Communities throughout Scotland are to take action against the impact of climate change thanks to support from the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund (CCF).

Making the announcement, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, added that the latest round of CCF funding will see 18 projects throughout Scotland receive more than £2.2m. This will take the total number of projects funded by the CCF to 676, with a total value of more than £59m.

Among the recipients are:

• The Broadford and Strath Community Company, Isle of Skye (£58,500). To create a community growing hub to encourage local people, hotels and restaurants to grow and source food locally.


• U Power (£221,558). To work with young people in Midlothian and promote lower carbon behaviour, such as cycling and consumption of local food.

• Save Energy Saves the Environment (£122,060). To work with an ethnic minority community, particularly women and disadvantaged members of the communities in the South and North of Glasgow, to raise awareness of climate change and how to reduce energy use.

Minister Wheelhouse said: "Scotland is on track to meet our world-leading 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target but climate change is still one of the most serious threats facing our global community.

"As a result of the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) harmful greenhouse gas emissions are being steadily reduced and we are building more resilient communities throughout Scotland.

"To date we have invested £59 million in the Climate Challenge Fund – including an increase in this year's budget from £10.5m to £11.8m thanks to the ever increasing number of quality applications coming forward. I am confident based on what I have seen first-hand that this has been a good investment and money well spent."

(JP/MH)