Have your say on Carbon CLEVER via Leader’s Blog

The Highland Council has launched a Carbon CLEVER blog to encourage the public to have their say on delivering a carbon neutral Inverness in a low carbon Highlands by 2025.

Council Leader Drew Hendry will moderate the blog, which he has opened by asking the public: “It’s 2025 and the Highlands are admired as a shining example of a low carbon region and Inverness is carbon neutral.  What 3 aspects of this Carbon Clever future excite you most?”
The blog is available here.

The initiative already has a Twitter address, @Carbon_CLEVER,  and an introductory webpage, http://www.highland.gov.uk.

A conference held on Friday to define an early direction of Carbon CLEVER was recorded and can be watched online at http://www.highland.gov.uk/carbon-conference.htm.

The conference was attended by over 100 delegates and a report on the outcomes is currently being completed by Council staff. The Highland Council would like to pass on its gratitude to all of those who attended, presented, and took part in the conference.

Councillor Hendry announced plans to create a network of safe and high quality cycle routes in Inverness.  Further to this, SSE made an offer to the Council to install the infrastructure for 12 electric bicycles which will be operated as a hire scheme across Inverness.

Councillor Hendry said: “We welcome this fantastic offer, and hope this can be the start of an exciting cycle hire scheme across Inverness. Electric bicycles will allow those less confident in their cycling ability to travel on two wheels. We will now work both with SSE, and the people of Inverness to design and install the cycle hire scheme so that it achieves the most benefit for the city.”

The University of the Highlands and Islands announced ambitious plans at the Carbon CLEVER conference for the development of a low carbon research institute based at the Inverness Campus at Beechwood, which will support the Council’s initiative.

Ten workshops were completed throughout the day focusing on themes such as transport, renewable energy and heat, and behaviour change. Participants in these workshops identified a total of 60 short, medium and long term goals for the initiative.

Councillor Hendry concluded the conference by saying:  “The Council has a major role to play in co-ordinating Carbon Clever Highlands, but to make the initiative a success will require public bodies, private business, community enterprises, and the residents of Highlands, you and me, to support Carbon Clever Highlands and commit to it.”