Agenda item

Reducing our impact on the climate and transition to Net Zero.

1.1         Councillor Richards introduced Louise Cox, Environment Strategy Coordinator, and Michael Cook, Corporate Policy Advisor, to deliver a presentation on Climate Change and Net Zero which had been requested as an item on the agenda.  Scottish Borders Council had declared a climate emergency in September 2022 and had developed a Scottish Borders Climate Change Route Map for action in the Scottish Borders Council area and the organisation.  The Scottish Borders Climate Change Route Map (CCRM) set a strategic direction for the Council and its partners and communities to move to a net zero emissions Scottish Borders economy by 2045 in line with the national target set by the Scottish Government.  The CCRM was structured around five themes which were Building Resilience, Decarbonised our Transport Use, Lowering our Energy Consumption, Decarbonising our Waste Management, and Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change.  The CCRM was approved by Scottish Borders Council on 10 March 2022 and Place Making was identified as being key to take the CCRM forward with partners and communities.  The CCRM promoted a citizen’s assembly to see how people want to develop priorities and to engage societal effort.  There had been guidance from the Scottish Government that any transition had to be just, ensuring that benefits were fairly distributed and the brunt of paying for net zero wouldn’t rest on those least able to.  The Environment Strategy Coordinator advised that conversations had been developing through Place Making looking at domestic energy efficiency and bulk purchasing.  Price rises in energy had been concerning, and furthermore, the role of transport could be assessed as part of the Place Making Process.

1.2         Attendees discussed the CCRM and issues related to climate change and net zero,  Graham Marshall of a Greener Hawick suggested that there should be an energy plan for the community and that the Greener Hawick organisation were working on hydrogen production.  Mr Cook advised that energy ‘masterplanning’ was in development as part of the Borderlands inclusive growth deal to take a proactive approach to identifying energy need for the region.  Local authorities would come under statutory obligation to develop local heating and energy efficiency strategy as part of a wider strategy on demand planning.  Mr Cook advised that the Scottish Government were encouraged by district heating however there may be challenges in ensuring it was supported by an appropriate financial plan.  Councillor McAteer stated that the Area Partnership should consider how to be practically involved in shaping and delivering an energy plan for the region.  With regards to infrastructure for electric charging points for electric vehicles, the Corporate Policy Advisor advised that he had engaged previously in delivering strategic charging points and that half of charging points in the region were delivered by the local authority.  Currently, electric vehicle charging points had been free of charge, however this may not be sustainable in the future.  A quote received for an electric charging connection in Hawick was rated as £7,000 and the unit price of 25-30p per unit may need to increase closer to 50p.

DECISION

NOTED the update