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Climate Challenge Fund
03/06/2008
A new £18.8 million fund to help communities take local action to tackle the global threat of climate change opens for business today.
The Climate Challenge Fund, which will support community-led action to reduce emissions, was officially launched by Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead and Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie.
At the launch at Glasgow's Shawlands Academy, an eco-school, Mr Lochhead said:
"Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing us today, both here in Scotland and across the world. We want Scotland to be part of the global solution.
"There are many things we can do as individuals to reduce our carbon emissions, but by acting and working together as communities we can do much more.
"That's why the Climate Challenge Fund is so important. It will empower communities to take action to reduce their carbon footprint and make a real difference to the local and national environment.
"The £18.8 million scheme is open to a wide variety of organisations to deliver innovative solutions at a local level such as becoming more energy efficient, encouraging people to walk and cycle more, and using local, sustainable food.
"As well as significantly reducing emissions, these measures will also bring wider social and economic benefits to improve quality of life in communities.
"This is part of an exciting new era for community empowerment and I'd encourage all those who want to make a difference locally and globally to come forward with their ideas."
Mr Harvie said:
"Every day it becomes clearer that the world is waking up to climate change, and seeing how urgently we need to make the transition to a low carbon future. It requires nothing less than the transformation of our economy, our society, and our politics.
"But communities across Scotland are also coming to see how they can begin that transition in positive and creative ways, giving leadership to others as they go. I'm delighted to be able to say that the Climate Challenge Fund will help empower them to turn great ideas into a reality."
Professor Jan Bebbington, Vice Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, said:
"People in communities across Scotland are beginning to understand that climate change is a serious problem and that tackling it is an economic necessity - the longer we leave things, the more it will cost us.
"The Scottish Government and the Scottish Greens must be commended for their intention to help communities reduce their own carbon emissions by taking action at a local level. There are a handful of communities already driving change. This fund will encourage and support more action in streets, estates, villages, towns and cities all over Scotland to help get us pointing in the right direction."
WWF Scotland's Acting Director, Dr Dan Barlow, said:
"We know that many communities around Scotland are keen to play their part in tackling climate change. By supporting practical action in communities this initiative can make a real contribution towards a achieving a low carbon Scotland."
The scheme is open to applications from organisations including voluntary sector, charities, schools, colleges, universities, local authorities and housing partnerships to fund projects which demonstrate a significant reduction in emissions.
It is part of a wide range of efforts by the Scottish Government to reduce Scotland's carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.