Clackmannanshire Council Online

Sustainability Strategy Agreed

An action plan which states how Clackmannanshire will become more sustainable has been agreed by Councillors.

The global issues of sustainability and climate change are becoming increasingly prominent, affecting everyone's lives. The Council has drawn up a Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy which will help us meet the challenges ahead and secure a prosperous and healthy future for the people of Clackmannanshire.

The strategy reflects four priorities:

• reducing our contribution to climate change;
• creating sustainable communities;
• living within environmental limits
• protecting our natural resources

In 2007 the Council signed Scotland's Climate Change Declaration, committing us to work to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate. Since then a lot of action has been taken by the Council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve recycling, reduce water consumption in our buildings, as well as improving insulation and the use of renewable energy in our buildings.
The Council has also been successful in obtaining funding to subsidise insulation for home owners, and has supported the Ochils Landscape Partnership in successfully gaining over £600,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to enhance access to the countryside.
Clackmannanshire has the highest recycling rate in Scotland and, with the re-opening of the railway, is now better connected than ever before. We have a varied landscape, a rich built heritage and a strong history of working in partnership to enhance our environment.

Councillor Eddie Carrick, Sustainability Portfolio Holder, said: "Improving our environmental sustainability performance is closely related to improving our financial performance. This Strategy will help us continue and improve on the work that we have already done, and we hope that it will also be an inspiration for other organisations to do their bit for a sustainable Clackmannanshire."

The Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy is intended to help the Council
work towards the following seven outcomes:

• A healthier, happier society through regeneration in Clackmannanshire
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon management and sustainable energy use
• Reducing, reusing and recycling, through waste management
• Encouraging healthier, active travel and reducing our carbon footprint, by managing travel and transport.
• Enhancing Clackmannanshire's living landscape by protecting and enhancing the environment
• Buying responsibly, through sustainable procurement
• Preparing for our future, through sustainable development education

As well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste the Strategy includes plans for an energy efficiency campaign amongst Council staff who will also be encouraged to use more public transport and bikes for work. The Strategy also includes working towards achieving Fairtrade Town status for one town in Clackmannanshire.