious accidents.
“Motorists only need to visualise the height of the Blackpool Tower to better understand the distance they will need to safely stop their vehicle during the wettest months.
“Drivers should regularly check the condition of their vehicle paying particular attention to the brakes and depth of tyre tread as stopping distances will increase significantly in the wet if either are in poor condition.”
Here are the six simple measures drivers should take to reduce the risk of having an accident in the wet as recommended by LeaseCar.uk:
Monitor tyre tread
Not only do stopping distances double in the wet, but threadbare tyres will grip the road even less meaning even greater distances before drivers can safely stop their vehicles. Tyre tread can easily harden in cold weather which can lead to further loss of control.
Regularly check brake condition
If you’re noticing a delay in the car slowing after pressing the brake pedal there’s a high chance that the car has worn brake pads or the brakes have developed a fault. In the wet it’s crucial that the brakes work as they should otherwise already large stopping distances increase further.
Manage the distance to the car in front
One good guide to follow is the two-second rule in the dry which involves picking a stationary object by the side of the road and counting the seconds between the car in front passing the object and you passing it. In the dry two seconds is the minimum time recommended. In the wet this increases to four seconds. If you are within four seconds in the wet, then give yourself more space to brake safely.
Cautious driving
Wet conditions means less grip on the road. Driving at slower speeds and braking in a controlled way will help keep the car balanced in the wet and you in control. It’s also best to not press too hard on the accelerator to prevent the likelihood of the car skidding and the wheels from spinning on the wet tarmac.
Check headlights are working
One of the most important checks to make is ensuring the headlights are in full working order. During the darker months having faulty lights can make it more difficult to calculate a safe stopping distance to the car in front.
Take regular breaks
With the weather getting darker earlier during the autumnal months driving requires greater levels of concentration and can be more draining. It’s important to regularly rest at services to keep energised while driving as tiredness can increase the chances of an accident due to delayed reaction times.
Share your net zero transport pledge for a chance to win £2,500 towards an electric bike, cargo bike or adapted cycle
The cost-of-living crisis and climate change are both urgent problems.
In Scotland, the average household spends 14% on transport costs and transport accounts for 36% of all greenhouse gas emissions, with over a third of these emissions coming from cars. Changing transport choices can help our bank balances whilst helping Scotland reach our target of net zero by 2045.
During winter, it’s important to focus on our wellbeing, including physical and mental health. Saving on transport could free up some money for essentials, and travelling more actively – by walking, wheeling or cycling – can help tackle the season’s effect on our mood and health.
This time of year is a great time to take stock, plan ahead and think about starting new positive habits. Here are some solutions and support to help you on your net zero journey to save money and the planet.
Small steps for immediate savings
The sustainable transport hierarchy ranks the travel modes by their sustainability impact, including environmental, social, and economic. It can be a good visual guide for choosing small, manageable goals.
For shorter journeys especially, it is useful to be thinking about active travel to get from A to B, carbon free. Whilst public and shared transport is often a more sustainable choice for longer journeys, the running costs of active travel can be free or very low cost compared to driving. For shared transport, you mostly only pay for the journeys you take, and all operating costs are included in your ticket. Citizens Advice Scotland has information on concessionary fares and free travel.
Here are eight simple commitment ideas that can help you to shift journeys up the sustainable transport hierarchy and closer to net zero for the benefit of your wallet, health and the planet.
1. Walk, cycle or wheel once a week this year
Starting with a regular, small commitment can help you build confidence and fitness to get ready to travel more actively in the spring – this isn’t just great for your physical health, it can also help reduce the risk of depression by 30%, manage stress and improve sleep.
2. Ditch the car for short trips to help us on the journey to net zero
Try to replace journeys with shared transport, combining them with active travel or using park and rides. Reducing your car use by a quarter could save up to £273 in fuel costs and 508kg in CO2e a year.
eBikes, (electric assisted pedal bikes), can help you tackle those longer or more challenging routes. Cargo cycles can help you carry a load such as heavy shopping or children. It can be a great cheaper alternative to a car for families. If you have specific mobility needs, read our guide to inclusive cycling and adapted cycles to explore cycle options and the support available. You may be able to access a cycle through a local group or public bike share.
If you already have a bike, you may be eligible for Cycling UK funding to get it road ready.
6. Sign up for a bus pass or rail card to use public transport in your area
CoMoUK have great shared transport resources, including a map showing car club vehicles near you. Car club vehicles use 37% less CO2 than the average UK car and 60% of car club fleets are electric or hybrid.
8. Explore funding available to support your journey to net zero
Way to Work’s funding page lists support from Energy Saving Trust and partners. Their website can help you and your workplace plan your shift to cheaper and greener journeys.
How will you start your journey to net zero?
How will you start your net zero journey? Share your sustainable transport pledge for 2023 on social media. Use #NetZeroJourney23 and tag @HomeEnergyScotland on Facebook or @HomeEnergyScot on Twitter and Instagram, or comment to enter our competition to win £2,500 towards an electric bike, cargo or adapted cycle. Two runners-up will win a £100 gift voucher for the Sustrans online shop.
To enter, tag us in your pledge around your journey to net zero. Tell us about something you’re already doing, planning to do or committed to trying!
The competition will run until midnight, 31 January. You can read further details and the campaign terms and conditions here.
Alternating Mondays, 1-3pm: Edinburgh Food Project, Pilton food bank at St Margaret Mary, Boswall Pkwy, EH5 2JQ – from 16 January
