2020 Sub-groups

Public and Business Engagement

Co-chaired by Jane Wood and Jo Bucci

Group members include: Josh Kane, Iain Fleming, David Lee, Mike Robinson, Nick Horler, Sarah Davidson, Dr Simon Pepper and Martin Valenti.

Remit:

Objective: To positively influence the Scottish Government’s public engagement strategy on climate change.

1. Review existing communications activity already undertaken on climate change; assess cost, effectiveness and reach.
2. Pull together best practice awareness campaigns (public or private sector) that have generated behaviour change and create pillars of success for future campaigns.
3. Assess consumer behaviour on climate issues by demographic to identify propensity to change behaviour and likely target audience.
4. Identify which media or communication methods are most suited to message and target consumers.
5. Provide a draft framework for future campaigns, based on the above analysis.
6. Act in a review and advisory capacity for future campaigns prior to launch.

Objective: To develop a clear framework for businesses to access information and assistance to reduce climate impact.

1. Create an organisation map identifying all agencies and bodies involved in climate change. Identify:
• a. The core purpose of each organisation, audience and reach.
• b. What activity they currently undertake.
• c. How they are funded / what funding is available.
2. Research current understanding, knowledge and likelihood of behaviour change in a cross section of Scottish businesses.
3. Develop a “how to” guide to help business reduce climate impact and access support and funding from relevant organisations.
• a. Include best practice from existing businesses, with focus on SMEs
• b. Identify best practice for engaging employees or members in positive action.
4. Identify and recommend the best methods to reach businesses with this information.
5. Actively champion the use of the guide amongst Scottish businesses.

Transport

Co-chaired by Nicola Shaw and Ian McKay

Group members include: Brian Souter, Dave Densley, Dr Bernadette McKell, Tom Reid, Martin Valenti, Gordon Dewar and Jonathan Pryce. Representation being sought from a major supermarket and from alternative fuels organisations.

Remit:

• To provide fresh thinking and new ideas on increasing the use of public transport. Gordon Dewar to lead on this work
• Speed limits and implications for the environment and economy – Ian McKay will lead on this work
• Consider the issues of existing integrated transport strategies and infrastructure and if required provide fresh ideas for improvement. – Dr Bernadette McKell and Dave Densley will lead on this work
• Position for biofuels and alternative fuels – Brian Souter to lead on this work with support from Tom
• Consider Freight issues- Steven Baxter to lead on this work with support from a major retailer
• High speed rail feasibility and issues - Nicola Shaw will lead on this work Possible remit areas for future meetings
• Consider the issues of Aviation and Shipping and decide who should be involved.

Finance

Chaired by Susan Rice

Group members include: Prof Jan Bebbington, John Mason, Mike Robinson, Jamie Hume, Alan Caldwell and Martin Valenti.

Representation being sought from the private sector.

Remit:

Stream 1 – Review of the current position

• Commission baseline research of current finance options and their effectiveness (uptake, accessibility)
• Look at the progress made by the Climate Challenge Fund and consider its future role
• Examine issues / barriers to financing climate change in Scotland

Stream 2 – Propose improvements

• Based on the research, identify gaps and weaknesses in present finance provision / mechanisms and propose solutions
• Engage with the Scottish Govt on carbon accounting programmes
• Consider an assessment of economic benefits of environmental and clean technologies

Stream 3 – Prompting debate

• How can we best align finance provision to Scotland’s carbon ambitions – how do we attract more investors / create aspiration and activity?
• Are there new finance models or incentive schemes which could be developed to expedite carbon reduction programmes?
• What does the economy needs to kick start more green technologies?
• How can finance be best targeted to create the biggest impact?

Built Environment

Co-chaired by Dr Campbell Gemmell and Ian Marchant

Other group members include: Richard Ackroyd, Michael Tracy, Rachel Gwyon.

Representation being sought from residential and commercial builders and property owners.

Remit:

• Consider targets, planning rules and policy measures to ensure that CO₂ emissions from new buildings reach zero as soon as possible.
• Look at the policy, fiscal and legal framework surrounding the energy efficiency of Scotland’s existing buildings – both domestic and commercial.
• Examine the contribution public sector non domestic buildings can make to CO₂ tar gets and identify the steps that would need to be taken to ensure fast and effective delivery of improvements across the country.
• Consider the actions that need to be taken to create an environment where a market for renewable heat can thrive.

Overall the Group will consider in detail the delivery steps that must be taken to bring about a significant improvement in the energy efficiency of the existing privately built environment to ensure significant energy demand reduction by 2020. This will include the consideration and an assessment of:

• Existing targets
• Delivery mechanisms
• The delivery of national leadership
• Identifying key milestones

Land Use and Forestry

Co-chaired by James Withers and Stuart Goodall

Group members include: Graham Hutcheon, George Baxter, Mark Aitken and David Barnes.

Remit:

• Promote ways of accelerating integration between farming and forestry.
• Communication programme with land managers to rapidly increase take-up of measures to improve input efficiency and protection of high carbon soils.  
• Engage in the debate around climate impact of food production - should feed into public engagement sub-group
• Stimulate greater integrated food/drink supply chain initiatives (bringing together primary producer, food processor and retailer). 
• Act as a sounding board for government and other policy proposals as relevant. For example, make recommendations on early action to bolster the climate change delivery plan in land use and forestry areas, comment on the Scottish government’s ‘plans and policies’ document, etc.
• Examine ways of improving delivery of the government’s afforestation targets
• Feed in to Scottish Government land use strategy which addresses competing priorities for rural land (renewables, food production, woodland, flood prevention).

Opportunities and Challenges

Co-chaired by Gordon Grant and Ronnie Hind

Group members include: George Baxter, Grahame Smith, Lin Bunten and Colin Imrie.

Remit:

• Looking at issues of transition from carbon to low carbon technologies and what this could mean for businesses, employment and education.
• Carry out a critical review of the consequences of moving from a hydrocarbon fuelled based society to one of renewables.
• Looking at the opportunities that will arise from new technologies and how educational and professional organisations will facilitate this.
• Investigate what work is already being done on skills gaps.
• Look at what changes will be required for infrastructure and how such potentially huge changes should be funded – liaise with funding group on this issue.