Accelerating climate action and impact in Scotland's capital
Edinburgh Climate Commission is an independent group working together to accelerate climate action and impact in Edinburgh.
The Commission was launched in February 2020 and aims to:
- Identify and address the challenges critical to Edinburgh meeting its climate targets
- Provide independent, expert and authoritative advice to support the city's transition to net zero emissions by 2030
- Catalyse action, challenge the city's decision makers and convene stakeholders
- Act as a forum where organisations can exchange ideas, research findings, information and best practice on carbon reduction and climate resilience.
We are chaired by Dr Sam Gardner, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability at Scottish Power and made up of 15 people with experience of working in climate change and sustainability.
The work of the Commission is co-sponsored by the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute at the University of Edinburgh. We are also part of the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN).
Climate change in the Edinburgh local government elections
With Edinburgh going to the polls on 5 May we asked each of the main political parties in the city to set out their response to the climate emergency.
In the coming days we will post the replies from each of the parties to our letter, which is outlined below.
We are now just eight years away from having to hit our 2030 goals and secure the benefits of a net zero transition for all.
The next City of Edinburgh Council will have a hugely important role to play to turn policy into action, to turn rhetoric into benefit and put us on track to net zero.
Let’s celebrate community climate action already taking place in Edinburgh
Commissioner Bridie Ashrowan, is CEO of EVOC. She highlights examples of dynamic and inspiring community action taking place across the city which is helping to tackle climate change.
Edinburgh has a rich tapestry of community action on climate change.
Its citizens have set up everything from small community run gardens, to award-winning social enterprises in the circular economy.
I will use this blog to celebrate others and highlight examples of dynamic and inspiring community action on climate change and the environment.
Edinburgh Napier: Embedding and enabling place-based action
At Edinburgh Napier our success and progress to date, covering all aspects of environmental sustainability, is principally because of and due to collaborative working.
Both within our University community of 14,000 students and staff based in Edinburgh but equally in partnership with a comprehensive and diverse array of peer organisations throughout the city and beyond.
We need to focus on retrofitting our homes and buildings now, to reach net zero by 2030
Edinburgh Climate Commissioner, Calum Murray is a Director of CCG (Scotland) Ltd specialising in land acquisition and urban regeneration.
In the latest in our mini-series on the draft 2030 Climate Strategy, Calum lays out the scale of the challenge posed by decarbonising our homes and buildings and stresses the need for immediate action if the sector is to reach Edinburgh’s goal of net zero by 2030.
Why we signed up to the Edinburgh Climate Compact
SP Energy Networks transports electricity through our transmission and distribution networks to ensure Edinburgh always has the power it needs.
As the operator of the electricity networks in Central and Southern Scotland, we know that we need to play a leading role in the fight against climate change.
That is why we are proud to have signed up to the Edinburgh Climate Compact.
“The Commission will focus its work on helping to unlock the delivery of the measures we know we must take, not only to tackle climate change but to help build a better future for all of Edinburgh."