The Scottish Government has announced that it is rolling out Climate Action Hubs across the country to help local communities take action to protect the climate.
Following two successful pathfinder hubs in the Highlands and the North East, the plan will put communities in control of achieving local net zero goals by supporting widening participation in a number of projects. Network coordinators are to be employed by the Scottish Climate Communities Action Network, collaborating with communities as they work to understand the direct needs of certain areas, whilst also supporting communities with application processes.The projects include improvements to flood mitigation and local energy solutions.
The government will be allocating £4.3 million to the expansion of the program for Climate Action Hubs, with this bringing solutions to approximately 20 communities around the country. The funding will be delivered in 2023/24, with guidance on eligibility being published later this month.
Michael Matheson, Net Zero Secretary, said:
“Our national climate change targets, as passed almost unanimously by the Scottish Parliament, are our collective responsibility and meeting them will require action at all levels. Local communities have a major role to play in delivering our shared net zero agenda and I want to make sure that we support and enable that action.
“That is why we are expanding our successful climate action programme to create a national network of hubs. This place-based approach will put communities at the heart of the transition to net zero and help ensure that everyone has a say in how Scotland responds to the climate crisis.”
Community energy, retrofitting, reducing the risks of flooding and green skills are some of the ways that communities have been supported by the hubs, whilst also helping to secure funding from both public and private sector investors.
