This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Global climate change a ‘local issue’
06/06/2005
All Scots were urged today to play their part in
tackling the global threat of climate change.
Environment Minister Ross Finnie addressed the Climate
Change - Focus on Scotland Conference in Crieff today,
where he welcomed findings from a new report on Local
Authorities response to climate change, but said more could
be done to involve the wider community.
Local Authorities across Scotland are taking climate
change seriously, bringing in a range of measures to
minimise the factors that cause climate change and others
to deal with the impacts.
Mr Finnie said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to tackling the
causes of climate change and adapting to its unavoidable
impacts but we cannot do it alone.
"I commend the wide range of actions and initiatives
which local authorities have taken to address climate
change.
"Action has been taken by some to target emissions, save
energy and introduce local transport strategies. Other
Authorities have taken adaptation steps, building flood
defences and ensuring community involvement in developing
infrastructures to protect landscape and species.
"However, I recognise that more needs to be done to help
local authorities work with their communities.
Accordingly, the Scottish Executive will develop a Scottish
Climate Change Impacts Partnership to support local
authorities and other organisations in Scotland to develop
a climate change response.
"The public too must recognise that the response to
climate change begins at home."
A Survey of Scottish Local Authority Activity on Climate
Change was commissioned by the Scottish and Northern
Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) and was
funded by the Scottish Executive. The report was
commissioned to support and inform development of a
Scottish Climate Change Impacts Partnership. The research
was also supported by the UK Climate Impacts Programme
(UKCIP), the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
(COSLA) and the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN).