CARBON BUDGET APPROACH TO SETTING CLIMATE TARGETS AGREED
Legislation that will see Scotland move to using five year carbon budgets to set climate targets has been passed.
The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill amends the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to introduce limits on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in Scotland over a five-year period.
The move, which is based on recommendations from the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC), aims to provide a more reliable framework for emissions reduction. This is because the previous annual emissions targets are vulnerable to year-to-year fluctuations caused by events such as a particularly cold winter or a global pandemic.
The legislation enables the carbon budgets to be set through secondary legislation based on the expert advice from the Climate Change Committee. The Bill also changes the current deadline to finalise the next Climate Change Plan for Scotland so the Plan can align with the process for setting the new carbon budgets.
Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero Gillian Martin said: “Scotland is now halfway to net zero and continues to be ahead of the UK as a whole in delivering long term emissions reductions.
“The Scottish Government’s commitment to ending Scotland’s contribution to global emissions by 2045 at the latest, as agreed by Parliament on a cross-party basis, is unwavering. It is crucial that our target pathway to 2045 is set at a pace and scale that is feasible and reflects the latest independent expert advice.
“Carbon budgets are an established model for assessment of emissions reductions used by other nations including Japan, France, England and Wales, and they will include emissions from international aviation and shipping and there will be no provision to “carry over” emissions from one carbon budget to another.
“We will continue leading on climate action that is fair, ambitious and capable of rising to the emergency before us and reflects our commitment to the ambition of credible emissions reduction.”
The Stop Climate Chaos coalition have written to First Minister John Swinney:
Support for Climate Action and Innovation in Edinburgh’s Communities
The Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network (ECCAN) is excited to announce the recipients of its annual GreenLight Seedgrant Fund, worth £100,000.
The overwhelming response to this year’s grant, with applications totalling £386,522 from 49 organisations, underscores a strong desire across the city to drive meaningful climate action.
This year’s awardees reflect a wide spectrum of grassroots campaigns and innovative, community-driven solutions aimed at tackling the climate crisis. These projects will contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for Edinburgh, building upon the creative and impactful work that is already happening in our communities.
The GreenLight Funding Awards were presented at ECCAN’s Autumn Assembly on Wednesday (25th September). This gathering brought together members, individuals, and policymakers from across Edinburgh.
The event was held in alignment with Scottish Government’s Climate Week, a celebration of the positive climate action being taken across the country, whilst inspiring further collective, transformative change.
Seed Grant Funding Across Key Categories
TWENTY-ONE recipients were selected for the GreenLight fund, with projects spanning several critical areas, including:
1. Mitigate climate change: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and damaging environmental impacts.
2. Biodiversity Protection: Initiatives that protect, enhance, or increase local biodiversity.
3. Climate Adaptation and Resilience: Projects helping communities adapt to and build resilience against the impacts of climate change.
4. Climate Awareness and Action: Raising awareness and inspiring action on climate-related issues.
5. Community Collaboration: Encouraging communities, organisations, and residents to work together in addressing the climate emergency.
A Commitment to a Sustainable Future
Mark Dowey, ECCAN Network Lead, said: “ECCAN is proud to support these exceptional individuals and organisations. The GreenLight Seedgrant Fund not only sustains the progress already being made in Edinburgh’s communities, but it also serves as a catalyst for others to join the collective fight against climate change.
“We were blown away by the ambition and energy of the 49 applications we received. It was incredibly challenging to narrow it down to 21 awardees, however we believe that the projects we’ve selected are set to make a real difference in Edinburgh.
“I am excited to see the impact these initiatives will have in the coming months, and I hope we can continue to build on this momentum as we continue to ambitiously tackle climate change.”
THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS ARE:
Edible Estates
Earth in Common
The Edinburgh Tool Library
Porty Community Energy
BANZAI – Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) SCIO
The Meaning Map Project
Rhyze Mushrooms Cooperative CIC
Drylaw and Telford Community Association
EALA Impacts CIC
Youth Vision
Broomhouse Community Growers Association
Bridgend Farmhouse
Edinburgh Building Retrofit & Improvement Collective (EdinBRIC)
Climate Week NYC’s message this year is “It’s Time”: celebrating those driving climate action, challenging everyone to do more and exploring ways to increase ambition – and it’s time for our politicians to jet off to the Big Apple!
Climate Week NYC inspires, amplifies and scrutinises the commitments, policies and actions of those with the power to make change happen, while pushing the transition into the mainstream of business and government, showing what can be achieved.
Ministers discussed the need to deliver urgent action on climate change in the three nations, the importance of ensuring a just transition to net zero, and the critical importance of working together towards our shared UK wide goals.
While each nation faces different challenges and will have its own priorities, the twin imperatives to act now and to act fairly means embracing the benefits of collective action.
Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to share knowledge and experience to help each other make progress on reducing emissions reductions, creating climate resilience and working together to create the conditions for real, lasting and fair change across the three nations.
Ministers are looking forward to working with the new UK Government Ministerial team to further drive climate action across the UK.
Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin said: “It is time to move from ambition to action and I am honoured to be here to further build influence of devolved states and regional governments within the international climate debate all whilst having a strong focus on capacity building.
“I believe Devolved Administrations can learn from each other as we accelerate a just transition to net zero. There was a real impetus amongst us all today to continue these conversations ahead of COP29.
“Scotland has a unique opportunity as Under 2 European co-chair and Regions4 president to continue championing other subnational governments.”
Deputy First Minister of the Welsh Government, Huw Irranca-Davies said: “This needs to be the decade of action.
“We are showing leadership and commitment by setting our ambitious targets, but it’s time to focus on action and the wider benefits of taking action such as clean air, better homes and places to live and work.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to showcase Wales’s success stories, and to connect with colleagues in Governments across the world to share solutions and work together towards this most important goal.”
Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for the Northern Ireland Executive, said: “I am delighted to be able to join my Scottish and Welsh Ministerial colleagues this year to attend New York Climate Week as a member of the Under 2 Coalition.
Climate change is one of my top priorities. Attending this key event enables us to put Northern Ireland on the global stage and engage with others about ways to both tackle and grasp the opportunities arising from climate change.”
During their visit to New York, Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers will be attending a range of events and engagements which will include meeting with Ministers, Heads of States, Governors and business leaders.
Available to take part in online, the consultation findings will be used to finalise the policy before it is presented to Councillors in the Spring.
If adopted, the Climate Ready Edinburgh Plan is expected to become one of the city – and country’s — leading climate action plans, bolstered by ambitious work that is already underway in Edinburgh to tackle carbon emissions and head towards net zero by 2030.
It comes after Councillors considered the second annual 2030 Climate Strategy and city-wide carbon emissions report, which measures progress against agreed actions to reduce emissions and help the city achieve its net zero target by 2030.
Much climate adaptation work is already underway in Edinburgh, which this draft plan aims to build on. Its primary aim will be to guide changes to the city to safeguard people and wildlife from the risks posed by climate change.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Climate change will affect everyone in Edinburgh, there is no question of that. Some residents and communities will be more vulnerable than others to these changes and it is our duty to defend them from risks such as the sea level rising and threats to biodiversity.
“We know tackling climate change and poverty go hand in hand and this Plan aims to ensure we are adapting in ways that benefit all citizens and communities equally.
“It is bold and ambitious in its approach and aims, but much like our net zero goals for Edinburgh, this is absolutely essential if we are to properly confront the climate emergency. It is undoubtedly the key existential challenge of our times.
“I’m very keen that we engage with communities, ensuring we are inclusive in our decision making and all voices are represented. Listening to our communities will be a key focus as we adapt to climate change.
“What’s clear, however, is that we can’t do this alone. As a Council, we can shape and influence change through our policies and plans, but this needs to be a team effort, a pulling together of resources and plans across the public, private and voluntary sectors. That’s why I’m so grateful to the Edinburgh Adapts Group for jointly developing this plan with us. It has involved climate experts and industry from all of the city joining forces.”
Gordon Reid, Scottish Water General Manager for Zero Emissions and Chair of the Edinburgh Adapts Partnership Group, said: “We are already seeing the impact of climate change in Edinburgh, so its great to see this consultation start on how we adapt Edinburgh to climate change.
“It will affect us all and we will have to act. In my own organisation, we are already investing in Edinburgh to deliver climate change adaptation and are working closely with the council on this. However, we need united action and funding from many partners.”
The draft plan priority themes are in the following eight areas:
Planning and the built environment: actions that will help to mitigate the effects of climate change by making our buildings and infrastructure more resilient.
Water management and resilience: actions to tackle flooding and associated impacts from severe weather events.
Coastal adaptation: actions to manage sea level rises and the impact to our coastline and surrounding communities.
Sustainable transport: actions to support a well-connected city.
Safeguarding and enhancing our natural environment: actions that will support our natural environment and biodiversity.
Strong, healthy community and economy: actions to support our communities, addressing climate justice, to create a thriving city.
Building understanding of climate risk: actions to continue to ensure our understanding of how the climate is changing and the impacts of this to the city are based on the latest climate science.
Governance and risk: actions to drive delivery and partnership working.
Environmentally conscious SMEs are being offered the chance to reduce their carbon footprint and lower energy bills thanks to a new partnership between Royal Bank of Scotland, the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) and the University of Edinburgh.
The free course allows businesses to identify the simple, cost-effective steps they can take to reduce emissions and save on outgoings while also helping the planet at the same time.
Successful applicants will take part in three 2-hour workshops that begin by helping SMEs to understand their own energy and carbon usage data and how they can build their own tailored ‘Carbon Reduction Plan’.
The free workshops also explain how taking positive environmental action can result in lower energy usage and therefore lower bills. Organisations can become more cost efficient by making positive changes such as changing boiler settings, installing smart lighting systems, swapping to sustainable suppliers and upgrading insulation.
The scheme is currently accepting applications from all sectors, having already supported over 60 participants from industries such as manufacturing, charity and education.
Applications for the next cohort close on 3rd October, with a later session set to launch at the start of November also welcoming candidates.
Code Hostels completed the course earlier this year and has used the learnings from the programme to make sustainable improvements across the business, including buying more produce from local suppliers and switching to eco-friendly cleaning products.
Talking of his experience, Jamie Greig, Operations and Design Consultant at Code Hostels, said:“The programme was a game changer for us. As a business, when you start looking at reducing emissions it can seem like an incredibly daunting process, and net zero targets can seem a long way off.
“We found it really valuable to chat to the other groups on the cohort, and we quickly realised we weren’t alone in the challenges we were facing.
“Sustainability in the hospitality industry is a personal passion of mine and we know that many other SMEs across the hospitality sector are experiencing the same challenges as we had at Code. I now run my own separate business, Our Property Bear, using energy monitors to help hotels and hostels monitor and reduce their energy consumption.”
Judith Cruickshank, Chair, One Bank Scotland said:“Royal Bank of Scotland is delighted to work with the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh Climate Change Institute to deliver a programme which can make a real difference to SMEs across all sectors.
“It offers the insight, learnings and access to experts to help businesses see the opportunities it can offer them – and see the potential tackling climate change could make.”
Prof Dave Raey, Executive Director of ECCI, University of Edinburgh said:“The Climate Springboard programme is inspiring. The great engagement and responses from participating businesses is a testament to the fantastic work of the team here at Edinburgh Climate Change Institute and our partners at the Royal Bank of Scotland.
“In simultaneously helping to cut energy costs and carbon emissions for such a wide array of businesses, they are delivering exactly the kinds of cost-effective climate action so desperately needed in every sector.”
The scheme is currently accepting applications from all sectors, having already supported over 60 participants from industries such as manufacturing, charity and education.
Applications for the next cohort close on 3rd October, with a later session set to launch at the start of November also welcoming candidates.
SMEs looking to learn more about their emissions and how they can start reducing them are invited to register their interest here. More information about the programme is available here.
On 10/11/22, at a students union general meeting, the Plant-Based Universities campaign put forward a motion for their facilities to transition to 100% plant-based catering by 2025, with 50% of the options being so by the 2023-24 academic year.
A majority of the, around 100, attendees voted in favour of the motion that will affect the 3 outlets operated by the union.
The vote is a landmark victory for the Plant-Based Universities campaign, which was announced in November 2021.
George Monbiot has spoken out about the vote, in a comment given to Plant-Based Universities.
Students at The University of Stirling have voted to embrace a completely plant-based menu to address the climate and ecological emergencies. The decision represents the first of its kind in the UK, following similar commitments by universities in Germany.
George Monbiot, the climate and animal justice writer and author of ‘Regenesis’, said: “It’s fantastic to see the next generation taking control of their future and putting humans, nonhuman animals and the planet first. The Plant-Based Universities campaigners at The University of Stirling are leading the way in tackling the climate crisis and creating a sustainable food system”
In 2018, comprehensive research from the University of Oxford showed that 76% of the land currently used for food production would be freed-up by a global transition to plant-based production.
This land could be rewilded and begin carbon drawdown, mitigating the worst impacts of climate breakdown. A 2019 Harvard University report on UK farmland and food production from Helen Harwatt and Matthew N. Hayek also concluded that the UK would be carbon-negative if it completely transitioned to a plant-based food system.
Imogen Robertson, 21, one of the campaigners at Stirling said: ““This vote is a clear sign that young people are willing to take decisive action on the climate and ecological emergencies.
“We will be working with catering staff to ensure this vote is implemented in a way that provides cheap, delicious, planet-saving options throughout our Student’s Union.
“We are delighted that our fellow students have decided to follow the scientific advice from world-leading academics and step into a brighter future. We hope this sparks a wave of bold action across UK universities to commit to just and sustainable plant-based catering”
The Plant-Based Universities campaign is a nationwide initiative of students who are pushing for their universities and student unions to adopt 100% plant-based catering.
The group claims that universities have an obligation to follow the scientific research that they produce, detailing the environmental impacts of animal farming and fishing. The campaign is active in over 40 institutions, with the group encouraging interested students to sign up to run local campaigns.
The Plant-Based Universities campaign is supported by the well-known animal and climate justice group Animal Rebellion.
Also supporting the initiative, wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham said on Twitter: “Young people doing it for themselves – this is good from @RebelsAnimal and @plantbasedunis
Up to one hundred SUV vehicles in Edinburgh’s New Yown have been targeted by activists from environmental action group The Tyre Activists.
The activists deflated tyres on 4 x 4 vehicles across the affluent area and left leaflets on windscreens to explain their actions.
The group justifies their activities on a Facebook Page:
‘We are people from all walks of life with one aim: To make it impossible to own a huge polluting 4×4 in the world’s urban areas.
‘We are defending ourselves against climate change, air pollution and unsafe drivers.We do this with a simple tactic: Deflating the tyres of these massive, unnecessary vehicles, causing inconvenience and expense for their owners.
‘Deflating tyres repeatedly and encouraging others to do the same will turn the minor inconvenience of a flat tyre into a giant obstacle for driving massive killer vehicles around our streets.
‘We’re taking this action because governments and politicians have failed to protect us from these huge vehicles. Everyone hates them, apart from the people who drive them.
‘We want to live in towns and cities with clean air and safe streets. Politely asking and protesting for these things has failed. It’s time for action. Join us.
‘We have no leader – anyone can take part, wherever you are, using the simple instructions on this website.’
Edinburgh has become the first city in Scotland to be awarded with the highest rating for climate action.
Edinburgh is one of just 95 cities world-wide to be placed on the 2021 A List by CDP – an international charity which runs the world’s largest environmental disclosure system for companies and cities.
The A-List position recognises that Edinburgh has:
Publicly disclosed a city-wide emissions inventory
Set an emissions reduction target – for Edinburgh, this is a target of net zero emissions by 2030
Published a climate action plan, Edinburgh’s 2030 Climate Strategy, which sets the strategic direction for reducing the city’s emissions and becoming resilient to future climate change
Completed, and is in the process of updating a climate risk and vulnerability assessment
A climate adaptation plan, showing how it plans to tackle the unavoidable impacts of climate change, which will be updated and extended to respond to the risk assessment
By publicly disclosing Edinburgh’s environmental data through CDP, the city’s performance is benchmarked against other cities and regions across the world, helping to highlight areas of action and improvement.
Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council Adam McVey said: “This international recognition is a fantastic accomplishment for Edinburgh. It recognises how transparent we’re being about the action we’re taking as a city to tackle climate change as well as the hard work which is already underway to support our 2030 target.
“Net-zero redevelopments like Granton Waterfront, improving our parks, food growing sites and urban forests have all delivered action as a city to help deliver net-zero. “
“Whilst COP26 may have just ended, with some disappointment on progress agreed by National Governments, Edinburgh’s work continues to build on the progress we’ve already made. And the strength of Edinburgh’s approach has been endorsed with being listed one of just 95 cities in the world to be awarded an A-list status by the CPD, the only city in Scotland.
“Our works as a council and as a city will continue over the coming months and years to help deliver a net zero, climate ready capital by 2030 and we know that’s what our residents are demanding of us.”
Depute leader Cammy Day said: “This recognition from CDP is welcome encouragement and reinforces that we’re on the right track.As Scotland’s capital, we’re delivering innovative and ground-breaking projects which will encourage change at the speed and scale needed to ensure our young people inherit a thriving, climate ready, sustainable city which is a cleaner and healthier place to live and work.
“However we can’t afford to become complacent and we need to keep on driving city-wide climate action and change, whilst ensuring that no one is left behind to help Edinburgh meet its climate targets.”
Fewer than 1/10 cities reporting to CDP made the A List in 2021. Findings from the charity show that A List cities take twice as many mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A List cities, and also identify more than twice as many opportunities – such as the development of sustainable transport sectors and clean technology businesses.
About CDP
CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Founded in 2000 and working with more than 590 investors with over $110 trillion in assets, CDP pioneered using capital markets and corporate procurement to motivate companies to disclose their environmental impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests.
Over 14,000 organizations around the world disclosed data through CDP in 2021, including more than 13,000 companies worth over 64% of global market capitalization, and over 1,100 cities, states and regions. CDP is a founding member of the Science Based Targets initiative, We Mean Business Coalition, The Investor Agenda and the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative.
COP President Alok Sharma will announce how £165 million of UK funding will progress gender equality while tackling climate change
Two new programmes to boost women’s climate leadership and support those most vulnerable to climate change.
Ministers and representatives from private sector and civil society from across the world will meet at Gender Day at COP26 to announce new commitments which address the links between climate action and gender equality.
At its COP26 Gender Day today (Tuesday 9 November), the UK will announce £165 million to tackle climate change while addressing the inequalities that make women and girls more vulnerable to climate change and empowering them to take climate action.
Around the world, the UN has found that women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than men, in part because they constitute a large majority of the world’s poor and often depend on small-scale farming for a livelihood, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Women and children can comprise 80% of those displaced by climate-related disaster. But addressing gender inequality has also been proven to advance efforts to tackle climate change.
£165 million in UK funding will drive forward these aims:
up to £45 million to help empower local communities and grassroots women’s groups in Asia and the Pacific to challenge gender inequalities and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
£120 million to build resilience, prevent pollution, protect biodiversity, strengthen renewable energy and better manage waste, while also supporting women’s leadership, access to finance, education and skills in Bangladesh.
The chair of the flagship Gender Day event, UK International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said: “It is women, girls and those who are already most marginalised, that will be most severely impacted by climate change. But they also have a critical role to play to address the climate crisis.
“The UK is committed to addressing this dual challenge head on, committing new funding to empower communities and women’s groups to take locally-led adaptation action, to build local, national and global resilience. I urge more countries to make commitments to implement the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan and deliver the goals of the Feminist Action for Climate Justice.”
Through its COP26 Presidency, the UK has been urging countries around the world to put gender equality at the heart of climate action, and will today convene ministers and other actors to discuss new action to tackle gender and climate change. A number of countries and stakeholders will also announce bold new gender and climate commitments today.
The UK will jointly launch a toolkit on gender-smart climate finance. Co-led by CDC, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, the toolkit will improve understanding on the opportunities of gender-sensitive climate investment by providing guidance to the finance community on how to deliver climate outcomes while promoting gender equality and women’s economic opportunities.
Fatou Jeng, Founder, Clean Earth Gambia and Co-Lead YOUNGO Women and Gender working group, said: “Gender inequality creates additional burdens and barriers for women and girls during times of conflict and climate-related crisis which increases their risks of hunger, food insecurity and violence. But women play fundamental roles in local food systems and are carers and activists, which make them uniquely placed to drive longer term climate resilience.
“Women should be involved in the policy making, project planning and implementation of climate adaptation projects, and gender equality should be a key portion in climate financing. If gender equality is not taken as a serious issue in our climate decision-making, climate financing and climate adaptation processes, it will undermine opportunities for women in vulnerable communities to drive effective climate change adaptation and mitigation approaches that meet their needs.”
COP26 President Alok Sharma and Anne-Marie Trevelyan will host the UK’s Presidency Gender Day event accompanied by Little Amal, the 3.5 metre puppet travelling 8,000km in support of refugees, and Brianna Fruean, a Samoan Climate Change activist.
The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, will speak along with youth advocate Fatou Jeng, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Asa Regner and Indigenous activist Tarcila Rivera Zea, for a discussion on how to enable gender equality through climate actions. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, will also address the event.
Minister for Europe and the Americas, Wendy Morton, will also announce the UK’s new commitment to develop a FCDO girls’ education and climate policy to help secure concerted global action on climate change in the education sector, to prevent climate change disrupting girls’ education and empowering girls to take climate action.
This follows COP26 Youth and Public Empowerment Day last week, where the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Girls’ Education Helen Grant announced support for girls’ education in the face of climate change. This includes an £85,000 research grant to support the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. The Centre will produce better information on the education needs of refugee children to enable a more effective international response.
Financial organisations are operating heavily in ore mining, oil extraction, shale drilling, coal mining and – worst of all – they are active in the destruction of the world’s forests.
The rapid destruction has now reached 70% of our forests. Behind these ghastly figures stand the faceless multinational financial organisations.
The felling of the world’s trees reduces the ability of the forests to produce the oxygen that we humans need to breathe. The rate of oxygen decrease is destructive to humans, animals and sea stocks.
We have the knowledge of this terrible destruction being carried out by these exploiters. The oxygen cannot be replaced because the forest has been chopped down – it has gone!
We know who is doing this and they know who they are – causing catastrophe!
Our government – all governments – must immediately stop this destruction of the rain forests, the soil erosion and the terrifying population dispalcement.
A. Delahoy
Silverknowes Gardens
NOTE: Tony may be heartened by announcements expected from the COP26 conference later today – ED.
