Dundee launched its Climate Action Plan on Wednesday (Dec 4) in response to the climate emergency declared by Dundee City Council earlier in the year.
SSN, who supported the development of the plan and worked with the Council’s sustainability team, attended the launch.
The ambitious plan, which aims to set out the actions needed to support Dundee on a long-term pathway to net zero by 2045, is based on work begun in 2018 to engage stakeholders on recommendations and potential actions. SSN attended the first workshop in August 2018.
Local companies and organisations – and the SSN – gathered at the Discovery Point launch on Wednesday morning to show their commitment to reducing emissions from sources including energy use, transport and waste.
Partners across the city are targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for Dundee by 2045 or sooner.
A recent report outlined how the council has slashed its own emissions by 13% in the last year. Dundee City Council has provided yearly Public Bodies Climate Change reports since reporting began in 2014/15. Previous reports are available on our website.
The new plan outlines a Dundee Climate Change Conference next year to allow interest groups and communities to review progress on the issues.
Dundee City Council leader Councillor John Alexander said: “The Climate Action Plan has been prepared to set out a first set of ambitious actions in this long-term pathway.
“It is the culmination of collaborative work between our public, private and community organisations, recognising the fact that a concerted city-wide effort is required.
“Preparation of the plan has allowed our public bodies, businesses and community organisations in Dundee to focus their thoughts on the city-wide action plan, which has been finalised following a number of engagement events and public consultation.
“We are putting forward an initial set of proposals that will bring about practical solutions to reduce emissions from energy use, transport and waste as well as adapting to our changing climate.
“I am also keen that the people of Dundee can play a part in this push and that is why a conference will help maintain momentum.”
Long-time SSN member Bryan Harris, Dundee Council's Sustainability Manager, said: "As practitioners, it’s great to finally publish the Climate Action Plan. We started the process a number of years ago when we wanted to demonstrate a city-wide commitment to tackling climate change through the Covenant of Mayors. Since signing to the CoM, we’ve seen the social and political discourse change rapidly, and with it, bring new pressures from the public and politicians to set faster goals for net-zero.”
“We’re also realistic. This plan alone will not achieve net-zero and significant investment and societal decisions need to be made, both at a national and local level if we are to make the changes we all know are required. But this is a big start, which has garnered much needed attention to the cause.
“It’s particularly pleasing that a number of the city’s key employers such as Xplore Dundee, our main bus company, and DC Thomson, a leading media organisation in the UK and strongly rooted in the city, have come forward to say they want to play their part. Our job is to now harness that enthusiasm and keep them at the table. Showing the public that it is not just the Council that is responding to the climate emergency helps to strengthen support."
Representatives attended the launch from Friends of Earth Tayside, Abertay University, Xplore Dundee, Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, Dundee Green Health Partnership, Urban Foresight, Michelin / MSIP, DC Thomson, and Dundee Heritage Trust.