Edinburgh Climate Commission takes shape

Edinburgh City Council and ECCI are progressing plans to establish an Edinburgh Climate Commission that will spearhead the city's medium and longer term response to the climate crisis with a major conference and youth summit in development for early 2020. 

Earlier this year, Edinburgh joined cities and nations all over the globe in announcing decisive action to tackle the climate emergency, setting the Capital the ambitious target of becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030.

With input from ECCI experts, a raft of immediate steps and short term Council actions have been mapped out and approved by Councillors at a special meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee last month. A new citywide survey has just been launched to gauge Edinburgh residents' views on climate change and to raise awareness of what actions individuals can take to make a positive difference for the environment. 

The Edinburgh Talks Climate Citizen Survey is the first stage in a major public consultation to help fully involve the people of Edinburgh in delivering a greener, healthier, fairer city for future generations. 

ECCI is drawing on links to the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN) - a new initiative to boost climate action in the cities of Edinburgh, Belfast and Leeds - which aims to help the UK meet its climate targets by catalysing cross-sector action and increasing the flow of green finance.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: "We’ve signed up to achieve a net-zero position by 2030 and are now working on the actions required to get us there. It's going to require big changes to the way we live and work for all of us to make that a reality.

"We’re now starting a proper dialogue with everyone in the Capital, to find out what they think about the issue and what positive changes they might consider making in their daily lives to join the collective drive to improve the situation. This will help us identify what the best actions are in driving down our carbon footprint. Everyone has a stake in this, so please make your voice count."

Deputy Council Leader Cammy Day said: "This is about quality of life, about making our city as sustainable and fair as possible, for everyone's benefit. We know people care about this, deeply.  It's not something one person, organisation, government or business can tackle on their own, but if each one of us does whatever he or she can to contribute to a better future for Edinburgh and for the planet, together we can make a real difference."

Jamie Brogan, Head of Innovation & Skills at ECCI, who leads ECCI's work with PCAN (Place-Based Climate Action Network) said: “The need for collective commitment to change is critical to meeting these ambitious targets. We know that translating policy and targets into action on the ground takes buy-in and engagement from the people most affected. The Edinburgh Climate Commission will be representative of those who have a role in changing our city, including citizens and communities, and businesses alongside public and third sector organisations.”

Want to know more about ECCI's PCAN project?

ECCI is helping to deliver a new initiative to boost climate action in Edinburgh, Belfast and Leeds.