The Scottish Government’s trail blazing Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) has been branded a success in a new independent review.

The CCF scheme has invested 37.7 million pounds in 345 community projects since 2008, helping reduce carbon emissions and building more sustainable communities.

Successful behaviour changing community projects include:

* Helping people to install home insulation, including applications for grant or subsidy.

* Helping households increase their understanding of how to save energy and money by distributing energy monitors

* Promoting domestic renewable energy as a natural progression from basic home efficiencies to make this less daunting and increase uptake.

* Developing food growing schemes which provided people with no prior interest with useful skills and space to grow their own food. Schemes also inform people where they can buy local sustainable produce, helping to broadened the appeal of eating in season.

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* Encouraging cycling and helping people back onto their bikes.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) continues to inspire communities all over Scotland and demonstrates the nation-wide commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and meet our carbon reduction targets.

“CCF has consistently attracted high quality and inspiring applications. The successes highlighted in today’s report are a direct result of the trail blazing community groups working hard to reduce carbon emissions and turn this essential government funding into real results.

“I’m heartened to see real progress and public pick-up in areas such as home efficiency and food growing, but the report also shows areas that need a further push. While CCF funded cycling initiatives have had great pick-up across the country, travel behaviour remains difficult to change.

"Climate change is one of the most serious threats we face as a global community and we all need to play our part in tackling it. I’m proud of the international leadership Scotland is taking in this arena and of the world-class grassroots action by our communities throughout the country."

Jon Fletcher from Brook Lyndhurst, who conducted the review said: “The review reinforces the drive, commitment and energy that community projects bring to what they do and makes them such a unique and powerful force for positive change.”

(GK)