Climate change resources

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges humankind has ever faced and is already having devastating effects.

We have all contributed to the cause and must therefore all be part of the solution.

East Dunbartonshire Council is responding to the challenge by preparing a Climate Action Plan (CAP). Climate change is everyone's responsibility and, to support the delivery of the CAP, this page sets out what you can do to cut carbon in your home, your office, your local community and further afield.

• Calculate your carbon footprint – there are various tools online
• Make your home energy-efficient: wall and cavity insulation, double and triple-glazing and draught-proofing of windows and doors all help to keep the heat in. East Dunbartonshire Council can provide local homeowners with low/no-cost insulation measures. The Council also accesses funding under the Scottish Government's Home Energy
• Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area Based Schemes to support higher-cost energy efficiency measures such as external wall insulation
• Switch to green electricity - the Energy Saving Trust can provide further information
• Generate your own energy! Carbon-neutral technologies such as heat pumps and solar panels reduce your carbon footprint. They can also help you to save money and to generate income.
• Low-tech solutions are sometimes the best - thermal underwear, crockpots/hay boxes, door stoppers, drying greens and pulleys can all be simple ways of reducing your energy use
• Cut your own air miles, especially for journeys within the UK - air travel is 95% more polluting than rail travel
• If you must fly, consider offsetting: Climate Care
• Consider switching to an electric car
• Reduce food miles by buying locally.

Further advice - free and impartial - is available from Home Energy Scotland on tel:0808 808 2282 or by visiting the Energy Saving Trust website. Your energy supplier should also be able to provide advice.

In the Community

You can reduce your individual and collective footprints by joining – or creating - a carbon-cutting group. Visit the Community Environmental Action webpage for more information. Grant funding and support for community groups engaging in carbon reduction is available from various sources.

At work

• Walk, cycle or use public transport to get to work and to meetings where possible
• Hold low-carbon meetings – make use of online meeting facilities where appropriate and, for in-person meetings, choose venues accessible by public transport, and arrange start and finish times to fit in with bus/train timetables
• Help others in your organisation to change.

Spread the word to friends, family, the local church and school, local businesses and any groups in which your voice will be heard! Extend the message to governments and corporations too - lobby your MSP, MP and MEP. Several national campaigns can help you take action on a large scale, a few popular ones are:

• Friends of the Earth
• Friends of the Earth Scotland
• Oxfam
• 38 Degrees
• Christian Aid’s ‘Climate Changed' Webpage.

While it is vital that we limit future climate change, we must also be prepared to deal with the effects of climate change which are already in the pipeline. Adaptation Scotland's website provides data on climate trends and impacts in Scotland and works with others to help them prepare for these changes.

Climate Ready Clyde is a cross-sector initiative funded by the Scottish Government and 15 member organisations, including East Dunbartonshire Council, to create a shared vision, strategy and action plan for an adapting Glasgow City Region.

Climate Ready Clyde recently undertook a public consultation as part of producing Glasgow City Region's first regional Adaptation Strategy.

Read Climate Ready Clyde's Consultation 

Many individuals and groups across the country - and beyond - are committed to making a difference, e.g.

• Stop Climate Chaos Scotland website - a coalition of over 50 organisations in Scotland campaigning against climate change
• Take One Action website - Scotland's global action cinema project.

You can link with such networks to add value to your actions.

Let’s Do Net Zero is a Scottish Government campaign encouraging everyone to play their part.

Climate change and nature loss are the greatest global threats we face. Many of our actions produce greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat from the sun, raising our planet’s temperature and causing our climate to change. This isn’t a distant, far-away problem; it’s here in Scotland and we’re already seeing the impact.

Scotland's legislation commits us to reaching net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. ‘Net Zero’ means the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we put into the atmosphere balances with the amount we take out.

We can do this by changing our lifestyles to reduce our emissions as much as possible and off-setting emissions we can’t avoid by planting trees, restoring peatland and in future through the use of carbon-capture technology.

To find out you can get involved and make a world of a difference, visit Net Zero Scotlands website and look out for #LetsDoNetZero on social media.

For information on funding/support to help businesses and organisations rise to the challenges posed by climate change and tap into potential opportunities, visit our business support webpage.

Organisations and individuals who want to learn more about what they can do to reduce the affects of the climate crisis and take action in their local community can access specialist training via East Dunbartonshire Council.

The Council are working in partnership with East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA) to deliver Carbon Literacy training which is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The free training will enable local communities to learn more, find out how to mitigate risks and develop knowledge in how to tackle key elements of the climate crisis in their everyday lives.

Participants who complete the training will receive certification issued by The Carbon Literacy Trust and will gain an understanding of:

• The basic science behind climate change and the problems it causes
• Social equity, community resilience and climate change
• What we need to do to meet the Paris Agreement targets and achieve a zero-carbon and a well-adapted society
• What individuals and organisations can do to act on climate change – in your personal life and in your local area
• Strategies and skills for communicating action and engaging others on climate change.

You can now sign up for a carbon literacy course on Eventbrite.

If you are interested in finding out more please contact sustainability@eastdunbarton.gov.uk