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Policy

Climate change

From
Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Environment and climate change
Policy actions  7 of 10

Community-led climate action

The transition to net zero will impact on people and communities. Encouraging transformational change across all of our communities and supporting them to be climate ready is vital in our just transition to net zero.

Community climate action hubs 

In order to provide a strategic regional approach to climate change action, we are supporting a network of regional community climate action hubs with up to £5.5 million in 2024-2025.

The hubs work to:

  • build awareness of the climate emergency and actions local groups can take
  • support groups to develop climate action projects embed climate solutions into local plans
  • help groups take up funding opportunities
  • facilitate networking
  • ensure a joined-up approach to tackling climate change at a regional level

The first two hubs launched in September 2021 and the network has now expanded, consisting of the 20 hubs.

See: contact information for climate action hubs.

Hubs are in development for the remaining areas in Scotland. If you want more information about your area, please email us: ClimateChangeEngagement@gov.scot.

Climate action towns

Climate Action Towns, was a three-year initiative led by Architecture and Design Scotland, aiming to cultivate community-led climate action across nine Scottish towns,  providing them with support to develop climate-focused local plans and inclusive engagement for a just transition to net zero.

The project, which concluded in March 2024, involved nine towns:

  • Alness (Highlands)
  • Annan (Dumfries and Galloway)
  • Blackburn (West Lothian)
  • Campbeltown (Argyll and Bute)
  • Holytown (North Lanarkshire)
  • Invergordon (Highlands)
  • Stevenston (North Ayrshire)
  • Benarty communities (Ballingry, Crosshill, Lochore and Glencraig; Fife)
  • Drongan, Rankinston and Stair (East Ayrshire)

Communities and wider stakeholders worked together to target local systemic barriers, deliver local plans, enable further collaborative working, and develop methodology for effective engagement and delivery of climate action.

From the place-based approach taken, it was learned that effective climate action is not one-size-fits-all. Each town began at a different stage and brought unique needs and assets to the table. This project highlighted several key themes that were crucial to ensuring the effective implementation of climate initatives across all locations:

  • establishing trust and building strong relationships within communities
  • taking a place-based approach, making climate risks tangible and actionable helps integrate climate action into daily life and planning processes
  • leadership and collaboration across across sectors enables a strong network that is resilient to change
  • community capacity and cohesion is key to delivering impactful action
  • embedding climate actions in local plans addresses immediate climate risks and supports broader community needs
  • dedicated resources enable consistent and impactful action, which can include funding specific roles within development trusts or local authorities

For more information and resources, visit Architecture & Design Scotland’s website:

Community engagement initiatives 

To support the wider work of the climate action hubs, we also fund several smaller initiatives that provide specific and targeted support:

  • Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN) is a volunteer-led network that supports community-led action in Scotland to address the climate and nature emergency, and work for a just, thriving and resilient Scotland.
  • Circular Communities Scotland’s Share and Repair Network supports existing, developing and brand new sharing libraries and repair cafes to support a move to borrowing instead of purchasing seldom used items and to give people skills to repair and re-use items. The project offers guidance, a mentorship scheme and support network for any group interested in setting up

Climate Challenge Fund

The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) was delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful and ran from 2008 until 2022, providing over £110 million to 1150 projects, .

The projects covered a range of climate action including helping communities to reduce reliance on car travel, cut waste, grow local food, and lower energy use in homes and community buildings. 

Climate Challenge Fund review

A  review of the fund in 2019 found that whilst the CCF played an important and valued role it needed to be revised.

Findings included support for:

  • the inclusion of adaptation
  • widening the CCF to include established organisations working with communities
  • improving strategic and networking opportunities
  • encouraging shared learning

Academic assessments of the CCF were reviewed alongside literature on other similar community-based sustainability initiatives. The findings were consistent with a number of findings from the review, including support for longer term projects and improved networking opportunities. The literature review also highlighted the need for improved support around the legacy of the projects. Read the full literature review.

This led to the development of the climate action hub programme.

Contact

For more information on our policy supporting community-led climate action, email ClimateChangeEngagement@gov.scot.

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