The Highland Climate Change
Declaration
- A Partnership Approach
SUMMARY
In June 2010, fourteen Highland organisations made public their commitment to tackle the issue of climate change by
signing the Highland Climate Change Declaration. By August 2011, twenty one organisations had signed-up. Progress is
monitored through the Highland Environment Forum, a sub-group of the Community Planning Partnership made up of
private, public and voluntary sector organisations.
KEY CONTACTS
Ailsa Villegas
Sustainable Development Officer
Highland Council
Tel: 01463 702 543
E-mail: [email protected]
www.highland.gov.uk/climatedeclaration
THE PROCESS
LESSONS LEARNED
In June 2008, the Highland Council began exploring a partnership approach to
climate change by hosting a conference. More than 80 representatives from
public, private and voluntary sector organisations attended the day. Workshops
identified the development of a Highland community vision for climate change
as a key action to take forward.
Organisations were asked to provide details of
their C02 emissions savings in 2010/11
including the scope of measurement, actual
tonnes C02 saved, and overall % savings. A
number of issues were highlighted through
this exercise and will now be addressed:
Variation in scope and scale of measurement;
Uncertainty over baseline;
Confusion over relative or absolute reporting;
Questions over carbon off-setting schemes;
National versus regional representation;
% reporting versus actual tonnes C02
Not all organisations equipped to report.
In order to build on the success of the conference, a small consultancy
contract was awarded to map climate change activity in Highland. Twenty five
organisations were surveyed and nearly all had explicit commitments to take
action on climate change. This work identified the potential to harness this
interest through a declaration or pledge.
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The declaration was developed by the Highland Environmental Forum, a subgroup of the Community Planning Partnership. On the 2nd of June, 2010,
fourteen organisations signed up to committing to carry out a number of
activities including measuring and reducing their carbon emissions and
reporting back.
One full year after the initial signing of the declaration signatories were asked
to provide an annual progress report. A self-assessment matrix (adapted from
Carbon Trusts’ CMAT tool for public bodies) was created and framed around
the commitments signatories had signed up to. The matrix and results can be
found below:
Self-Assessment Matrix used to monitor progress
Self-Assessment scores 2010/11
Collectively the strongest area of performance
was “Acknowledging Climate Change” which
demonstrates that Highland organisations are
committed to tackling the issue and echo’s the
results of the research undertake to date. The
weakest area was around “Staff Training” which
suggests there are opportunities to share the
knowledge and expertise of the leading
organisations with those struggling in this area.
The scale and function of the organisation may
affect how well they score themselves. It is
notable that both NHS Highland and Highland
Council (the two largest employers in the
region) awarded themselves lower scores in
the self-assessment than some of their smaller
partners suggesting that they face greater
challenges in implementing change, however
their emissions reporting above suggest they
are major players in terms of impact.
nd.
Results will be discussed at the next meeting
of the Highland Environment Forum in
December 2011 with the aim of developing a
defined methodology and scope of emissions
calculating as well as exploring opportunities
for collaborative actions to reduce emissions.