WWF-UK: Scottish Councils commit to a greener future
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Scottish Councils commit to a greener future
Tuesday 16 October 2007
Scottish local authorities have shown their commitment to a greener future by queuing up to join a new initiative which will help them reduce their environmental impact, as well as making efficiency savings, through shrinking their footprint.
The Local Footprints Project, a joint initiative by WWF Scotland and the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) and supported by Eco Schools Scotland, the Improvement Service, the Scottish Government and ScottishPower, is aimed at maximising the huge role local authorities have to play in reducing Scotland's footprint – a measure of the toll our lifestyles take on the planet.
The first seven local authorities to take part in 2007-8 were revealed today as: Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian. In total, three-quarters of Scotland's 32 local authorities have registered their interest in the project.
The project will help local authorities and schools make their contribution to reducing Scotland's footprint through the use of footprint analysis to inform policy and practice, to raise awareness and change behaviour.
During the three-year programme, councils will be given free, tailored advice and one-to-one consultation on how to work out their ecological and carbon footprints and how to build footprint-reducing measures into their policies, whether in transport, regeneration or procurement.
Schools will also be helped to reduce their footprint, using the School's Global Footprint resource which is available to all schools, with teachers being trained in how to use the resource and apply it to lower their school's footprint. This will help the school to be greener and more efficient, and provide excellent learning opportunities for pupils.
The Local Footprints Project builds on innovative work already achieved as part of the School's Global Footprint Project in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and in North Lanarkshire looking at how we can live well within our environmental limits. It reveals that local authority policies have a significant role to play in helping to reduce Scotland's footprint.
Amie Fulton, Local Footprints Project Officer said: "Local authority policies and actions influence the way communities live. With the help of the Local Footprints Project, Scotland's local authorities can take steps to ensure that their policies are promoting sustainable communities, improving quality of life and reducing global environmental impact."
Lorna Jarvie, South Lanarkshire Council Sustainable Development Officer said: "South Lanarkshire Council is delighted to be part of the Local Footprints Project. South Lanarkshire is already working to deliver services in a more sustainable, less carbon intensive way, and now through this project we can also work to reduce our area wide ecological impact."
The first seven local authorities to take part in 2007-8 were revealed today as: Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian. In total, three-quarters of Scotland's 32 local authorities have registered their interest in the project.
The project will help local authorities and schools make their contribution to reducing Scotland's footprint through the use of footprint analysis to inform policy and practice, to raise awareness and change behaviour.
During the three-year programme, councils will be given free, tailored advice and one-to-one consultation on how to work out their ecological and carbon footprints and how to build footprint-reducing measures into their policies, whether in transport, regeneration or procurement.
Schools will also be helped to reduce their footprint, using the School's Global Footprint resource which is available to all schools, with teachers being trained in how to use the resource and apply it to lower their school's footprint. This will help the school to be greener and more efficient, and provide excellent learning opportunities for pupils.
The Local Footprints Project builds on innovative work already achieved as part of the School's Global Footprint Project in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and in North Lanarkshire looking at how we can live well within our environmental limits. It reveals that local authority policies have a significant role to play in helping to reduce Scotland's footprint.
Amie Fulton, Local Footprints Project Officer said: "Local authority policies and actions influence the way communities live. With the help of the Local Footprints Project, Scotland's local authorities can take steps to ensure that their policies are promoting sustainable communities, improving quality of life and reducing global environmental impact."
Lorna Jarvie, South Lanarkshire Council Sustainable Development Officer said: "South Lanarkshire Council is delighted to be part of the Local Footprints Project. South Lanarkshire is already working to deliver services in a more sustainable, less carbon intensive way, and now through this project we can also work to reduce our area wide ecological impact."