Report by Chair of Climate Change Working Group
Argyll and Bute Council · 1 November 2022
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 1 November 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Climate Change Working Group Date: 24 October 2022 Climate Change Working Group Highlight Report Argyll and Bute Climate Action 1.0 Executive Summary This CPP sub-group, known as the Climate Change Working Group are planning the production of a Climate Change Action Plan for Argyll and Bute. The Action Plan is proposed to be produced by employing a Climate Change Project Manager to lead the process. The Climate Change Working Group is currently focussed on attracting a funding package to carry out this work. 2.0 Highlight Report 2.1 Action Plan The purpose of the Action Plan is to establish a region-wide climate risk assessment and to develop an integrated set of adaptation, mitigation and engagement actions. The proposed post of Climate Change Project Manager will bring organisations, businesses and communities together to develop a shared vision and understanding of climate change risks and opportunities across the Argyll and Bute region. It will identify priorities for communities, areas and sectors that will establish where (both spatially and thematically) and how the region can increase resilience and adapt, mitigate and engage on climate change issues. It will identify, but not reproduce, climate change work either already happening or part of an organisation or business’s own responsibilities. 2.2 Governance Governance arrangements and structures have been developed in order to support the Climate Change Project Officer post. See previous highlight report for details. 2.3 Funding The Climate Change Working Group are currently pulling together a funding package to support the post of the Climate Change Project Manager. Some funds have
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already been forthcoming from CPP partners, and we are now pursuing external funding sources to complete the planned budget. The cost of a Project Manager post is estimated to be in the region of £120,000 over two years, which would include the salary of an appropriately qualified climate leader, associated employer costs, T&S costs, etc. Subsequent to previous calls for funding contributions, we have two firm contributions from partners: £20,000 NHS Highland - Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership £50,000 Argyll and Bute Council We are extremely grateful to these partners for their contributions. However, we currently have a shortfall of £50,000 towards our target of £120,000. The wider current financial difficulties mean that further contributions from partners are unlikely, and so are additionally looking at external funding sources for the remainder of the funding. 3.0 Summary 1. We propose producing a strategic Action Plan process as the best, and most thorough, way to address the climate emergency in Argyll and Bute. 2. We have an approved governance arrangement for the Climate Change Project Manager post. 3. We are continuing to pursue funding options for the project. Stan Phillips, Chair, CPP Climate Change Working Group For more information, please contact: Stan Phillips, Operations Manager, NatureScot stan.phillips@nature.scot