Climate Challenge Fund

Communities across Scotland will benefit from new support to tackle climate change and embrace the transition to a carbon-neutral society.

The latest round Climate Challenge Fund for 2019-21 will support 87 projects.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“We all know the significant threats posed by climate change. It is a pressing global issue requiring action on an international scale, but positive and meaningful change can, and must, also take place at a local level.

“This funding will allow a network of initiatives to continue to give people opportunities to embrace low-carbon living and do their bit to protect our planet, including car-sharing initiatives, making buildings more energy efficient and promoting sustainable, healthy food growing.”   

Derek Robertson, Chief Executive, Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:

“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our society today, but it’s a challenge that communities across Scotland are responding to with enthusiasm and imagination thanks to the support of the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund.

“Keep Scotland Beautiful has been proud to manage and develop the Climate Challenge Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government for the last decade. In addition to providing tailored support for projects awarded funding, we are delighted to offer free training, events and networking opportunities for any Scottish-based, community-led organisation wanting to take action on climate change.”

Background

More than 1,100 projects have benefitted from more than £104 million of funding provided by the Climate Challenge Fund since 2008.

Applications to the Climate Challenge Fund must be community-led, help reduce carbon emissions, improve community understanding of climate change and have a sustainable legacy.

65 multi-year projects will receive CCF funding in 2019-21, as well as 22 new projects. The 22 new recipients in the 2019-21 CCF, managed on behalf of the Scottish Government by Keep Scotland Beautiful, include:

• £293,638 for Arran Eco Savvy (Arran): this project will offer home energy efficiency advice to help residents on the Isle of Arran to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions with additional support to address fuel poverty.
• £195,824 for Alford and District Men’s Shed (Aberdeenshire): this project will improve the energy efficiency of former school buildings and provide food growing space for the community.
• £254,936 for Leith Community Crops in Pots (Edinburgh): this project will provide a wide range of workshops, online learning and community activities that improve participants’ Climate Literacy and climate change combating skills.
• £263,061 for ReMode Renfrewshire (Renfrewshire): this project will empower young people and the wider community to take an active role in combating the environmental impact of fashion and textiles.

The Climate Challenge Fund Capacity Building Programme offers free support to develop the capacity of any community-led organisation in Scotland wishing to tackle climate change through training, networking and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Further information is available on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website