Tag: environment

How SEPA innovators are helping Scotland adapt with climate change

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is demonstrating its commitment to tackling climate change by shifting focus from ambition and targets to action and innovation.

Climate change won’t wait, and it is widely accepted that it now affects every country on the planet. Extreme weather events and rising sea levels are having a detrimental impact on communities, and Scotland is no exception. Flooding in particular remains a growing threat in cities, towns and villages here. The risk to homes and businesses can be severe and the damage devastating.

In announcing her Resource Spending Review last month, Scottish Government Finance Secretary Kate Forbes revealed tackling climate change as a top priority, as well as the need for digital reform – both of which SEPA is focused firmly on.

SEPA is Scotland’s national flood forecasting, warning and strategic flood risk management authority. In 2011, the organisation began operating the Floodline direct warning service to warn the public when flooding is likely to occur.

Those signed up can receive regional flood alerts and local flood warnings 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, as the frequency of flooding increases with climate change, so too does the demand for more information sooner.

Project Manager at SEPA, Laura Paterson, was part of the team faced with addressing this around three years ago. She said: “I began speaking to people across the country who were victims of flooding and heard from them why it was important to receive earlier notice where possible.

“One woman told me about the fear and panic she felt when she could see the water rising outside her home. A man described a time where he was frantically knocking on neighbours’ doors to help them escape during flooding, and another revealed how he would stay awake all night just in case water came into his house. It was clear to me from the start that flood forecasting was not just about convenience, it was about people’s lives.”

More user research was carried out, which revealed a need for clearer geographical information and reassurance when flooding is not expected. Workshops were hosted with the general public and community groups to involve them in the design of a new forecasting product in partnership with the Met Office, which would be available alongside the current Floodline service.

After developing customer journeys and prototypes, a test version of the new Scottish Flood Forecast was launched on SEPA’s website in May this year to give communities warning of flooding three days in advance.

The colour coded map is reviewed and published every morning and describes what the impacts of any flooding are expected to be. Information and advice is also offered on what steps people can take to protect their homes and their businesses.

Laura added, “This project has been the biggest change of SEPA’s flood warning service since we started issuing direct messaging in 2011, giving people the earliest indication possible of when flooding is likely and a better chance to take action.

“I am delighted it has reached this milestone, especially as the pandemic and cyber-attack on SEPA slowed a lot of work down. Despite these challenges, the people this service is designed to help remained at the forefront of all our minds and kept momentum up within the project team.

“This is the first step on a journey to helping communities become more resilient to flooding and climate change. The Scottish Flood Forecast is currently being tested at a national level, but the aim is for the final version to display more localised information, which we know will make the biggest difference to people’s lives.”

While the new Scottish Flood Forecast is piloted this year, work continues on other innovative projects within SEPA’s flooding team including a new Future Flood and Incident Messaging Service (FFIMS). This extension of the current Floodline system will incorporate other hazard notifications for communities and businesses across Scotland and make use of more digital technology to issue alerts such as social media and Google.

New pluvial flood maps, which show surface water flooding, are also in development for 2023-24. They have been publicly available on the SEPA website since 2013, however a 2018 National Flood Risk Assessment identified surface water as the biggest flood risk affecting Scotland. The new maps will provide a complete refresh using the most up-to-date data on current and future rainfall projections, ensuring maximum confidence of where surface water flooding is likely.

Laura concluded: “All of these changes are driven by the need to respond to climate change and support Scottish communities to do the same. I joined SEPA more than ten years ago to work on projects just like this, which are meaningful, worthwhile and provide a valuable service to people.

“Our climate is changing for the worst. I have a ten-year-old daughter, and I know that our children are worried about the way it is going. I’m thinking of her and the future.

“If Scotland is to be a successful country where our communities and businesses flourish, it is vital that we continue to understand the potential implications of climate change for flood risk and create tools which will ensure the resilience and wellbeing of everyone affected.”

Community Litter Pick in Drylaw

TODAY: Sunday 10th July – meet Drylaw Skate Park 1pm

Come along and join us – we are meeting at 1pm at Drylaw skate 🛹 park!

Please wear bright/high vis clothes as we will be on the cycle path.

All equipment provided.

Big Swap Event coming up in Dalry

GRANTON Goes Greener are very excited to be involved in another BIG SWAP event at St Martin’s Community Resource Centre on Saturday 16th July.

Few general rules, which we would appreciate you respect:

  • the event is absolutely FREE and anyone in need of clothes, household items/ books etc is more than welcome to attend,
  • it is NOT A SWAP, everyone is allowed to take anything they need for free. We already have quite a few bigger donations, please, DO NOT BRING ANY DONATIONS on the day,
  • be mindful of others on the day
  • finally, help us to spread a word and invite friends to attend the Big Swap 🙏🙏🙏

https://www.facebook.com/…/gm…/5226040720816416/

Edinburgh residents tell Rishi Sunak to make oil and gas giants pay, not ordinary people

As the cost of living crisis worsens, on Sunday 26th June and Sunday 3rd July Greenpeace volunteers spoke to people on Middle Meadow Walk and on Portobello Promenade about the connection between rising energy bills, Putin’s war, and the climate crisis.

They invited the public to write down how much their energy bills have already increased, and stick these messages onto a life-size cardboard cut-out of Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Volunteers found that most people’s bills had at least doubled and many were fearful of further increases. 

Jessie from Portobello wrote that her rising bills meant she hadn’t been able to put her heating on and was worried about what she would do in the Autumn, while another local wrote ‘my bills are not sustainable. Invest in greener energy!’ 

These messages, along with hundreds of others from across the UK, will be delivered directly to the Government so that Ministers can see how much people are really having to pay to heat their homes and cook food.

Anke, a Greenpeace volunteer from Bruntsfield, said: “‘I was shocked to hear how many more local people are worrying about being pushed into fuel poverty when bills rise again in the autumn. 

“Greenpeace Edinburgh volunteers are calling on the Chancellor to deliver an Emergency Energy Package that stops fuelling rising energy bills, the climate crisis and Putin’s war, and on our local MPs to keep the pressure on the Government until they do the right thing.” 

On 1st April energy bills went up by an average of £700, pushing 2.5 million UK households into fuel poverty. According to data published by Energy Action Scotland, as of last December, 24% of all households in Scotland live in fuel poverty. 

In October bills will rise again, potentially reaching up to an estimated £2600 per year, which could put 1 in 3 households in fuel poverty, according to National Energy Action. Life is only going to get harder for people in Edinburgh.

Although the Government has recently declared a windfall tax on oil and gas producers, this will only provide temporary relief and does nothing to address the causes of the climate or cost of living crises.

Greenpeace Edinburgh is calling for a tax rate of 70%, which could bring in an extra £13.4bn per year. £7.9bn of this tax should go towards the six million households experiencing fuel poverty. This would leave just over £5 billion to invest in the nationwide roll out of heat pumps, insulation and other energy efficiency measures as well as increasing investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

Anke continued: “This Government has failed to get a grip on the climate and cost of living crises. We’ll keep facing these problems for years to come while oil and gas giants pump out planet-trashing emissions and enjoy sky high profits.

“Join us in calling on the Chancellor to make them pay up”.

‘We Care About There’ – new sustainable tours from Rabbie’s

Modern travellers expect more than cheap transport and comfy hotels. Scottish based tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) has launched ‘We Care About There’ in partnership with VisitScotland to fulfil holidaymakers’ demand for sustainable and responsible travel as well as memorable and ethical experiences.

Rabbie’s has partnered with VisitScotland to deliver two brand new tours. A two-day Whisky & Castles tour sees guests visit two green tourism gold award-winning distillers and discover the innovative sustainable production methods behind Scotland’s most famous product.

While the five-day Orkney & Scotland’s Northern Coast tour takes guests to meet the locals who have dedicated their lives caring for Scotland’s cultural heritage.

Rabbie’s has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to delivering environmentally conscious tours. As well as providing award-winning small coach tours across the UK and Europe, over the last 14 years, Rabbie’s has mitigated its environmental impact through several positive initiatives.

These green programmes include a self-imposed carbon tax, which so far has raised over £120,000 for environmental and social projects chosen by staff. Additionally, Rabbie’s hosts staff volunteer days, and a encourages a “leave no trace policy” on every outing.

Rabbie’s new tours, especially featured as a part of their We Care About There campaign, include:

Whisky & Castles – two-day tour

Cardhu is a Speyside distillery near Archiestown, Moray, Scotland. It was founded by the whisky smuggler John Cumming, and his wife Helen Cumming in 1824. The distillery’s Scotch whisky makes up an important part of the Johnnie Walker blended whisky

This two-day adventure is packed full of Scottish whiskies, castles and scenic views. The tour travels North towards Highland Perthshire, visiting typical highland towns and enjoying the  beautiful peaks of the Cairngorms National Park.

The tour visits the historic Cardhu Distillery, and Scotland’s highest distillery at Dalwhinnie. As driving duties are handled by Rabbie’s Driver-Guide’s all are able to sample some of Scotland’s finest produce. Prices for this two-day tour begin at £115 per person, with tours departing throughout the summer from Edinburgh.

Orkney & Scotland’s Northern Coast – five-day tour

Escape to Scotland’s extreme Northern Coast and sail the Viking Waters of the Northern Sea to Orkney to discover Scotland’s fiercely protected island culture. The archipelago hides many treasures, but the expertise of your Driver-Guide, plus the warm welcome from the locals will help guests unlock the magic of Orkney’s prehistoric monuments and proud island communities.

Natural beauty awaits on this tour too, vibrant red sandstone coasts, and green pastures show why these islands have been revered and respected for centuries. Join Rabbie’s in celebrating this remarkable part of Scotland with prices starting at £379 per person. Tours are departing throughout the summer.

While touring, Rabbie’s promotes a “leave no trace” policy. Guests are encouraged to take away all litter, stick to marked pathways, and observe wildlife from a distance. Ultimately, leaving every natural spot untouched for future visitors to enjoy.

In some instances, sustainability means more than environmental protection, it means running tours in a way that is respectful and mindful of small local communities and economies.

Rabbie’s uses mini-coaches not only for the comfort of guests, but also so that the tours can visit villages and destinations off-of-the-beaten-track. This provides a unique and genuine touring experience while supporting the economy of small communities.

For more information about Rabbie’s and its tour offerings, visit www.rabbies.com.

Scottish Government admits ‘gaping hole’ in Climate Change Plan

Environmental campaigners have slammed the Scottish Government’s plan to meet climate targets after a key progress report exposed a huge shortfall in emissions reductions due to over-reliance on carbon capture and storage and other ‘Negative Emissions Technologies’ (NETs).

Ministers produced a Climate Change Plan update (CCPu) in 2020 which calculated that these technologies would be responsible for cutting almost 20% of Scottish emissions reductions by 2030, rising to an astonishing quarter of cuts as soon as 2032. These ‘NETs’ also included blue hydrogen production, bioenergy from burning biomass, both of which are reliant on CCS.

This was despite repeated warnings by Holyrood Committees and environmental experts who scrutinised the updated Climate Plan and warned that the Government must come up with a ‘Plan B’ in case the technologies failed to develop as predicted. Independent advisors at the UK Committee on Climate Change also urged the Scottish Government to develop contingency plans to meet climate targets if technologies like CCS do deliver at the rate hoped for.

The recently published Climate Change Plan Monitoring Report reveals that the Scottish Government now accepts that NETs cannot deliver “at the pace assumed in the CCPu.”

The Report cites the lack of commitment by commercial operators to employ NETs models, the de-prioritisation of Scottish sites in the UK Government framework for supporting NETs, and the lack of availability of sustainable home-grown supply of biomass in coming to this conclusion, despite the Scottish Government offering handouts of tens of millions of pounds in their Emerging Energy Fund.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Climate Campaigner Alex Lee said: “The Scottish Government has accepted at last that its faith in carbon capture and storage and hydrogen was wildly misplaced.

“Ministers ignored repeated warnings about relying on these technologies which have a track record of over-promising and under-delivering, and now there is a gaping hole in the plan to meet climate targets.

“The Government must now go back to the drawing board and come up with a credible plan to make up for this vast shortfall, which amounts to a whopping quarter of emissions cuts in only ten years time. Instead of throwing more money at fantasy techno-fixes, they should be ramping up support for reliable renewable power and energy efficiency measures which we know can deliver in the short term.

“By the end of this decade, Scotland must have made real progress in a transformational  plan that phases out fossil fuel extraction and use, while ensuring a just transition for workers and communities currently dependent on the industry.”

Cleaning up Craigmillar

CRAIGMILLAR WEEK OF ACTION LAUNCHED

Climate-conscious residents will be exercising their green fingers next week as they carry out a large-scale community clean-up of their local area.

During the ‘Craigmillar Week of Action’, people living in Craigmillar Town Centre, Greendykes and Niddrie House will spend the week working with their Housing Associations and the Council to carry out litter picks and remove bulky waste and illegally dumped items from common stairs, gardens and communal spaces.

With several skip loads expected to be collected in the following locations, other interested residents are also invited to turn up to lend a hand. Bags, pickers, and gloves will be provided.

  • Monday 27 June 9.30am – 2pm at Niddrie House Square
  • Tuesday 28 June 9.30am – 2pm at Harewood Road/Crescent and the Hays Community Business Centre
  • Wednesday 29 June 9.30am – 2pm at Capella Gardens in Greendykes
  • Thursday 30 June 9.30am – 2pm at Omans Pub on Peffer Place
  • Friday 1 July 9.30am-1pm at Castle Rock Edinvar for a thank you celebration

Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Well done to everyone taking part. It’s great to see community spirit in action and people taking pride in their local area. This week of action involves a huge effort from our tenants, who are taking a stand against the actions of a thoughtless few.

“Across the city, Council officers work hard to keep common areas and green spaces clean. But we all need to take responsibility. There is no excuse for these tenants’ homes to be blighted by people fly-tipping and littering and I’m grateful to those clubbing together to make a real difference.”

Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal, local area commander for Edinburgh North East, said: “In Edinburgh we want to build on the excellent partnership working that exists at all levels as we strive to deliver the very best policing service to our local communities.

“As such, we relish opportunities like this to work with partners to aid community wellbeing and help clean up the local area.”

Ciara Toland, Head of Neighbourhoods at Places for People Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many community groups, local organisations, businesses, and of course residents, coming together to help keep Craigmillar clean and tidy.

“A huge thanks to everyone for getting involved and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with residents and colleagues throughout the week.”

Coordinated by Places for People and Edinburgh Council’s Housing Operations team, the initiative is being supported by colleagues from Waste & Cleansing, Street Enforcement, and Parks & Greenspace, as well as the Wheatley Group, Dunedin Canmore Housing, Manor Estates and Lowther Homes.

Commercial partners Kier Group, NWH Group, Morrison Construction, Ross Quality Surveyors and Skanska have also given up their valuable time and resources to help with waste collection, weeding, litter picking and providing equipment and materials to help ensure a week of success. 

Morrisons employs tree advisors to help UK farmers meet planting targets

– New tree experts will provide guidance on which trees to plant and where to plant them to improve sustainability, soil health and farm productivity –

– Move will also help farmers unlock government funding and grants and to make income from their tree schemes –

Morrisons has employed a team of ‘Tree Advisors’ who will give specialist advice to UK farmers on the best species of trees to plant, where to plant them and how to manage their woodland – to have the best environmental effect without impacting upon their farm business. 

The Tree Advisors will work with Morrisons network of 3,000 farmers to plant the right tree species in the right place for the right reasons, to gain government and grant funding to cover their costs, and to bring in additional income from their woodland projects.

The initiative, in partnership with Natural England and the Forestry Commission, forms part of Morrisons plan to become directly supplied by net zero British farms by 2030 and net zero for emissions by 2040. Farmers at Morrisons 50 net zero blueprint farms will be the first to be offered access to the scheme, which will be rolled out more widely in the coming months. 

UK agriculture currently accounts for 10 per cent of all UK greenhouse gas emissions. Trees and woodlands are a key part of farming sustainably as they can store carbon, limit soil erosion, prevent flooding, control erosion on watercourses and help provide habitats for wildlife.

New government targets have outlined that approximately 7,000 hectares of woodlands should be planted by 2024. 

Winter storms across the UK have contributed to the felling of millions of trees. It is anticipated that Storm Arwen in November 2021 led to the loss of 8 million trees over 4,000 hectares.

In 2019, the Government launched the Woodland Carbon Guarantee to boost tree-planting rates and create new woodland in return for payment. The scheme offered £50 million to land managers who planted trees to sequester carbon and who could sell ‘woodland carbon units’ back to the government.Government support has also been offered by the England Woodland Creation Offer, along with grants from the Countryside Stewardship and the Woodland Trust.

This funding has been welcomed by farmers, who whilst understanding the need for tree-planting, have also raised concerns about the investment needed to fund saplings and that planting could encroach on land set aside for food production.

Sophie Throup, Head of Agriculture at Morrisons, said: “As British farming’s biggest customer, we have a responsibility to help our farmers overcome the challenges of working more sustainably.

“Many farmers, while recognising the value of trees in their landscape, are worried that tree planting initiatives will mean that valuable land is taken from food production – even when funded by the government.

“We want to take this worry away and help farmers identify what trees work for them on their farm, in the right places and for the right reasons.”

Morrisons Tree Advisors will offer expert advice to farmers on a case-by-case basis and will work with farmers to create individual woodland planting and management plans.

They will identify which trees are best in which place, how tree planting can complement farming business activity and what environmental benefit they will bring. They will also advise how to unlock government and grant funding to finance the planting of trees, as well as how to secure income from their projects.

Sustainable new look for Scottish textiles with launch of £2m fund

Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government have today (Friday 24 June 2022) launched a new £2m fund to help reduce the environmental burden of textiles.

The Circular Textiles Fund will go directly to businesses across the textiles industry in Scotland, from fashion to upholstery.

Textiles have an extremely high environmental impact – with Zero Waste Scotland’s latest Carbon Metric report showing textiles, which make up just four per cent of waste by weight, account for nearly a third (32 per cent) of the carbon impact of Scotland’s household waste.

The Circular Textiles Fund will support innovative projects that have what it takes to be part of Scotland’s circular economy, in which resources are valued and made to last. Applications to the fund can be from individual businesses or represent a collaboration between businesses to achieve the objectives below.

Potential business models include those that:

  • reduce demand for new textiles, such as clothing and textile rental, reuse, and repair services;
  • employ sustainable manufacturing processes;
  • reduce in-life environmental impacts, such as mitigating the pollution from washing textiles and making them easier to reuse and repair; and
  • maximise the amount of textile waste that is captured and recycled.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “As a nation, we need to rethink the way we make, buy, and use products and take action to consume more responsibly. Businesses have a key role to play in facilitating that shift, helping customers make more sustainable purchasing decisions while also contributing to a greener economy.

“With textiles responsible for such a significant chunk of the carbon footprint of Scotland’s household waste it’s vital that we move away from a throwaway approach to products and materials and make things last instead. The Circular Textiles Fund is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to be part of the solution.”

This announcement comes shortly after the Scottish Government launched two public consultations on proposals for a Circular Economy Bill and Route Map to 2025. The consultations form part of strategic plans to deliver Scotland’s zero waste and circular economy ambitions.

Lorna Slater, Circular Economy Minister, said: “Every material that is wasted comes at a cost to our planet, but it’s clear that textiles are having a disproportionate environmental impact.

“From fashion to furniture, there are huge opportunities for businesses with creative ideas to help address that problem. That’s why we are creating the £2million Circular Textiles Fund, which will help businesses in Scotland turn their proposals into reality.

“Alongside our Circular Economy Bill, this will help grow the number of sustainable businesses in Scotland and help prevent textiles from ending up in landfill or incineration.”

Rebekah Chapman, Production Technician at Kalopsia Collective said: “The circular economy is a big deal for Kalopsia and we have worked hard to minimise every aspect of our environmental impact. For us it’s a passion, and it’s one we know is shared by many working in the Scottish textiles sector.

“We’re delighted to help launch the Circular Textiles Fund and look forward to seeing more businesses doing things differently for the future of people and planet.”

Businesses that are interested in applying for the fund must fill out an Expression of Interest form, which can be downloaded from the Zero Waste Scotland website and submitted it to textiles@zerowastescotland.org.uk by 29 July 2022.

Expressions of Interest will be assessed against the criteria and applicants will be notified if they have been invited to stage two by 28 August 2022.

For more information on the details of the fund and how to apply visit circulartextilesfund.scot

COP President Alok Sharma to address CHOGM 2022 to urge implementation of the Glasgow Climate Pact

  • He will lead a high-level climate event to discuss progress on the Glasgow Climate Pact, and the importance of keeping the 1.5C goal alive
  • The COP26 President will also visit the Kigali hub of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES), spearheaded by UK experts and £16 million of DEFRA funding

COP President Alok Sharma will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2022), this week, June 22-23, in Kigali, Rwanda, as part of a UK government delegation led by the Prime Minister.

Mr Sharma will co-host a high-level Commonwealth climate event on Thursday 23 June with the Government of Rwanda to underline the importance of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C, reiterate the action that was committed at COP26, and set out the steps already being taken by Commonwealth members to achieve this.

This will feature the agreement to revisit, strengthen and implement their 2030 climate action plans and long-term strategies towards net-zero, providing a spotlight on the commitments made in Glasgow and the action that must be taken by COP27.

Mr Sharma will announce at the event that the UK has doubled its funding to £10 million for the NDC Partnership’s new Partnership Action Fund (PAF), as part of the UK’s drive to work with developing countries to implement and enhance their climate commitments outlined in their Nationally Determined Contributions.

Commonwealth leaders, United Nations organisations, civil society, the private sector and young people will also discuss progress on the Glasgow Climate Pact, accessing climate finance, the desired outcomes of COP27 in Egypt and how Commonwealth Member States can work together to achieve them.

Mr Sharma will then speak at the Commonwealth Business Forum at CHOGM to outline the ambitious trajectory set in Glasgow, and the need for businesses to continue the momentum on the road to global net zero.

Finally, the COP President will visit the Kigali hub of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES). Currently seven per cent of the world’s emissions come from cooling – anything from food and vaccine storage to air conditioning to high-tech innovation – and demand for cooling will only grow as global temperatures increase.

Spearheaded by UK experts and £16 million of DEFRA funding, ACES is dedicated to generating ideas, technology and capacity building to support sustainable cooling or all that need it using renewables, climate friendly refrigerants and energy efficient equipment.

As temperatures hit record highs globally, this work will support those most vulnerable to heatwaves, accelerating the transition in Africa and other developing markets to sustainable refrigeration and reducing food waste and improving vaccine supply chains.

Ahead of his visit to CHOGM 2022, COP President Alok Sharma said: “The Commonwealth has an important role to play in delivering the Glasgow Climate Pact, and keeping 1.5 degrees alive.

“It comprises both major emitters and some of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world. So, it is clearly in our collective interest to work together to take action and tackle the challenges we face.

“We should also recognise the economic growth opportunities the green transition has for job creation and sustainable development. Our collective voice can be a powerful force and it is time to honour the promises that we made in Glasgow, and turn commitments into action.”