Fife Council have announced the development of a new sustainable energy and climate action plan (SECAP).

The council has announced an online consultation on the draft 'Climate Fife' action plan and the accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report, taking place until 9 December 2019.

Fifer's can take part by going online or visiting Fife Council offices to view printed copies at:

• Cupar Customer Service Centre, County buildings

• New City House Dunfermline

• Fife House Glenrothes

• Town House, Kirkcaldy

Feedback from the consultation will be used to shape the action plan and the SEA report and the action plan will be published in February 2020. Over the next two years projects included in the action plan will be developed in collaboration with the local community to:

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• Move away from fossil fuel vehicles to active travel and low emission transport by the 2030s

• Reforest land with native trees to absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere

• Reorganise our settlements and daily lives to reduce the need to travel

• Produce enough renewable energy and biomass to meet our energy needs

• Find alternatives to gas fired boilers which will no longer be installed after 2032

• Protect communities, who face the greatest risks from extreme weather and flooding

• Adapt assets, services, settlements and landscapes to build resilience to existing and future climate extremes

• Respond to rising sea levels

What can people in Fife do to help combat climate change now?

• Reduce energy used at home and work by improving energy efficiency

• Install renewable energy generation to reduce your energy bills

• Reduce waste

• Recycle more

• Walk rather than taking the car, where possible. Walking can also help to prevent a range of health conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, some cancers and Alzheimer's

• Use public and active transport

• Reduce your need to fly. Travel by boat and train for holiday and holiday locally

(MH/JG)