In 2007 South Ayrshire Council agreed a local action plan to tackle the global threat of climate change as part of its commitment to Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration (SCCD). Members of the Council’s Leadership Panel are driving forward the Council’s commitment to carbon management and have approved a Carbon Management and Implementation Plan.
Officers from varous sections across the Council have been working with the Carbon Trust to develop a Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan for future carbon management. The Plan formulates a major element in the Councils willingness to will deliver the promise that it made when it signed up to Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration in January 2007.
The Carbon Management Plan sets out 24 projects for the next five years. The Plan will require an investment of 12.8 million pounds, approximately 9.2 million pounds of which will be needed to meet our targets for the reduction of waste to landfill sites. However, full implementation of the Plan will avoid future expenditure of 6 million pounds each year by 2013.
Councillor Peter Convery, the Council’s Portfolio Carrier for Sustainability and the Environment said: “Protecting the environment is one of the key aims of the Council, as it stated in a recently published document “Securing the Future for South Ayrshire” it has pledged “to establish South Ayrshire as the most dynamic, inclusive and sustainable community in Scotland”. Our Single Outcome Agreement has also prioritised adapting to the impacts of climate change and becoming more sustainable with the carbon emissions from our buildings being a way of measuring our progress.
“We are investing in the future of our environment, but we are also funding changes that will save us millions of pounds in years to come.
“We are committed to working with the Scottish and United Kingdom Governments to address the reality of our changing climate, by reducing our carbon emissions and adapting our services to cope with the changes that are expected in the coming years.”
“Everyone has a responsibility to protect the environment and the Council is leading by example, we are managing and monitoring our energy consumption and and reducing waste. We are engaging with residents, businesses and our partner agencies and encouraging them to work within us on this very important task.”
The Carbon Management and Implementation Plan covers the next five years up to 2012/13 with the aim of reducing our emissions by 20% at the end of the period, or 11,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This will be achieved by cutting the Council’s emissions from buildings, street lighting, vehicle fleet, employee travel on business, employee commuting and waste management. Emissions will be monitored and collated.
A Carbon Management Working Group has been established that will work in partnership with the the Council’s Asset management Group and the Corporate Management Team. Together these Officers will:
- Review progress.
- Deliver carbon reducations.
- Bring about financial savings.
- Meet new regulatory requirements such as the Carbon Reducation Commitment and the Scottish Climate Change Bill.
- Cascade information to all employees and the wider community.
- Motivate others to become more aware of carbon emissions.