Latest News
2 February 2012
Avondale opens £20m recycling and biofuel plant
A new £20 million re-cycling plant will create 70 jobs and process 200,000 tonnes of waste a year when it is fully operational. Avondale Environmental said 60% of the waste it...
1 February 2012
Grassroots green projects ‘are way to low-carbon UK’
Coalition of groups representing 12 million people hails localising of energy generation, but bemoans lack of state support.
31 January 2012
Expert support move for offshore wind supply firms
A £900,000 initiative is being launched to support rapid growth in the developing offshore wind supply chain. The expert support programme aims to help hundreds of Scottish...
31 January 2012
‘More effort’ needed on Scottish climate change targets
Scottish climate change targets will not be met without extra effort to cut pollution, experts have warned. Legislation passed by Holyrood commits to cut emissions by 42% from...
30 January 2012
Edinburgh submits bid to host GIB
Edinburgh is one of 19 cities to submit a formal bid to be the home of the UK's new Green Investment Bank (GIB).
Leading by Example
The 2020 Climate Group, leading by example and mobilising our combined potential.
2020 Climate Group sets 12 priorities for 2012
Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group has agreed 12 priorities for 2012 – with the aim of driving concerted action in a range of areas to help Scotland realise its 2020 target to reduce carbon emissions by 42 per cent.
The ‘12 for 2012’ – announced on January 12th at 12 noon – include a promise to closely examine the toughest environmental challenges facing Scotland. These ‘difficult questions’ will include a paper on speed limits to open up a debate on the subject.
Al Gore praises Scotland’s commitment to low carbon economy
Climate change campaigner and Nobel Laureate Al Gore has praised Scotland’s commitment to renewables and the low carbon economy and said it was offering leadership to the world.
In a keynote speech at the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference (SLCIC) in Edinburgh on 28 September 2011, the former US Vice President described Scotland’s example as “inspiring”.
Read an assessment of low carbon investment by Lady Susan Rice, Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group Scotland and 2020 Finance Sub-group Chair, following the SLCI conference.
Watch a short video of a recent talk on climate change given by Al Gore in New York.
The 2020 Climate Group will help all sectors of Scotland’s economy and civic society contribute fully to achieving the Climate Change Delivery Plan over the next decade and is convened by SSE Chief Executive Ian Marchant.
The group – which included heads of companies as broad as Scottish Water, BT and the People’s Postcode Lottery – met for the first time on 8th December 2009 at the Falkirk Wheel as the UN Climate Change Conference continued in Copenhagen.
The working remit for the 2020 group includes undertaking the following:
- build on the work of the Climate Change Business Delivery Group and other climate change alliances to provide strong, visible leadership to Scotland’s business and non-governmental communities to inspire them to do more to reduce carbon emissions;
- help drive innovation through partnerships and synergies between members;
- advise on, and aim to make early progress towards, achievement of the outcomes and targets of the Climate Change Delivery Plan;
- identify relevant action and opportunities, and collaborate, to bring benefits to the Scottish economy;
- identify where the group can best target its resources and expertise to accelerate the development, investment and action required across the following areas: Heat, Electricity, Waste, Transport, Rural land use & forestry, Consumer behaviour & attitudes.