Towns take action to tackle the climate emergency
To protect Scotland from the impacts of climate change, we all need to work together to adapt the ways we live, work, play and move in our cities, towns and villages.
There is much work to be done, but if we do it together, well, and at pace, there are many co-benefits to be had.
Action on climate change presents us all with the opportunity to create a Scotland that is a healthier, fairer and more thriving place to live for everyone.
Our Climate Action Towns project is helping to realise these ambitions. The project is supported by the Scottish Government.
To find out more about regular updates click here.
Our work with small towns
We are working with local people and organisations in small towns across Scotland to:
- bring small towns into the climate adaptation conversation: this is especially important when half of Scotland’s population lives in towns
- challenge and explore what types of place-based action communities can take in small towns: this action is guided by the eight principles of a carbon conscious place
- explore opportunities to support communities to deliver real change on the ground: these communities are in areas with historically limited action on climate change
- use this work to outline learning for inclusive climate action at a town scale: this learning can be applied in places across Scotland and beyond
We are currently working with nine towns: Annan, Alness, Benarty communities (Ballingry, Crosshill, Lochore and Glencraig), Blackburn, Campbeltown, Drongan, Rankinston and Stair (DRS), Holytown, Invergordon and Stevenston.
Climate Action Towns: year one lessons
Working towards a common objective with seven towns provides fertile ground for trialling various methods and taking a place-based approach to building a network of Climate Action Towns.
Through a year of listening and learning, our team has put together a summary that outlines their key findings and lessons learned from year one of the Climate Action Towns project.
Reflections from year one
Hear about the first year of the Climate Action Towns project from those directly involved: community councillors, local organisations, and our team behind the scenes.
How we identified the towns
We used the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classifications (2016) and census data (2011) to identify 156 small towns in Scotland across 28 local authorities.
Using indicators like flood risk, projected sea-level rise, Climate Challenge funding and the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, we then shortlisted about 20 towns.
We then had conversations with national agencies and other stakeholders about recent or soon-to-begin climate-focussed projects. This got us to the seven towns.
Where it all began
In 2019, we undertook a year of learning with four communities across Scotland into designing for a changing climate. This is an approach where practitioners use a whole-place approach to meet the net zero challenge. It was this year of learning that led to the Climate Action Towns project.
Illustration credit: Richard Carman
Our blogs
We provide updates on our progress through a series of blogs. These highlight events or activities that have taken place, significant project updates or key themes emerging. You can find the most recent one here.
Header illustration credit: Richard Carman
Share your place-based climate action
We would like to hear from communities and local authorities who are creating carbon conscious places. If you are designing and adapting a place to reduce, repurpose and absorb carbon, please share examples of your work with us.