Highland Council welcomes the launch of Scottish Governments climate campaign

The Highland Council welcomes the launch of Scottish Governments climate campaign, ‘Let’s do Net Zero’. This campaign ties in with, and reinforces, work well underway between the Council and key partners to ensure money, resource and expertise are available and focused on proactively addressing climate change.

The Council is committed to tackling this issue though the following positive actions:

•    Investment of £480,000 to develop and expand the Climate Change and Energy team and ensure successful delivery of pivotal projects and initiatives such as the Electric Vehicles Infrastructure, Food Growing and Green Hydrogen.

•    The appointed of the new Principal Project Manager for the Highland Adapts initiative which will pioneer a fair, inclusive and integrated approach to adapting to climate change.

•    Through the £7m Salix Recycling Fund, the largest recycling fund in the UK for a Local Authority, the Council has undertaken a huge amount of work which will see a significant carbon reduction and help the Council reach its carbon neutral targets whilst ensuring reduced spend on energy across the corporate estate.

•    Focussing on nature-based solutions and working with partners to deliver practical solutions to the climate and ecological emergency.

•    Improving the Council’s communications with the ambition for the Council to be transparent ensuring engagement, both internally and externally, with our climate agenda.

•    Aligning policies and projects with the principles set out in the Just Transition Commissions report, embedding equality and inclusivity in our transition to carbon neutrality.

Chair of the Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee and the Climate Change Working Group, Councillor Trish Robertson said: “This Scottish Government campaign reminds us all of our responsibility in tackling the climate and ecological emergency, and the importance of collective action. Highland Council will continue to ensure that our unique regional challenges are considered and addressed as we move towards a Net Zero Highland.”