To mark Scotland's Climate Week for 2020, which runs from today until the 20th September, The Highland Council has organised a range of virtual events to share information and seek views from Highland residents and Council employees on climate related topics.
Whilst the circumstances for Climate Week 2020 are very different to previous years, it still provides an important opportunity for organisations and communities to celebrate and showcase what they are doing to tackle climate change.
The Council, in collaboration with Home Energy Scotland, will be delivering a series of talks on the future of electric transport in Highlands.
Communities will be updated on current work taking place, the ambition for a net-zero carbon future, and current funding streams to enable Highland residents to make a shift toward carbon-neutral transport.
Communities across the region are invited to voice their views, experiences and ideas regarding Electric Vehicle uptake, and the sessions are each focused on a particular area of the Highlands:
Monday 14th September 6pm: Caithness & Sutherland
Tuesday 15th September 6pm: Ross & Cromarty
Wednesday 16th September 6pm: Lochaber, Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh
Thursday 17th September 6pm: Badenoch & Strathspey
Saturday 19th September 10am: Inverness-Shire & Nairn-Shire
Book a place on any of these sessions here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/driving-highlands-to-an-electric-future-tickets-116907061167?ref=estw
The discussions will help inform the new Highland EV infrastructure strategy, due to be launched in 2021.
On 16th September, the Council's Climate Change Officer, Keith Masson, will help the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) mark the launch of its new strategy by presenting how Highland Council is approaching the climate and ecological emergency - you can register for this event by copying and pasting the link into your browserhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ssn-strategy-launch-tickets-117551169713?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=d01118fa52&mc_eid=e5d6d9c983
In addition, a meeting of the Council’s Climate Change Working Group is being held on Thursday 17th September, where an update on various Council workstreams related directly to the climate and ecological emergency will be discussed and debated by Members. The agenda and papers for this meeting can be accessed by clicking https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/committee/138/climate_change_panel
Finally, on 18th September, the Chair of the Council’s Climate Change Working Group and the Council’s Economy & Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Trish Robertson, will be co-hosting an online discussion alongside Climate Change Coordinator, Joe Perry, on the topic of "Grow-your-own and the Climate Emergency". The session, which will be held between 1pm and 2pm via Microsoft Teams, will feature talks on allotments, community gardening and the impact of growing your own food on the environment. Anyone can take part in this session and should email joe.perry@highland.gov.uk to receive the link.
Cllr Robertson said: "The Highland Council is delighted to support Climate Week 2020, and we recognise that it gives us an excellent opportunity to engage with our communities regarding some of the most important issues related to our journey towards a net zero future."
She added: "The events organised as part of Climate Week will give Highland residents an opportunity to ask questions and have their voices heard in respect of how we move the low carbon travel and local food growing agenda forward, and I would encourage as many people as possible to take part."