Agenda item

Presentation by Chief Planning & Housing Officer and Corporate Policy Advisor

5.1       With reference to paragraph 6 of the Scottish Borders Council minute of 25 September 2020, the Chief Planning & Housing Officer, Ian Aikman, and the Corporate Policy Advisor, Michael Cook, gave a presentation on the preparation of a Climate Change Route map, which was scheduled to go to Council on 17 June 2021.  Mr Aikman and Mr Cook firstly set the national context and in particular to the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 which set targets to reduce Scotland’s emissions to net-zero by 2045 at the latest with interim targets for reductions of at least 56% by 2020, 75% by 2030 and 90% by 2040.  From 2022, legislation would require public bodies to report on their targets for achieving zero direct emissions and reducing indirect emissions and to report how spending aligned with emissions reduction. Mr Cook referred to natural capital being one of the greatest assets of the Scottish Borders which was central to the movement towards a net zero economy, developing thriving rural economies based around woodland creation, peatland restoration and biodiversity as well as sustainable tourism, food, drink and energy.  He stressed that climate change action must be integrated into all the Council’s decisions and service delivery.  There would be a comprehensive approach and roll out of training across all service areas including ‘Keep Scotland Beautiful’ carbon literacy training to cohorts of staff and proposals developed for cascading wider training for staff and elected Members. Mr Cook went on to explain what the Climate Change Route Map would look like.  Following work on baseline and phasing a series of workshops on energy; transport; waste; and resilience/engagement was being undertaken.  The Route Map would represent an evolving strategy and framework for the future.  It was planned to hold a briefing for elected Members on the Route Map prior to the presentation of the report to full Council in June.  In conclusion Mr Cook referred to opportunities to be involved in the 26^th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) being hosted in Glasgow on 1-12 November 2021.

            MEMBER

            Councillor Edgar left the meeting.

5.2       In response to a question about identifying baseline greenhouse gas emissions, Mr Cook confirmed that some work had already been carried out on this.  Although emissions in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway were comparatively low, it had been recognised that this was due to the region being sparsely populated and that work was required to reduce emissions per capita which were comparatively high.  Members discussed the presentation and asked for more detail about the Council’s involvement in COP26.  Mr Cook explained that a South of Scotland application was being submitted for involvement in the Green Zone – which was a platform, managed by UK government, for general public, youth groups, civil society, academia, artists, business etc aimed at promoting dialogue, awareness, education and commitments.  The South of Scotland application represented ‘a new and innovative collaboration to develop a ‘natural capital region’ which explicitly established natural capital as the foundation of a ‘green recovery’.  Central to this was the Borderlands initiative and the Regional Land use Partnerships (RLUP) Pilot, which was an element of a wider strategy to develop a strategic vision for land use. 

            DECISION

            NOTED the presentation