2020 Highland Climate Change Conference

Welcome to the Highland Climate Change Conference

Addressing the Climate and Ecological Emergency and Working towards a Green Recovery.

Last year, The Highland Council announced a climate and ecological emergency in recognition of the serious and accelerating changes to the world caused by climate change.

This year, on 2nd November, the local authority will hold an online conference to discuss our regional, national and global response to this emergency.

Download the Agenda for the full list of talks and timings on the video above.

This year’s Highland Climate Change Conference will feature inspirational and knowledgeable speakers, including Roseanna Cunningham MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform), Dr Roxane Andersen (Senior Research Fellow at the Environmental Research Institute of UHI), David Whiteford OBE (Chairman of North Highland Initiative), Lord Thurso (Chairman of Visit Scotland), Graham Neville (Area Manager, Northern Isles and North Highland of NatureScot) and David Richardson (Development Manager – Highlands and Islands, Federation of Small Businesses).

The conference and associated workshops will all take place online and on the same day and will all be free to attend.

Chair of the Climate Change Working Group, Cllr Trish Robertson said: “We are proud to be taking part in another Climate Change Conference in November and would encourage anyone to sign up to the workshops or simply join the Microsoft Live based conference on the day and listen in."

“The conference will focus on four vitally important topics, including personal responsibility and the actions we can each take in Highland to help have a positive impact on the climate emergency.”

She added: “We hope the conference will not only be interesting and engaging, but also highlight how taking action against climate change can also be rewarding and fun.”

The Conference will be split into four sections, each tackling an important component of the climate and ecological emergency. The conference will conclude with online workshops on each of these four themes. It is possible to sign up for these workshops on Eventbrite.

Description of 4 themes:

• Biodiversity and Habitat
  This section will take a closer look at the impact that climate change and human activity has had on biodiversity and habitats in Highland. Attendees will hear from peatland, agriculture, food systems, biodiversity and wildlife experts.
• The Bigger Picture
  This section will put our actions in Highland within a broader context of national and international targets and policy. Attendees will hear about The Highland Council’s work, Bristol City’s ‘One City Ecological Emergency Strategy’, climate adaptation, the UN sustainable development goals and how behavioural change can fight climate change.
• Personal Responsibility
  This section will examine what we as individuals can do to reduce our impact on the environment. Attendees will hear from Friends of the Earth, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Zero Waste Scotland, and Creative Carbon Scotland.
• The Green Recovery
  The economic turmoil brought by COVID-19 offers an opportunity of a green recovery to a more sustainable way of living and working. Attendees will hear about sustainable transport, renewable energy, green tourism, forestry and the role of small businesses.

DOWNLOAD THE AGENDA HERE (updated)

 

List of speakers

Biodiversity and Habitat section:

• Donnie Campbell, Endurance Mountain Athlete and Running Coach
  You can follow Donnie on Instagram
• Graham Neville, Area Manager for Northern Isles and North Highland, NatureScot
• Bruce Wilson, Public Affairs Manager, The Scottish Wildlife Trust
• Becky Wilson, Project Manager, Farm Carbon Cutting Toolkit
• Deborah Halliday, Supervisory Student, Scottish School of Forestry
• Dr Roxane Andersen, Senior Research Fellow, Environment Research Institute of UHI

The Bigger Picture section:

• Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
• Keith Masson, Climate Change Officer, The Highland Council
• Anna Beswick, Programme Manager, Adaption Scotland, SNIFFER
• Andy Kerr, Director, UK and Ireland, EIT Climate-KIC
• Lewis Ryder-Jones, Deputy Chief Executive, Scotland's International Development Alliance
• Ian Barrett, Chief Executive, Avon Wildlife Trust

Video Montage:

• Alistair Whyte, Plantlife Scotland
• Sarah Gaukroger, Townscape Heritage, The Highland Council
• Dr Laura Hamlet, Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust
• Chris Leakey, Marine Alliance for Science an Technology for Scotland (MASTS), People Ocean Planet
• Henry Dobson, Woodland Trust
• Morag Smith, Extinction Rebellion
• Natalie Stevenson, Buglife
• Teach The Future
• Stephen Magee, RSPB
• Brewdog Forest
• Stephan and Kendall Anderson, Life in Postcards
• Keith Masson, The Highland Council
• Drew Hendry MP

Personal Responsibility section:

• Laura Young, Less Waste Laura
• Miriam Adcock, Project Manager, Consumer Waste Prevention, Zero Waste Scotland
• Tim Mullens, Communications and Community Support Officer, Keep Scotland Beautiful
• Holly Gillibrand, Student, Fort William Branch of Scottish Youth Climate Strike. Fridays for Future. Scotland: The Big Picture.
• Lizbeth Collie, Active Travel Engagement Officer, Sustrans
• Iain Thompson, Sustrans Bike Officer, Sustrans
• Bo Hickey, Sustrans Infrastructure Officer, Sustrans
• Gemma Lawrence, Culture/SHIFT Officer, Creative Carbon Scotland
• Lewis Coenen-Rowe, Culture/SHIFT Officer, Creative Carbon Scotland

The Green Recovery section:

• Rt Hon Viscount John Thurso, Chairman, Visit Scotland
• Magnus Davidson, Research Associate, Environmental Research Institute
• Bryony Beck, Home Energy Scotland and Energy Savings Trust
• Ryan Felber, Energy Efficient Business Adviser, Zero Waste Scotland
• Joe Perry, Climate Change Coordinator, The Highland Council
• David Whiteford OBE, Chairman of North Highland Initiative
• David Richardson, Development Manager, Highlands and Islands, Federation of Small Businesses
• Bruce Ware, Marketing Manager, Changeworks
• Dean Wigglesworth, Partnership Manager and Home Energy Specialist, Changeworks

DOWNLOAD THE SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES HERE

 

Sign up for the Workshops

Workshops on the four key themes of the Conference will begin immediately after the main event and people can sign up for a free ticket via Eventbrite. Links are provided below:

Biodiversity and Habitat - Joe Perry
This workshop will take a closer look at the impact that climate change and human activity has had on biodiversity and habitats in Highland.
Sign up for the Biodiversity and Habitat workshops on Eventbrite. (external link)

The Bigger Picture - Keith Masson
This workshop will put our actions in Highland within a broader context of national and international targets and policy.
Sign up for The Bigger Picture workshops on Eventbrite. (external link)

Personal Responsibility - Cllr Trish Robertson
This workshop will examine what we as individuals can do to reduce our impact on the environment.
Sign up for the Personal Responsibility workshop on Eventbrite. (external link)

The Green Recovery - Stuart Black
The economic turmoil brought by COVID-19 offers an opportunity of a green recovery to a more sustainable way of living and working.
Sign up for The Green Recovery workshop on Eventbrite. (external link)

 

Further related links

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure