Plans are progressing for local events that will support the aims of the global climate change conference planned in Glasgow later this year.
Included is an event in Helensburgh that will raise the question – what do we need to do to make Argyll and Bute the UK’s first net zero region?
The council is organising a family-friendly event, with activities for all age groups, in the Civic Centre in Helensburgh. It is provisionally scheduled for Saturday 6th November. Actions and opportunities to achieve net zero status will cover everything from renewable energy to forestry, and food.
In addition the council is organising Argyll and Bute’s first ever Education Climate Summit on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th October 2021.
The summit will be held virtually with access for all Argyll and Bute schools and a range of community organisations. Twenty five educational establishments, charities, trusts and businesses have already agreed to participate and outline how they are tackling climate change.
These, and community-led events, are planned in line with the aims of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow’s Scottish Exhibition Centre (SEC) from 1st-12th November 2021.
Thousands of delegates including world leaders, potentially US President Biden, China’s President Xi Jinping and His Holiness Pope Francis, are expected to come together to discuss global concerns about climate change.
Councillor Robin Currie, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said:
“The COP26 conference will focus attention on what we can and must do to work with rather than against the natural resources that sustain our lives.
Addressing climate change will take all of us to play our part, so it’s great to see plans progressing for people coming together locally to discuss this.
As a council we are taking a wide range of action to develop climate-friendly ways of working. We have ambitious climate targets to reach, and will use COP26 as an opportunity to support our work in achieving them.”
The council’s Policy and Resources Committee considered progress in planning these events, and the actions in the council’ decarbonisation plan, when it met today (12 August).
More information about the Civic Centre event will be published in due course.