Including the closely related term climate emergency.
… Scottish Borders Council – 25 September 2020 RESPONDING TO THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY Report by Chief Executive SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL 25 September 2020 1 PURPOSE AND SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to set out the Council’s strategic direction on the issue of climate change, and to provide a lead to our partners, to businesses…
…, communities and people in the Scottish Borders. The report considers that the Council should declare a Climate Emergency, reflecting its commitment to action on the issue. 1.2 The act of declaration has a vital role to play in building public awareness that we are in a climate emergency situation which places unprecedented demands on all individuals, communities and businesses, as well as public…
… bodies. The report also acknowledges that while a Climate Emergency declaration issued by a council can be a powerful catalyst for action, it must be paired with a clear action plan and an appropriate commitment of resources. 1.3 In responding to the climate emergency, there is an urgent need to review how the Scottish Borders can make a step-change in activity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions…
… change by 2045. It also considers the Council’s responsibilities in responding to the climate emergency as an organisation. 2 STATUS OF REPORT 2.1 At its meeting of 31 January 2020, the Sustainable Development Committee, chaired by Councillor Aitchison, heard presentations from: Mr Dave Gorman, Director of Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh, entitled…
… ‘Responding to the Climate Crisis – Urgency, Embedding and Lessons Learned’; and Mr Ian Aikman, the Council’s Chief Planning and Housing Officer, called ‘Climate Action – Playing #OurPart’. In response, the Committee agreed to recommend to Council that Council considers a report on the climate emergency as soon as possible. This report is presented in response to that recommendation. 2.2…