Communities across the country are helping Scotland slash carbon emissions, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson said yesterday.

He announced that 21 groups across Scotland have been awarded more than £2.9m for the next three years through the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF), which gives practical support to people to live in a low-carbon way and back Scotland’s ambitious target of cutting carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

Applications were independently assessed and winners include the following:

Fyne Futures - Towards Zero Carbon Bute won £158,788 to encourage behaviour change on short journeys and actively support energy saving in Bute's built heritage

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Skills Share Dundee won £181,885 to bring together people from across Dundee - old and young, students and professionals - to share knowledge and learn new skills

North Glasgow Housing Association won £292,635 to implement change through recycling and re-use, energy saving, and food growing

Allotment Association of Crieff, Perth and Kinross, won £11,150 to provide 30 plots where members will be able to grow their own seasonal produce, reducing food miles, waste and packaging

Mr Stevenson said: "The Climate Challenge Fund has captured the imagination of our communities, producing many innovative ideas and projects to change behaviours and drive down emissions."

The Minister said he would "take every opportunity" to promote Scottish commitment while in Rio de Janeiro this week for the UN Summit on sustainable development.

Since its launch in 2008, the CCF has made 525 individual awards across 383 communities in Scotland.

(NE)