Team effort to tackle climate change in Highland

Members of the Council’s recovery board yesterday (25 January 2021) heard an update on the Council’s work to tackle climate change from the Executive Chief Officer for Infrastructure and Environment.

Chair of the Recovery Board, Cllr Alasdair Christie said: “It was great to hear an update on how we are working to tackle climate change and the projects which are currently underway.

“We heard that the Scottish Government has set ambitious targets for Scotland so our work must align with the progress happening at a national level. Climate change is an important focus for the recovery board as we must continue to discuss how the Highlands green recovery will positively impact our local communities in the future. I am looking forward to further updates from the team and the Council’s climate change working group.”

On 16 December 2020, the Scottish Government updated Scotland’s 2018-2032 climate change plan which sets out the Government’s approach to delivering a green recovery.  

Executive Chief Officer for Infrastructure and Environment, Malcolm MacLeod said: “Our response to climate change isn’t just about one team driving it forward, it is about the Council as a whole, working with Partners, to make progress on areas such as renewable energy generation and the need for us to benefit directly and from supply chain activity.

“We are also driving forward our own projects. Last week we announced news on the Ness hydro scheme. This project is due to start this year and shows the benefits of using renewable energy directly into our own buildings”.

The Highland Council has begun detailed design works on a major £2.5m energy project at a site on the River Ness, part-funded by the Scottish Government through Salix Finance. The project is set to save up to 1,420 tonnes of CO2 per annum which will help to meet vital climate and ecological emergency targets.

There are two reports to be presented to the climate change working group this Friday (29 January 2021), one on landscapes as carbon sinks and the second report sets out a new approach towards the vision, internal structure and funding bids associated with the Climate Change & Energy Team.

Both reports will be presented at the next meeting of the Council’s climate change working group.