New guidelines for councils on achieving climate friendly policies through ...
New guidelines for councils on achieving climate friendly policies through
Change Guidance for Chief Executives' stresses community planning as the
community leadership have been published.
Published jointly by COSLA, SOLACE and the Scottish executive, 'Climate
over-arching framework for climate change protection - with chief executives
in the vanguard.
COSLA president Norman Murray says that climate change is one of the
greatest threats to our environment: 'Climate change is already affecting
communities across Scotland, so policy development across all council
services has to take this into account.
'And because councils have a community leadership role it is essential that
our understanding of how climate change will change the needs of our
communities is developed from the very top.'
Cllr Murray added: 'By adopting this guidance, chief executives are
putting themselves in the forefront of responding to climate change - I hope
they and their colleagues in councils will make full use of this guidance.'
The guidance provides an action list for chief executives allowing them to
identify what their councils are already doing to counter the effects of
climate change and to go on to put in place new policies to increase their
efforts.
Throughout the document are examples of good practice already in place in
Scottish councils and, says SOLACE chairman George Thorley, there is much
more going on.
'Councils in Scotland have been quick to recognise and react to problems
both real and potential, posed by climate change and there are many examples
of good practice,' says Mr Thorley, 'for example, all councils are involved
in tackling the related issue of fuel poverty, by working with the private
sector to improve homes.
'Some councils are placing renewable energy at the centre of large-scale
development plans while others are investing in a rolling fund to improve
energy efficiency - cutting costs and making savings.
'My own authority, South Ayrshire Council, is deeply involved in providing
energy efficiency advice to businesses and householders,' Mr Thorley
continued.
'SOLACE very much sees the role of the chief executive as key to the
development of these types of policies and we are delighted to have been so
closely involved in the development of these guidelines.'
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