This week is Climate Week, an annual programme of events and activities to raise public awareness of climate change in Scotland and demonstrate how individuals, businesses and organisations can contribute to our collective journey to net zero.
It is quite fitting, then, that ahead of Climate Week, the council picked up a COSLA Excellence Award for Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy in recognition of the hard work of officers to improve the environment and cut carbon emissions.
It’s the second year in a row the council has won a COSLA Excellence Award for its groundbreaking work, having lifted the Strengthening Communities and Local Democracy prize for the Historic Links to Slavery project 12 months ago.
This time round, the council was recognised for the three-year Duchal Moor peatland restoration project and the planting of 10,600 trees at Coves Local Nature Reserve (LNR).
The Duchal Moor project will restore an area of 788 hectares of drained peatland in Inverclyde in a bid to cut carbon emissions.
This year’s award, like last year’s, highlights the diverse work carried out by council staff day in, day out. It's work that often goes unnoticed, so it is worthy recognition for the efforts of officers, who were supported at the awards ceremony by my councillor colleagues Paul Cassidy, Natasha McGuire and Elizabeth Robertson.
These are of course just two examples, albeit high profile ones, of the many different environmental projects being undertaken right across Inverclyde.
From the lend and mend hub and community garden space at South West Library to tree planting at St Francis’ Primary and zero waste food pantries in Greenock and Port Glasgow to the Invergrow food growing initiative, the council is leading or supporting a vast range of ‘green’ projects.
Let’s use this Climate Week to think about our own environmental impact and what we can do differently to reduce our own emissions and help protect the planet for future generations.
There are also plenty of local groups out there to get involved with or get support from to realise your own climate goals.
Ministerial visit
I extended a warm Inverclyde welcome to UK Government minister for Scotland, Kirsty McNeill, last week.
It was the second ministerial visit in the space of a few weeks, following the visit of Scottish Government minister Tom Arthur at the end of August.
These visits are important opportunities to showcase some of the excellent work going on locally, but also for ministers to find out about the challenges we face here in Inverclyde, and what additional support is required if we are to stem the flow of jobs out of the area, to create new opportunities for residents, and to reverse the population decline.
Warm Hand of Friendship
With energy costs rising, and winter on the horizon, I was delighted that my colleagues on the policy and resources committee approved an extension to the council’s successful Warm Hand of Friendship scheme for another three years.
Since launching in 2022 in response to the cost of living crisis, the initiative has supported thousands of local residents with warm spaces and practical advice and support during the harsh winter months.
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