CPP Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (Andy Macpherson)
Argyll and Bute Council · 10 April 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee — 10 April 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Date: 3 April 2024 Addressing the Climate Emergency in Argyll and Bute: Argyll and Bute Climate Action 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the CPP Argyll And Bute Climate Action project: developing a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for Argyll and Bute, and associated work including the Climate Action Network Hub 2.0 Recommendations The CPP Management Committee are asked to: • Note the approach and status of the project outlined in the report. 3.0 Background The CPP sub-group working on climate change is known as the Climate Change Working Group. It took a fresh look at its remit and potential outputs, which have ultimately centred on producing a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for Argyll and Bute. The plan is to be produced by employing a Climate Change Project Manager to lead on the process. Argyll & the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT) are the employing body and the manager started in post on 30 October 2023. This update sets out the current position. 4.0 Detail 4.1 Funding update The Climate Change Working Group pulled together a funding package to support the post of the Climate Change Project Manager, meaning that the post is fully funded for the 2 year duration, with thanks to all those supporting the project: £80,000 Argyll and Bute Council £15,000 NatureScot £20,000 Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (TSI)
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£10,000 NHS Highland - Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Total = £125,000 4.2 Progress Main activity has been: • One to one meetings with Steering Group, CWG members and other key personnel to identify priorities • Meetings with core/potential national partners, notably Sustainable Scotland Network and Adaptation Scotland including discussion of methodology suitable for specific needs of Argyll • Literature review to inform methodology and best practice in addition to known progress and gaps • Initial outline strategy drafted An initial draft Strategy was presented to the CWG meeting of 20 March. The structure was informed by best and most appropriate exemplars from across Scotland, and by feedback from partner meetings including the emphasis placed on brevity and avoidance of duplication. Points discussed included • Outcomes from key Scottish and UK climate and associated strategies have been mapped and aligned with the three CPP Transport, Housing and Community Wellbeing outcomes. • Volunteers from CWG to work with the project manager to refine the suggested vision statement following CWG comments, thereafter to submit to the CPP Management Committee for approval. • CWG have also been asked to provide any further comments on the draft and appendices to the manager • The group supported the principle of early production of a strategy paper describing strategic approach, and then emphasis on development of the action plan, rather than producing both towards the end of the funded period • Use existing reporting mechanisms, principally Public Body Climate Duty reporting requirements, where possible rather than create new requirements • Use existing data where possible and work within limitations of trying to fill data gaps where there are no mandated requirements • Support partners to identify or create opportunities to meet existing duties: not a mandate to create new duties • Recognise and work within the limits of the areas where CPP partners have control and where they can seek to influence. Notably, private sector emissions may be outwith the scope of influence for the CPP, but it remains important that businesses can be supported to reduce emissions. • The proposed national adaptation strategy places high expectations on the role of communities as part of an overall resilience response.
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• Engagement has been predominantly with institutions and key contacts but working closely with the grassroots engagement programme of the Climate Action Network Hub work funded by Scottish Government which has greatly extended reach. The strategy project is also adding value to the Hub work. • The project is collaborating with the CPP workstream developing Area Plans (working name) Immediate next steps are: • Ongoing engagement – noting the importance of engaging with young people and how branding and identity may support this • Ongoing engagement in conjunction with Climate Hubs • Gap analysis, risk and opportunity assessment methodologies with further guidance from key CPP contacts • Followed by risk and opportunity assessment workshops potentially grouped by CPP Outcomes 4.3 ABCAN (Argyll & Bute Climate Action Network) Hub The Climate Change Strategy project is working closely with the ABCAN (Argyll & Bute Climate Action Network) Hub, which sits within the wider suite of Act Now climate projects in which ACT is engaged. The Hub has Scottish Government funding, and is overseen by a collaboration between ACT, Argyll & Bute Third Sector Interface and Time for Change Argyll & Bute, with the goals of • building awareness of the climate and nature emergency across all communities • Increasing community resilience and knowledge of how to respond to climate change • stimulating community level climate action • embedding cooperation and learning • encouraging community groups to collaborate at a regional level and to work in partnership with other key local stakeholders, and allowing an approach to be developed within each region that reflects local circumstances and priorities The ABCAN hub model is up and running with a delivery team, made up from community organisations, freelancers and ACT employees delivering community climate engagement in all 4 administrative areas ABCAN has created an Argyll & Bute Specific Carbon Literacy Training Course. This free certified training is available to all local residents and incorporates local relevant examples to build engagement. This training package can also be taken in part to create less formal, ‘climate conversations’ within communities ABCAN ran a seed funding programme to March 2023, disbursing c£48k of grants across 39 local groups looking to act on climate change.
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To March ABCAN delivered 3 regional Climate Forums, focussing on Energy, Housing, and Food, to reflect Argyll & Bute priorities and capture community voices which will help to inform the wider strategy for Climate Change action in Argyll & Bute. The ABCAN Website is live at www.abcan.scot and is the platform to access a membership application/portal, offer training opportunities and climate action support, and be the site of a community led Green Map, further supported by the new ABCAN online network for individuals and groups 4.3 Governance The project manager is line managed by ACT and guided and supported by the project Steering Group, a sub-set of the CPP Climate Change Working Group chaired by Rona Gold. The CPP Climate Change Working Group will moderate its activity while this project is ongoing, and proposed new Terms of Reference have been circulated round the group for comment. These reflect a change of emphasis to sharing expertise and knowledge to support the development and delivery of the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Strategy and Action Plan. Andy Macpherson, Climate Change Project Manager For more information, please contact: Andy Macpherson andy@act-now.org.uk