In October 2019, following and inspired by the #BCC event held in Birnam, a similar open event was held in Blairgowrie, organised by the Climate Café. Around 200 people attended on the day. There were stands for each of the major climate-related issues including energy, travel, land use and young people representing their concerns. There were also short talks given through the day.
The report was sent to local and Scottish government and to other interest groups. Here is a summary of the main calls for action:
A total of 59 suggestions for action by Scottish Government, Councils and local Communities were made by the participants. These have been sorted according to the sector to which they mainly apply and are presented together with comments from members of the Blairgowrie and Rattray Climate Café. The most powerful messages from attendees were: (p 3)
Investment in an effective public education programme at national and local levels is essential, giving advice on actions all can take and making it clear that change is needed.
The transition needs to be led by local and national government and financed adequately.
Significant funding is needed to enable communities to meet the emergency in their own ways.
The role of nature in drawing down carbon and restoring ecological balance has to be recognised.
Other important suggestions include :
Reduce air travel and travel by private cars. The latter needs investment in public transport and active travel, especially in rural areas such as Blairgowrie and the Glens, to encourage modal shift away from private car transport. (p 4)
Planning decisions need to express a meaningful response to the climate emergency. Higher building standards for all new buildings – carbon neutral; new developments to include solar and other renewable energy sources and conservation measures. (p 6 & 7)
Standardise recycling systems across all local authorities and establish Scottish facilities for sorting and utilising recycled material (p 8). Introduce legislation requiring labelling of goods & services with the emissions generated – display clearly to raise public awareness of their emission sources (p 9).
Promote more planting of trees and encourage landowners to work together with local communities to establish woodland under the Woodland Carbon Code. An additional 7,000 ha (double the current area) of woodland in Blairgowrie and the Glens would achieve carbon neutrality (p 10)
Establish strong Climate action plans at all levels of government and invest in a sustained Public awareness raising programme to alert people to their actual level of emissions. Commission a study to quantify the impact of various levels of Carbon tax on the retail price of a wide range of products and introduce such a tax as soon as possible. Also establish a carbon market by introducing a “Cap and Trade Scheme” (p 13).
Stop investing in fossil fuel industry (p 15).