Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Climate Change Route Map

Presentation by Chief Planning & Housing Officer and Corporate Policy Advisor.

Minutes:

3.1       Before asking Chief Planning & Housing Officer, Ian Aikman, to introduce the slide presentation on the Climate Change Route Map, the Chairman thanked Mr Aikman, Mr Cook, Ms Cox and all the officers included in the huge amount of work involved to get to this point of setting out the scope and rationale of a way forward for the Scottish Borders towards a position of net zero in 2045.  With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 5 March 2021 Mr Aikman gave a summary of the Draft Climate Change Route Map, which would be presented to Council on 17 June 2021.  Mr Aikman explained that the Route Map was a Scottish Borders Council led document but the absolute focus was on partnership and collaboration to work towards the two goals of a net zero Council and a net zero region.  The Route Map was a framework to support long term planning with phased definition and delivery.  It aligned with the Scottish Government net zero emissions target of 2045 and interim targets for reductions of 75% by 2030 and 90% by 2040.  Focus would be on a green recovery ‘which prioritises economic, social and environmental wellbeing and responds to the twin challenges of the climate emergency and biodiversity loss’.  Corporate Policy Advisor, Michael Cook, went on to explain the direction of the Route Map, from a calculated emissions baseline, through 5 main themes of Resilience; Transport Use; Nature Based solutions; Energy; and Waste Management. Each theme would be translated into milestones and within the milestones there would be actions identified by officer workshops and detailed to drive delivery. The presentation gave an example of how milestones, actions and sub-actions would be developed within one particular theme. Mr Cook went on to refer to engagement, governance and delivery of the Route Map.  As part of active engagement with the public and stakeholders it was planned to have a Climate Citizens Assembly/Panel.  Also proposed was a high level Advisory Group to provide external oversight and a Biennial Conference to involve interest groups, communities, local and national partners and elected Members in a review of climate change matters and our response.

 

3.2       Members thanked officers for the presentation and for the work undertaken to get to this point. They stressed the importance of translating the Route Map into actions as soon as possible recognising that some actions were already in progress.  Mr Aikman advised that the actions in progress and those under development would be reflected in future reports. Once the Route Map was approved officers would address implementation with work being carried out to ensure actions and sub actions were mainstreamed throughout the Council. Organisationally the Council should show leadership in terms of what was needed for the region.  In response to a question about the presence of natural carbon sinks in the Borders, Mr Cook explained that there was some evidence of sites.  However there was still debate over the significance of carbon absorption and technology was still in development in terms of sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere.  With regard to the Citizens Assembly which was proposed as part of the Route Map, Mr Cook advised that this was not likely to be on a one-off basis but would continue to exist in order to inform and advise the regional approach.  It would be necessary for the membership of the assembly to be truly representative to enable co-governance of the approach, particularly around a ‘just transition’.

 

DECISION

NOTED the presentation attached as an appendix to this minute.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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