Public Sector Climate Challenge

NEW GROUP WILL GIVE DIRECTION TO PUBLIC BODIES TO REDUCE CARBON

A new group to lead Scotland's public sector in cutting carbon emissions has met for the first time.

The Scottish Government and COSLA are joining forces to identify and promote the actions needed across the public sector to meet Scotland's ambitious climate change targets. The group will also provide a crucial link between the public and private sectors.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act requires public bodies to tackle climate change. Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson and Councillor Alison Hay, COSLA Spokesperson for Regeneration and Sustainable Development are co chairing the group. Members will come from public bodies and the Convenor of the 2020 Climate Delivery Group will sit as an observer.

Mr Stevenson said:

"With the urgent need to reduce emissions and world leading climate change targets to meet, all of Scotland must tackle climate change. The public sector shares that commitment to act and is already playing its part - for example taking part in the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme to reduce emissions, through innovative procurement of energy or in new sustainable schools.

"This new group will give leadership and direction to the whole of the public sector. We need to ensure that successes are shared and effort not duplicated as we move to a low carbon economy. The public sector also needs to engage with the private and third sectors and this group will provide that crucial link as we all look to replicate successes across Scotland."

Councillorr Hay said:

"On behalf of Scottish local government I welcome the formation of this joint public sector group, convened to look at what we can do collectively to meet the challenging targets that lie before us. We need to be able to work with the Scottish People and the Scottish Business Sector to achieve the behavioural change as well as attract investment into the future."

Background

The group will promote climate change actions, share good practice, maintain an overview of climate change work already underway to get value for money to avoid duplication of effort and link with the 2020 Climate Delivery Group convened by Ian Marchant.

The 2020 Climate Delivery Group will ensure that Scotland contributes fully to achieving the emissions targets reduction by 2020. See:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/12/08110859

Section 44 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act requires that a public body must act:

• in the way best calculated to contribute to delivery of the Act's emissions reduction targets;
• in the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaptation programme; and
• in a way that it considers most sustainable.

The duty applies to public bodies as defined within the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (as amended). The Scottish Information Commissioner website contains a list of Scottish public authorities covered. A full list is available at:

http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/ScottishPublicAuthorities/ScottishPublicAuthorities.asp

The Scottish Government will publish draft guidance for public bodies on fulfilling their duties later this year.