At a full Council meeting today, 09 December, Highland councillors agreed resource requirements and the establishment of a Climate Change Panel. This Panel would have responsibility for oversight of climate change work across the Council, make recommendations around new climate change targets and to consult Highland communities around our approach to tackling the climate emergency.
It was previously agreed the Council's aspiration should be to reposition Highland as a low co2 region and develop a framework around this vision – making best use of natural resources, offering opportunities for carbon friendly investment/offsetting, identifying critical projects and leading on more carbon efficient public services.
Highland Council will ensure funding opportunities can be identified early and presented to the Scottish Government as "shovel ready" projects.
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There is already a significant amount of work underway throughout the Council – through the Change Programme – including the Grey Fleet project, Integrated Transport (public transport and active travel), Asset Rationalisation, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Energy and Renewables.
Highland Council's Executive Chief Officer for Infrastructure and Environment, Malcolm MacLeod, said: "The best way of achieving our outcomes is to seek external assistance in pulling together the various strands of work already underway and matching those against the Scottish Government's national programme.
"This short piece of work is estimated to cost a maximum of £25K, which will effectively be spent to save, given the significant funding streams that Scottish Government has committed to.
"Part of this work will also cover the development of the wider vision to reposition Highland as a low carbon area."
He added: "Members will recognise the scale of the Council's challenge and ambition following the declaration of the climate and ecological emergency and the aspiration to reach a net zero Highland by 2025."
The introduction of a Climate Change Manager has also been proposed to lead the work and provide a sufficient level of seniority within the organisation, supported by a minimum of two officers.
Mr MacLeod added: "Members will recognise the key challenges as well as the very real opportunities for the Council in terms of addressing our climate and ecological emergency. By making these changes there is huge potential to lever in significant funds and reposition the Highlands as the low carbon centre for Scotland. The investment is just the first step."
(CM/JG)
