Global climate change a 'local issue' for Scotland

All Scots have been urged to play their part in tackling the global threat of climate change. Environment Minister Ross Finnie addressed the Climate Change -Focus on Scotland Conference in Crieff last week, where he welcomed findings from a new report on Local Authorities response to climate change, but said more could be done to involve the wider community.

Local Authorities across Scotland are taking climate change seriously, bringing in a range of measures to minimise the factors that cause climate change and others to deal with the impacts.

Mr Finnie said, "The Scottish Executive is committed to tackling the causes of climate change and adapting to its unavoidable impacts but we cannot do it alone. I commend the wide range of actions and initiatives which local authorities have taken to address climate change".

"Action has been taken by some to target emissions, save energy and introduce local transport strategies. Other Authorities have taken adaptation steps, building flood defences and ensuring community involvement in developing infrastructures to protect landscape and species.

"However, I recognise that more needs to be done to help local authorities work with their communities. Accordingly, the Scottish Executive will develop a Scottish Climate Change Impacts Partnership to support local authorities and other organisations in Scotland to develop a climate change response.

"The public too must recognise that the response to climate change begins at home."

A Survey of Scottish Local Authority Activity on Climate Change was commissioned by the Scottish and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) and was funded by the Scottish Executive. The report was commissioned to support and inform development of a Scottish Climate Change Impacts Partnership. The research was also supported by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN).