Study from Zero Waste Scotland shows 52% of general waste could have been recycled
The interactive Recycling Sorter Tool can help households recycle as much as possible by finding out what can go in their different bins.
In further support, Zero Waste Scotland has funded 41 projects across 26 local authorities to enhance recycling services and facilities through the 5 year £70m Recycling Investment Fund.
People in Scotland are being encouraged to take a closer look at their recycling habits this Recycle Week (14th to 20th October) to make sure their efforts aren’t going to waste.
To address this issue, while also celebrating national efforts in recycling, Zero Waste Scotland has launched its Don’t Let it Go to Waste campaign, which aims to increase positive recycling behaviour.
Over the course of the week, Zero Wast Scotland will be encouraging people across the country to take action on household waste and recycle all that they can. The campaign features a series of helpful resources for communities and schools, including a short film focusing on recycling efforts, animations addressing recycling questions, posters, lesson plans and activity sheets.
With many councils collecting more materials than ever before, a common cause of confusion is uncertainty around which items go in each bin. To help, Zero Waste Scotland’s free Recycling Sorter tool can guide people to understand what can be recycled and in which colour bin for every local authority area in Scotland. In addition to using the interactive tool, Zero Waste Scotland is also encouraging people to check their Council website for the latest recycling information and, importantly, to not let their recycling go to waste.
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said:“Recycling plays a critical role in the circular economy, keeping valuable materials in use for longer and reducing the need to extract new resources. By putting the right items in the right bins, we can significantly reduce waste and minimise our environmental impact.
“Scotland has a strong reputation for environmental awareness and many households already make great efforts to recycle. However, it’s clear that more can be done to ensure our recycling efforts are as effective as possible – and this is when Zero Waste Scotland can help.”
In addition to supporting people in Scotland directly, Zero Waste Scotland supports the Scottish Government in providing funding to local authorities through the Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF), which helps to improve recycling facilities and services across Scotland.
To date, £65 million has been awarded to 41 projects across 26 local authorities. These projects range from improvements to household recycling services and upgrading recycling facilities to introducing recycling in schools and expanding the collection of new materials like mattresses and polystyrene.
The funded projects are expected to divert nearly 60,000 tonnes of material per year for recycling or reuse, resulting in carbon savings of approximately 60,000 tonnes CO2e annually.
In partnership with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, who has awarded a grant of £25K to the Council, a Chewing Gum Task Force is cleaning up gum and reducing gum littering on the Capital.
Cllr Stephen Jenkinson Environment Convener said: This grant is very welcome as gum takes about five years to break down and is costly to remove.
“Our task force is starting in busy areas and in the next couple of weeks we are concentrating on removing discarded gum on Leith Street. It’s important that we get the message out that it is not OK to drop gum in our beautiful city and we’re putting up effective signage to try to prevent littering in the future.
“I’d like to ask all of our residents and visitors to support this campaign and please bin your gum.”
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is very welcome.
“However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.”
The council is one of 54 across the country that has successfully applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its third year, for funds to clean gum off pavements and prevent it from being littered again.
Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to clean up gum in their local areas and invest in long-term behaviour change to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place.
Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7 million. In its second year the task force awarded 55 councils a total of £1.56 million, helping clean an estimated 440,000 m2 of pavement – an area equivalent to the Vatican City.
By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 60% in the first two months.
Scotland’s First Minister calls for fastest possible deployment of Scottish carbon capture scheme
New era for the clean energy industry with carbon capture clusters launched – in the week that Britain became the first industrialised nation to end its 150-year usage of coal
UK will be among the first to deploy this game-changing technology at scale in Teesside and Merseyside – capturing CO2 emissions before they reach the atmosphere and storing them away safely
projects will create thousands of jobs, attract £8 billion of private investment, and accelerate the UK towards net zero in 2050
The UK today enters a new era for clean energy investment and jobs, as the government announces it has reached commercial agreement with industry, and funding to launch carbon capture in the UK.
Major funding for 2 carbon capture sites will inject growth into the industrial heartlands of the North West and North East of England – directly creating 4,000 jobs and supporting 50,000 jobs in the long-term while powering up the rest of the country.
This comes 10 days before the government’s set-piece International Investment Summit which is poised to put the UK back at the global table – kickstarting a decade of economic renewal and giving business confidence and opportunity to invest in the United Kingdom.
CCUS technology removes CO2 emissions before it reaches the atmosphere and stores it safely beneath the seabed – using tried and tested technology that has been deployed across the globe for over 20 years.
In a boost for economic growth and protecting the environment, the new carbon capture and CCUS enabled hydrogen projects will create 4,000 new jobs, sustain important British industry, and help remove over 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent of taking around 4 million cars off the road.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are visiting the North West today to confirm the funding for 2 sites in Teesside and Merseyside, which are expected to bring in £8 billion of private investment into these communities.
These projects will set the UK on course to become a global leader in CCUS and hydrogen – delivering good jobs and turbocharged growth for decades to come.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We’re reigniting our industrial heartlands by investing in the industry of the future.
“For the past 14 years, business has been second-guessing a dysfunctional government – which has set us back and caused an economic slump.
“Today’s announcement will give industry the certainty it needs – committing to 25 years of funding in this groundbreaking technology – to help deliver jobs, kickstart growth, and repair this country once and for all.”
Today’s announcement confirms up to £21.7 billion of funding available, over 25 years, to make the UK an early leader in 2 growing global sectors, CCUS and hydrogen, to be allocated between these 2 clusters. The UK’s commitment was first made in 2009, and the confirmation of funding today represents a major success story for British industry.
In the week in which Britain became the first industrialised nation to end its 150-year usage of coal to produce power, the nation now begins a new era of clean energy technology. The UK has enough capacity to store 200 years’ worth of emissions – making CCUS a revolutionary method in tackling the climate crisis and helping industry to decarbonise.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “On Monday, 150 years of coal in this country came to an end. Today, a new era begins.
“By securing this funding, we pave the way for securing the clean energy revolution that will rebuild Britain’s industrial heartlands.
“I was proud to kickstart the industry in 2009, and I am even prouder today to turn it into reality. This funding is a testament to the power of an active government working in partnership with businesses to deliver good jobs for our communities.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, said: “This game-changing technology will bring 4,000 good jobs and billions of private investment into communities across Merseyside and Teesside, igniting growth in these industrial heartlands and powering up the rest of the country.
“Working in partnership with business is at the heart of our plan to deliver strong growth and investment, so we can rebuild Britain and make everyone better off.”
This announcement will also help turbocharge the low carbon hydrogen sector by paving the way for the UK’s first large-scale hydrogen production plant, decarbonising vital industrial sectors.
It also marks a game-changing development in the mission to tackle climate change – protecting the environment from harmful emissions at a time when the UK has seen a year of record-breaking temperatures.
It follows advice from the independent Climate Change Committee, who described CCUS as critical for decarbonising the UK’s heavy industry and a “necessity” for the UK to reach its legally binding target for net zero emissions by 2050.
Similarly, the International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have endorsed CCUS as a critical tool in decarbonisation, particularly in heavy industry such as cement and steel.
The carbon capture, usage and storage industry is expected to support 50,000 good, skilled jobs as the sector matures in the 2030s, helping to support the oil and gas sector’s transition away from high emission fossil fuels by using the transferable expertise of their workforce. This supports the UK’s mission for growth, while putting the country at the cutting edge for developing the skills of the future.
An up and running carbon capture industry is expected to add around £5 billion per year to the UK economy by 2050 and the backing of these 2 sites sends a clear signal to investors that the UK is open for business.
As part of the partnership with GB Energy and The Crown Estate, the progress on Track-1 comes as The Crown Estate awarded an Agreement for Lease to Eni to repurpose existing infrastructure to transport and store CO2, reducing cost and environmental impact.
Louise Kingham, SVP Europe and head of country, UK for bp, said: “This announcement represents another step forward for the Northern Endurance Partnership and East Coast Cluster.
“Major projects like these have the potential to help stimulate economic growth – supporting thousands of jobs, helping UK companies prosper through the vast supply chains involved and creating the infrastructure to help major industrial companies with their decarbonisation plans.
“Collaboration is key in helping to progress and deliver the energy transition in the UK, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside the government and our partners to move these innovative projects forward.”
Alex Grant, SVP and head of country, UK for Equinor, said: “We welcome this major milestone in progressing these 2 key projects and applaud the hard work and collaboration that has led us here.
“Equinor has been an energy partner with the UK for over 45 years and today’s announcement is a step for both Equinor and the UK to progress our energy partnership further.
“This will help decarbonise the country’s industrial heartlands and achieve its net zero ambitions whilst providing jobs and value creation.
“The UK will continue to be a key market for Equinor, building on our history of significant energy provision along its East Coast, which is transitioning from traditional oil and gas demand to renewables and low carbon options like CCS and hydrogen.”
Eni CEO, Claudio Descalzi, said: “Today’s news is an important step towards the creation of a new business chain linked to the energy transition.
“HyNet will become one of the first low-carbon clusters in the world and the project will decarbonise one of the key energy-intensive industrial districts as well as unlock significant economic growth in this region of the UK.
“This commitment is clear evidence of how governments and industry can work together to implement pragmatic and effective industrial policies, in order to accelerate decarbonisation. On our side, it reaffirms Eni’s role as a key partner with the UK in enabling its journey towards Net Zero.”
James Richardson, Acting Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee, said: “It’s fantastic to see funding coming through for these big projects. We can’t hit the country’s targets without CCUS so this commitment to it is very reassuring. It will no doubt provide comfort to investors and business about the direction of travel for the country.
“We know these projects will provide good, reliable jobs in communities that need them. It is important that prosperity for these parts of the country is built into a clean energy future.”
Emma Pinchbeck, Energy UK’s Chief Executive, said: “CCUS is a tool in our armoury of technologies which we need to decarbonise parts of energy that we currently can’t do with clean electricity, such as major industrial processes.
“The energy transition is gathering pace, and the development of CCUS here for industrial processes unlocks inward investment, creates jobs and helps areas with a proud history of engineering and industry pioneer the technologies of the future in the UK.”
Olivia Powis, CEO of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA), said: “The government’s confirmed support for carbon capture and storage and hydrogen demonstrates their commitment to the UK’s journey to net zero.
“Today’s announcement shows that decarbonisation does not mean de-industrialisation, and highlights the UK’s leadership in these important technologies.
“The industry has made significant strides towards deploying carbon capture projects and by establishing the first 2 CCUS clusters in the North West and North East of England, it means that we can deliver thousands of new highly skilled jobs whilst reducing our CO2 emissions and retaining existing jobs in our industrial areas in critical industries like cement and manufacturing across the UK.”
Celia Greaves, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association, said: “This is a vital step forward, catapulting hydrogen towards long-term certainty we need in the UK.
“Supporting hydrogen at scale in 2 of the biggest UK industrial clusters is the government giving hydrogen another green light as a key component of its green energy ambitions.
“We particularly welcome the news that this will provide thousands of new jobs given the HEA’s solid focus on hydrogen’s role in delivering clean growth.
“Our own project map has built up a blueprint of hydrogen endeavours across all parts of the UK and this significant investment in carbon capture clusters is going to bring forward the first large scale projects we have seen in the country.
“What’s more, it will inject further enthusiasm for wider investment to power-up business confidence which will have a knock-on effect of continuing to position the UK as a global player in hydrogen technology and innovation.”
Clare Jackson, CEO of Hydrogen UK, said: “We are thrilled to see the UK government’s commitment to advancing Track-1 clusters in partnership with the private sector.
“This initiative is a crucial step forward for regional development, driving economic growth, and creating high-quality jobs across the country.
“The integration of CCUS technology with hydrogen production is pivotal for achieving our net zero targets. CCUS-enabled hydrogen not only provides a low carbon, and scalable energy solution but also ensures the UK remains at the forefront of the global hydrogen economy.
“By moving forward with Track-1, we are laying the foundation for a cleaner, more resilient energy future for all.”
EVERYBODY HAPPY, THEN? NO, SAYS SCOTLAND’S FIRST MINISTER JOHN SWINNEY
Following the announcement of £21.7bn for two carbon capture and storage projects in the North of England First Minister @JohnSwinney has written to the Prime Minister seeking clarity on timelines, funding and criteria for the Acorn project in Scotland.
First Minister John Swinney has written to the Prime Minister seeking clarity on timelines, funding and criteria for Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Track 2 clusters, which includes the Acorn project in Scotland.
The letter was sent on the day the UK Government announced £21.7 billion of funding for the two carbon capture and storage projects in the North East and North West of England.
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)
KNITTERS URGE FIRST MINISTER NOT TO CROSS CLIMATE ‘RED LINE’
A group of concerned citizens calling themselves the ‘North Sea Knitters’ gathered outside the Scottish Parliament yesterday to knit a ‘red line’, representing the critical limit of 1.5 degrees of global temperature rise.
Taking place during Scottish Climate Week, as the ‘Knitting for Climate’ group gathers outside the EU Parliament in Brussels, the North Sea Knitters’ message was simple: the Scottish Government needs to stop blaming the climate crisis on individuals and use its powers to speed the phase out of fossil fuels.
The group spoke to MSPs and gave out their famous hand-knitted red scarves to remind them not to lose sight of the 1.5 degrees limit of warming enshrined in the Paris Agreement.
Several MSPs including the First Minister could be seen sporting the red scarves and discussing vital climate issues like the Stop Rosebank campaign, the Peterhead gas power station, and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Scottish Government is currently considering whether to approve a controversial new gas burning power station in Peterhead which would prolong the lifetime of the fossil fuel industry and lock the public into high energy bills and fuel poverty.
Chris Aldred, a member of the North Sea Knitters Group, said: “Knitting is a craft that has been passed down through generations. It symbolises the hope that we can pass on, not just our skills, but a thriving future for all that come after us.
“The knitted red line represents the 1.5C threshold of dangerous planetary warming that nations have committed not to cross. Our scarves are being created through concern, uncertainty and fear for the future, but also through our joy, love and unity.
“The Scottish Government says that climate is a priority but it must turn these words into concrete action to cut pollution now and into the future. This means using its power to firmly reject new fossil fuels, standing up to the oil industry and prioritising the needs of workers through the transition.
“We are allied with our European friends in Knitting for Climate, a movement of people using the art of knitting to express concern over climate change and inadequate political response to the crisis that is already affecting us all. Through our grassroots efforts, we demand climate justice.”
The knitters’ demands for the Scottish Government are:
+ Refuse all on-shore planning permission for fossil fuel infrastructure, including the proposed new gas plant at Peterhead. + Oppose and work to halt extraction from all new oil and gas fields, including Rosebank. + Ensure all public subsidies and tax concessions to fossil fuel companies are revoked. + Back the call for a Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty. + Ensure that workers and communities have a Just Transition to renewables, without allowing the fossil fuel industry to call the shots for the transition.
Plan to help communities understand how climate change impacts their lives
Communities and businesses across Scotland will be given support and tools to help tackle the unavoidable impacts of climate change as part of the Scottish Government’s new National Adaptation Plan.
The Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 (SNAP3) sets out a comprehensive suite of more than 200 actions and proposals for managing the current and future impacts of climate change in Scotland.
Climate change means Scotland will experience more extreme weather. Flooding, water scarcity and hot weather can damage our environment, disrupt public transport and affect our supply of foods, vital goods and services. This means that households, communities, businesses and organisations across Scotland are having to consider the impacts of climate change more than ever.
It includes how sectors including agriculture, transport and health as well as businesses and communities will prepare for more extreme weather events, such as flooding, water scarcity and extreme periods of heat.
These include:
£5.5 million of funding this year to complete a national network of Community Climate Action Hubs to drive locally-led climate action across Scotland
investing £400million investment to Scotland’s railway infrastructure to reduce weather-related disruption
facilitating peer-to-peer support to local governments and public services to prepare for the impacts of climate change for local populations
providing advice and support to businesses on how they can future proof their workplaces through practical check-lists on how to prepare for the impacts of climate change
ensuring the NHS Scotland estate is prepared and equipped to deal with extreme heat and flooding
Launching the plan at a visit to the Restoring the River Leven project, First Minister John Swinney said: “While we must ensure Scotland continues to play its part in addressing the causes of climate change, we must also be ready to deal with the impacts that are already locked in giving us wetter winters, drier summers and more weather-related disruption.
“Our new Adaptation Plan is our most comprehensive response to protecting people’s lives and livelihoods against the risks of climate change – with over 200 actions to build climate resilience in our communities, businesses, public services and natural environment.
“I am proud to lead a Scotland that is driving forward the race to net zero, whilst ensuring that our country is ready for the impacts of climate change that we are already experiencing. This can be demonstrated through the Leven River Restoration Project, which has adapted the local landscape to help reduce the amount of flooding in the area, whilst restoring and encouraging wildlife and nature to flourish. It is a fantastic example of how collaborative working can use nature to adapt to the challenges we face at the same time as delivering benefit for the local community.”
Nicole Paterson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment protection Agency (SEPA), said: “Scotland’s natural environment is globally renowned and our water environment, as we can see in Leven today, is central to our environmental, economic and social success. Scotland’s water quality is at its highest level ever, with more than 87% of our water environment achieving good or high classification for water quality, with an ambition to go further.
“Our climate is already changing and as Scotland’s environment agency, we’re at the forefront of working with partners to respond and adapt. The Water Environment Fund, including The Leven Project, is a very visible story for change and a great example of how public, private and community sector partners can successfully collaborate to improve water environments, boost flood resilience and deliver community benefits.
“In Scotland’s Climate Week, it’s fitting that we hear directly from young people and community partner’s who’ve worked so hard locally and who’s future depends on the work that together we do today.”
Fife Council Leader Councillor David Ross said: “”Fife Council welcomes the Scottish Government’s new Climate Change Adaptation Plan, which marks an important step forward in the collective fight against climate change.
“Much has changed since Fife Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and, although we have made significant progress on a number of fronts, we are committed to helping our communities prepare for, and respond to, the effects of climate change.
“The First Minister’s visit to the Restoring the River Leven project highlights the remarkable progress that can be achieved through strong partnership working, in this instance between Fife Council, SEPA, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and local communities.
“This close collaboration has also led to – and will lead to – additional benefits through the Levenmouth Connectivity Project, the Active Travel Network and River Park Routes as well as The River Park Project that sit alongside the restoration project as part of the wider Leven Programme.
“Fife Council remains fully committed to leading the way in tackling climate change and we are proud to be part of initiatives that not only restore our natural environment but also build resilience for the future.”
Jeremy Harris, CEO at Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, said: “This project to restore the River Leven is a working example of different organisations coming together to deliver something that directly contributes to the outcomes laid out in the new Scottish National Adaptation Plan.
“The carefully considered interventions already under way will return the river to its more natural flowing state ensuring that nature connects through the Leven catchment and delivers direct benefits to the local communities.
“Improved infrastructure with the river at its centre will serve the surrounding communities and enrich the lives of those who make use of it. At Fife Coast and Countryside Trust our mission is to connect environment and people and this river restoration project, running through the heart of Levenmouth, is a wonderful example of how to do just that. I look forward to seeing the natural world and local communities flourish thanks to this work for years to come.”
Prime Minister confirms Great British Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen, a world-leader in engineering and infrastructure
Edinburgh and Glasgow will host 2 smaller sites, maximising skills and expertise across Scotland
the move will kickstart plans for the new publicly-owned company to ‘drive investment in clean home-grown energy, creating jobs and supporting growth across the UK’
Aberdeen has been named the new home of Great British Energy, drawing on the city’s world-leading engineering expertise to kickstart a UK-wide clean energy revolution.
As the location of the new headquarters, Aberdeen will be at the heart of the company’s plans to scale up clean homegrown power to boost energy independence, create skilled jobs across the UK and to support economic growth.
Two additional sites will open in Edinburgh and Glasgow, once Great British Energy is up and running, to benefit from local skills and expertise. The company will be initially located in government buildings across the cities, while permanent bases are established.
This marks the next step to kickstart Great British Energy, as part of its mission to become a clean energy superpower. An interim Chief Executive will soon to be appointed to take the lead on launching the new company and building its Aberdeen base – along with the start-up Chair Juergen Maier, former CEO of Siemens UK.
Within the first weeks of the new government, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband took immediate action to introduce the Great British Energy Bill to Parliament and – along with the Prime Minister – confirm a new partnership with The Crown Estate, to help accelerate new offshore wind farms.
The company – owned by the British people, for the British people – will attract private investment in the UK’s clean homegrown power, backed by £8.3 billion in government funding over this Parliament.
The work to make Scotland a clean energy superpower has already begun.
The move forms part of the government’s plans to support clean energy in the North Sea, ensuring Aberdeen continues to thrive as Scotland’s clean energy capital.
The UK Government recently announced the biggest ever investment in offshore wind and continues to progress technologies like carbon capture and storage and hydrogen – as well as ensuring that oil and gas is used for decades to come as part of a fair and balanced transition away from fossil fuels.
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.
Big Butterfly Count results reveal lowest numbers on record
Butterfly Conservation calls on Government to declare a ‘Nature Emergency’ and act now by banning toxic neonicotinoid pesticides, before it’s too late
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count 2024 saw the lowest number of butterflies spotted per Count in its 14-year history
A third of species had their worst year on record ever
More than 9,000 Big Butterfly Counts reported not seeing a single butterfly
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has today declared a national ‘Butterfly Emergency’, with results of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count showing a marked and hugely concerning decline in numbers.
Overall, participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute Count, a reduction of almost 50% on last year’s average of 12, and the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count.
It was the worst summer in the Count’s history for Common Blue, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Scotch Argus. And the majority of species (81%) showed declines in the number seen this year compared with 2023.
In total, just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded across the UK from 12 July – 4 August, down almost 600,000, equivalent to more than a third of 2023’s total, and 9,000 Counts were logged as seeing zero butterflies, the highest in the citizen science programme’s history.
These figures have alarmed scientists and resulted in the charity declaring a nationwide ‘Butterfly Emergency’.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The previous lowest average number of butterflies per Count was nine in 2022, this latest figure is 22% lower than that, which is very disturbing.
“Not just that, but a third of the species recorded in the Big Butterfly Count have had their worst year on record, and no species had their best. The results are in line with wider evidence that the summer of 2024 has been very poor for butterflies.
“Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble we know that the wider environment is in trouble too. Nature is sounding the alarm call. We must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations.”
Butterfly Conservation is writing an open letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling for the Government to act now for nature by declaring a ‘Nature Emergency’ and banning butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides once and for all, with no exceptions, before it’s too late.
Dr Fox explains: “When used on farmland, these chemicals make their way into the wild plants growing at field edges, resulting in adult butterflies and moths drinking contaminated nectar and caterpillars feeding on contaminated plants.
Many European countries have already banned these chemicals, it’s time for the UK to follow suit and put the natural world first. If we don’t act now to address the long-term drivers of butterfly decline, we will face extinction events never before seen in our lifetime.”
More than 85,000 citizen scientists took part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count this year, submitting 143,241 Counts. This is equivalent to 35,810 hours, or four years worth of time spent counting, in gardens, parks, school grounds and the countryside.
Dr Richard Fox concluded: “If every single person who helped with the Count this summer signs our letter to the Government, we could prevent the very real and pressing threat of species becoming extinct in our lifetime.”
To sign Butterfly Conservation’s letter to the Government asking them to declare a ‘Nature Emergency’ and ban butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides visit: https://butterfly-conservation.org/emergency
Species results in the UK – Big Butterfly Count 2024
Next year’s Big Butterfly Count will take place from Friday 18 July – Sunday 10 August 2025.
UK Totals
BBC 2024: UK
Abundance
Average per count
% change from 2023
14-year trend(bold = statistically significant)
1
Gatekeeper
190,413
1.5
-18
-32%
2
Meadow Brown
177,844
1.4
6
-15%
3
Large White
138,424
1.1
-38
2%
4
Small White
112,814
0.9
-46
-19%
5
Peacock
50,847
0.4
-67
-30%
6
Red Admiral
47,109
0.4
-82
28%
7
Ringlet
44,278
0.3
85
-47%
8
Speckled Wood
30,112
0.2
-2
-38%
9
Comma
24,498
0.2
-52
-20%
10
Green-veined White
18,951
0.1
-24
-65%
11
Six-spot Burnet
18,102
0.1
88
–
12
Marbled White
17,922
0.1
101
-18%
13
Small Copper
13,962
0.1
-30
48%
14
Small Tortoiseshell
12,432
0.1
-74
-59%
15
Common Blue
9,755
0.1
-69
-52%
16
Brimstone
8,622
0.1
-53
-18%
17
Holly Blue
7,090
0.1
-80
36%
18
Painted Lady
4,170
0.03
-66
9%
19
Silver Y
4,101
0.03
-30
–
20
Jersey Tiger
3,496
0.03
-29
–
21
Scotch Argus
499
0.004
-61
–
Totals
935,441
7
-40
–
Note:
Ringlet, Marbled White and Six-spot Burnet appeared to have fared well in the Big Butterfly Count this year compared to 2023, however, this was due to their peak flight periods coinciding with the count. Over the course of the whole summer, these species also seem to have fared worse than usual.
To account for annual variation in flight periods, which are heavily influenced by the weather, Butterfly Conservation has produced a fourteen-year trend (2011–2024) for Big Butterfly Count species which can be seen in the results table.
This shows that although these species fared well this year, the long-term picture for the two butterfly species is very different. Over the last 14 years Ringlet has declined by 47% and Marbled White by 18%.
Overall, the 14-year trends show that 11 species (65%) are declining, and three species (18%) are increasing, these are Red Admiral, Holly Blue and Small Copper.
Climate justice campaigners across Scotland have today marked the start of a ‘Global Week of Action for Climate Finance and a Fossil Free Future’, by staging demonstrations in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. The campaigners are calling on local councillors and politicians to end fossil fuels in a way that is ‘Fast, Fair & Forever’.
In Edinburgh, campaigners from groups including Global Justice Now Scotland and Extinction Rebellion held a banner demonstration and stall to call on the UK and Scottish Governments to support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and to say no to new fossil fuel projects such as the proposed new gas power station in Peterhead.
Jane Herbstritt from Global Justice Now said: “‘We urgently need a global plan for a fast and fair phase out of oil, gas and coal production. And this plan needs to be decided on and led by governments – not the fossil fuel industry.
“That’s why today we are in Edinburgh today calling on First Minister John Swinney to endorse the proposal for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“The global campaign for this ground-breaking treaty proposal is supported by some of the most climate vulnerable countries including Vanuatu in the Pacific Islands, Antigua and Barbuda in the West Indies and Colombia in South America.
“Scotland is a country with a long history of disproportionately contributing climate wrecking emissions from burning fossil fuels – but with incredible renewable energy resources now. This puts us in the best position going forward to encourage a planned global phase out of fossil fuels by championing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
In Glasgow, campaigners held a banner demonstration in George Square to call on Glasgow City Council and the Strathclyde Pension Fund to stop investing over £433 million in some of the world’s biggest fossil fuel polluters, including BP, Shell and French oil giant, TotalEnergies.
Total is one of the companies responsible for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline which, if completed, could produce more than 379 million tonnes of climate-heating pollution.
Over the next week (13 – 20 September), activists in Scotland will join hundreds of thousands of people mobilising in more than 200 protest events, spanning over 50 countries in all continents.
The Global Week of Action comes as world leaders embark on a series of crucial international climate meetings including the UN General Assembly, the UN Summit of the Future, the Global Renewables Summit and COP29 in Azerbaijan.
The concerted action will raise the pressure on governments to urgently implement a fast, fair and funded phase out of fossil fuels and to commit to paying adequate climate finance for the damage that has already been caused.
Sally Clark, Divestment Campaigner with Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “With record temperatures and extreme weather around the world, it’s never been more urgent for our councils and the Government to stop funding fossil fuel companies like BP, Shell and TotalEnergies that are driving climate breakdown and injustice around the world.
“For the sake of our planet, it’s vital for our politicians to divest from fossil fuels and say no to climate-wrecking projects like the Rosebank oil field and the proposed new gas power station in Peterhead.
“By instead investing in genuine climate solutions like social housing and wind and solar power, we can protect communities and ensure a liveable future for everyone.”
Climate campaigners are warning the UK Government that to be compliant with the goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the transition out of oil, gas and coal must be done at a pace and scale required to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5℃.
However, many Global North countries including the UK continue their fossil fuel expansion and provide billions in fossil fuel subsidies, and even prop up fossil fuel expansion in the Global South with public and private investments.
There will be actions across the UK throughout the week, led by groups including the Climate Justice Coalition, War on Want, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Global Justice Now Scotland, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Stop EACOP Edinburgh, Fossil Free London, Fossil Free Parliament, Biofuelwatch and others.
Tyrone Scott, Senior Movement Building and Activism Officer at War on Want said: “The UK government’s reliance on oil and gas is worsening climate breakdown with the UK already the second largest oil and gas producer in Europe whilst continuing to expand fossil fuel operations.
“Now, with a new government in place, we need to raise pressure to ensure they make adequate commitments to tackle the climate crisis. This new government might be better at saying some of the right words when it comes to climate, but their actions must speak louder.
“We’re taking action over the next week to stand in solidarity with our global movements and partners who are facing the worst effects of climate breakdown.”
Tasneem Essop, Executive Director of Climate Action Network International, said: “We demand action, not empty words. Rich nations call for a transition away from fossil fuels but do little to reduce their own emissions, and instead we are seeing their continued oil, gas and coal expansion.
“This double standard perpetuates the colonial legacy, and disproportionately devastates communities in the Global South. Africa, Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean are paying the price with lost lives, destroyed infrastructure, and ruined livelihoods. Rich nations must lead and end the expansion of fossil fuels.”
