Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

1. PurposeThis paper sets out a draft NLP Climate Action Plan – “Action on Climate Together Now – ACT Now - for consultation with key stakeholders across North Lanarkshire (see section 4.17 and Annexe A).

Your organisation is invited to review and comment on the proposed “NLP ACT Now Plan”. Please submit your response using the form in Annexe C.

2. Background2.1 The Global Climate Emergency

Climate breakdown – which is linked to human’s increasing carbon emissions -  is moving at speed with deeply worrying climatic changes all over world. To quote a recent update from the United Nations

“No corner of the globe is immune from the devastating consequences of climate change. Rising temperatures are fuelling environmental degradation, natural disasters, weather extremes, food and water insecurity, economic disruption, conflict, and terrorism. Sea levels are rising, the Arctic is melting, coral reefs are dying, oceans are acidifying, and forests are burning. It is clear that business as usual is not good enough. As the infinite cost of climate change reaches irreversible highs, now is the time for bold collective action.”

However, the UN’s Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out   in September 2020, “the climate emergency is a race we are losing, but it is a race we can win”.

The UN climate change conference – COP26 – was due to take place in Glasgow in November 2020 but due to the COVID 19 pandemic has been rescheduled to November 2021. The COP 26 website states:

“The climate talks will be the biggest international summit the UK has ever hosted; bringing together over 30,000 delegates including heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

The challenge is not insignificant, but we must step up to it to save the environment we all live in. The UN Climate Change process is central to that collective action.”

Whilst COVID 19 is a major global challenge and is adversely affecting all aspects of life, the climate emergency is an even greater challenge. If we do not take effective measures to reduce global warming in the next years, negative impacts on human health, economy and society will increase and, in the longer term, even threaten human survival. All of us, therefore, have a responsibility to be informed, support government and business measures take action in our own lives to reduce carbon emissions.

2.2 Scottish Policy

The Scottish Government takes the climate emergency very seriously and is supporting action to reduce carbon and other greenhouse emissions through the public and business sectors and by supporting the public to adopt a low carbon lifestyle. The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan and Report from Feb. 2018 sets out the wide range of actions needed to reduce carbon and other green-house emissions across all areas of life in Scotland, including agriculture and land use, buildings, energy, transport and waste. This is supplemented by a range of supporting policy and legislation including: energy strategy Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019    

The 2019 Climate Change Act replaces an earlier act from 2009 and sets a target for Scotland to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, five years earlier than the UK Government’s target. Statutory bodies have responsibilities under both Climate Change Acts to contribute to net-zero emissions, supported by carbon management plans.

As part of its Climate Change programme, the Scottish Government established the Just Transition Commission to advise the government on transition to a net-zero economy which is fair to all – supporting environmental sustainability and economic and social inclusion (This is sometimes referred to as a “wellbeing economy”). In June 2020, The Commission published a report on Green Recovery, which recommends a strong focus on developing infrastructure, skills and jobs that support a fair, net-zero transition as integral to C19 recovery. In November 2020, the Scottish Parliament Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee also published its report on Green Recovery following its inquiry during July-October 2020. The Committee’s key recommendations include:

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Placing response to the climate and ecological crises is at the centre of statutory requirements and on all those receiving public sector funding

Supporting transition to low carbon, green jobs through investment in enterprise and skills development

Capacity building in communities to support low carbon living, including community work hubs attached to childcare facilities and community spaces.

The “green recovery” approach includes investment in low-carbon or carbon-free technologies and processes to support environmentally sustainable economic and social activities including:

energy (renewables) agriculture, food production and distribution homes, other buildings and physical infrastructure transport manufacture and distribution of clothing and other products

A green recovery also requires major reduction in waste - even zero-waste. The Scottish Government is developing new legislation to reduce waste by supporting the “circular economy” to enable society to “reduce consumption, reuse products and recycle waste” much more effectively than currently.

The UK Committee on Climate Change estimates that only about 40% of necessary reduction in emissions can be achieved through low carbon or carbon-free energy and technologies, which means the other reductions must be achieved through changes in the way we live. This is referred to by the Scottish Government as Low Carbon Living. This requires public engagement to understand the challenge of climate change and what they need to do to support transition to net-zero – including applying the reduce-reuse-recycle approach to every aspect of their lives.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Given such major behaviour change is complex, requiring inter-dependent changes in: individuals’ beliefs and habits collective social norms and “material” supports such as affordable renewable energy and sustainable

food productionthe Scottish Government is promoting a scientific approach to supporting population behaviour change called Individual-Social-Material (ISM). During 2019, the Scottish Government also commissioned Keep Scotland Beautiful to support a Big Climate Conversation with events held in many parts of Scotland, although unfortunately not North Lanarkshire. A report from this consultation was published in Jan. 2020 in which it was concluded that action to tackle the climate emergency must: take a holistic and integrated approach - spanning environmental, social and

economic issues be supported by local and national leadership to change our social and economic

environment so low carbon is either the only option or easiest option enable a just transition which supports economic and social inclusion and

reductions in inequality support involvement of all sectors of society.

The Scottish Government’s commitment to an inclusive, green recovery supports its commitments to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Scotland which includes tackling poverty and advancement of human rights and equality

These commitments are reflected in the Scottish Government’s Performance Management Framework, especially the outcomes regrading an inclusive and sustainable economy and our environment.

The Scottish Government plans to publish its updated Climate Change Plan in December 2020.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

2.3 North Lanarkshire Climate Action

2.3.1 NLP and NLCReductions in carbon emissions are being supported by NLP and NLC through delivery of NLP’s Plan for North Lanarkshire  (PFNL) and the  “The Place – The Vision” plans. Although the climate emergency and net-zero are not mentioned in the PFNL explicitly, NLC is supporting delivery of the PFNL, including its services and corporate activities in line with its carbon reduction management plan, which is currently being updated.

The Place-the Vision plans set out town regeneration proposals for each of the nine community board localities across NL, spanning housing, transport and green space developments. The nine Community Boards are also developing nine Local Outcome Improvement Plans (LOIPs) – and these must include community contributions to carbon reduction.

NLC also supports improved bio-diversity through delivery of a NL Bio-diversity Plan (2015-2020) which supports climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as other environmental and wellbeing outcomes.

Environmental issues, including the climate emergency, are taught to children and young people in NL, supported by guidance from Education Scotland. NL schools are also fully involved in the Eco-schools Scotland-wide scheme run by Keep Scotland Beautiful, with many receiving recognition through the “Green Flag Award”. The NL Youth Work Interim Recovery and Renewal Plan 2020-22 also includes a commitment to work with young people to raise awareness and support engagement on environmental issues, which would include climate emergency issues.

In June 2020, North Lanarkshire Council declared a climate emergency and in Feb. 2020 launched the ACT 2020 campaign to tie in with the global UN Climate Change conference COP26, which was scheduled to be held in Glasgow in November 2020. An event for NLP partners was scheduled for March 2020 and an event for the NL community and voluntary sector was in the planning stages. These events and the ACT20 initiative had to be shelved when COVID 19 pandemic started in March.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

2.3.2 NHS LanarkshireNHS Lanarkshire supports reduction in carbon emissions related to its activities supported by its own carbon reduction management plan.

The NHS Lanarkshire Director of Public Health’s 2018-19 Annual Report featured climate emergency, stating it was the “biggest threat to human health” and summarised key actions necessary to address climate change, focussing on measures to reduce carbon emissions through housing, transport, food and product consumption.

2.3.3 Police Scotland and Fire And Rescue ScotlandBoth Police Scotland and Fire and Rescue Scotland are also supporting transition net-zero through carbon management planning Scotland-wide and within their regional divisions, including Lanarkshire.

2.3.4 Further and Higher Education

All FE and HE institutions in Scotland are required to contribute to net-zero under the Scottish climate change legislation, including New College Lanarkshire and University of West of Scotland. UWS also has a long -standing partnership with Oxfam UK to support its contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

2.3.5 NL Business SectorAs a major contributor to carbon emissions, the business sector must also be a key part of any net-zero transition. Some NL-based business organisations will already be making good progress with others needing guidance and support.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

2.3.6 NL Community and Voluntary Sector and Voluntary Action North LanarkshireThe community and voluntary sector (CVS) must also make its contribution to next-zero. Every CVS organisation (CVSO) needs to review its activities to find ways to reduce carbon emissions. Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL) plans to support CVSOs to develop their own carbon reduction plans proportionate to their size and capacity. In addition, the CVS needs to support wider community and citizen engagement and action to reduce carbon emissions, focussing on support for “low carbon living”.

VANL hosted a first NL CVS seminar on the climate emergency  in August 2019, at which it was agreed that a new NL CVS Climate Emergency Network (CEN) should be established to support CVS action on climate change. VANL convened and facilitated two network meetings by December 2019 at which terms of reference were agreed and an early draft action plan developed. Further meetings were deferred due to the COVID 19 pandemic. However, during July 2020, VANL organised a focus group for North Lanarkshire community and voluntary organisations supporting equality groups to contribute to the Scottish Parliament’s consultation on “Green Recovery” referred to above.

The next NL CVS CEN meeting will be held on the 4th December 2020 at which this paper will be discussed. Regular CEN meetings will be scheduled for 2021 and beyond to support implementation of the ACT Now plan once agreed.

VANL is an (associate) member of the Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN) on behalf of the NL CVS CEN. In December 2019, VANL applied to the National Lottery UK for funding to support the NL CVS CEN and local community climate action – sadly without success. In August 2020 VANL submitted an Expression of Interest to the Scottish Govt. to host a Community Climate Change Hub – which would support public awareness and low carbon living; however, decisions have been delayed.

VANL will continue to identify and pursue funding opportunities to support community action on climate change, aligned to the NLP ACT Now Plan once agreed and in liaison with NL CVS CEN members and NLP partners.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

3. Proposed NL “ACT Now” Plan3.1 AimTo support achievement of net-zero carbon emissions in NL by 2045 through just and green recovery from C19 which is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and improves people’s wellbeing and equality.

3.2 Objectives Strengthen net-zero leadership in NL through NLP and in all sectors.

Ensure that an inclusive, green recovery and net-zero ambitions are part of NLP and partners’ strategies, policies and plans, with appropriate evaluation and reporting on progress.

Support NLP partners in delivering their net-zero commitments.

Improve understanding of the climate emergency and what must be done to achieve net-zero amongst NL’s citizens and workforce in all sectors.

Support NL community and voluntary and business sectors to transition to net-zero.

Support NL citizens and communities to transition to low carbon living.

3.3 Principles and Approach The NL ACT Now plan embraces the principles and approach set out by the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Commission and the key actions identified in the Big Climate Conversation report from Jan. 2020 as outlined above, namely: a holistic and integrated approach spanning environmental, social and economic

issues local leadership to change our social and economic activities so low carbon is

either the only option or easiest option enabling a just transition which supports economic and social inclusion and

reductions in inequality whilst supporting environmental sustainability involves all sectors of society.

3.4 Activities

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

3.4.1 Leadership

Appoint NL Net-Zero Champions (NZCs) from:o each NLP statutory organisation (these are likely to be existing lead officers)o NL CVS – through VANL (CEO) and NL CVS CENo New College Lanarkshire and UWS o NL Business Community o Each Community Board

These champions would:o support action within their own organisation-sector-community on net-zero

o form an NLP Net-Zero Working Group to: share good practice and learning and support improvements on net-zero

activity within their own organisation-sector-area

facilitate delivery, evaluation and reporting on the ACT Now Plan for NLP.

Continue to develop and sustain the NL CVS Climate Emergency Network to:o provide leadership and support to the NL CVS on climate change

awareness and net-zero action o support delivery of relevant parts of this ACT Now plan.

3.4.2 NLP and Partners (including NCL and UWS)

Deliver climate emergency training to NLP partners’ workforce, using available online, validated training (e.g. Keep Scotland Beautiful Climate Emergency Training

Review partners’ Carbon Management Plans to identify and share good practice and support learning and improvement across NLP partners and other key organisations/sectors.

Review and revise NLP members‘ C19 Recovery plans to include commitment to and inclusive and green recovery and net-zero.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Refresh the following NLP/NLC plans and progress reporting to explicitly refer to their contribution in delivering an inclusive and green recovery and net-zero.

o Plan for NL o the nine locality “The Place – the Vision” plans o Economic Regeneration Plan o Local Development Plan o Housing Plan o Transport Plan

Promote NL’s bio-diversity and green space plans and their contribution to achieving net-zero. Ensure updated bio-diversity and green-space plans are informed by community and other stakeholder consultation.

Facilitate development of Local Outcome Improvement Plans (LOIPs) in the nine locality areas to include commitment to an inclusive and green recovery and net-zero, with a focus on action to support low carbon living by residents.

Ensure the development of the proposed Lanarkshire Community Concordat promotes inclusive and green recovery and net-zero.

Continue to review NL’s resilience regarding the negative effects of future climate events such as flooding and hot weather and update Resilience Plans. Climate Emergency should also be an ongoing issue for the Lanarkshire Resilience Partnership.

3.4.3 Community Awareness and Action (also LOIPs and concordat above)

Deliver community climate emergency/carbon literacy training using the accredited “Carbon Literacy” training delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful for:

o members of the NL CVS CENo NL CVS paid and volunteer workforceo members of the nine NL Community Boardso members of NL Youth Forums and Groups (supported by NLC Youth Work

leads who have recently received training to deliver this to young people)o members of NL Tenants and Residents Associations

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Sustain and strengthen NL’s commitment to Eco-schools accreditation and green-flag awards, which support involvement of the whole school and wider community.

Encourage faith communities in NL to become “eco-congregations, supported by Eco-congregations Scotland.

Support community action on climate change and net-zero through initiatives such as:

o active and green travelo access to affordable renewable energy, including local schemeso community growing initiatives and dietary changes to support more

sustainable food behaviourso “green” leisure – e.g. walking; tree planting; habitat and wildlife

conservation; community food growing o shopping locallyo waste reduction initiatives

It is important to note that the kind of changes outlined above will contribute to reductions in carbon emissions and also improve people’s physical and mental health and reduce inequality.

3.4.5 Business Sector

Review of Lanarkshire Economic Forum Terms of Reference to include appropriate commitment to inclusive, green recovery.

Support identified net-zero champions from NL business sector to develop local business engagement in supporting inclusive and green recovery in NL including:o workforce training on climate emergency and net-zero o development and implementation of carbon management plans for business

organisations o low carbon and zero carbon innovation for marketo participation in the Scottish Bright Green Network’s student placement

programmeo participation in the Scottish Business Environmental Awards scheme - VIBES

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

3.5 Communications and Liaison

3.5.1 Develop a NL communications plan to support delivery of the ACT Now Plan, including improved local understanding of Climate Emergency issues and engagement around net-zero action.

3.5.3 Liaise with relevant regional and national bodies to:

secure support for NL ACT Now implementation share our progress and learning learn from others

(Please see Annexe B.)

3.5.2 Organise a fringe meeting at the COP26 conference in Glasgow in Nov. 2021 through the UK Climate Fringe COP26 group.

3.6 Implementation and Resources

It is envisaged that implementation of the ACT Now Plan would be mostly supported through deployment of existing resources within partner organisations, the CVS and communities. However, modest additional resources are likely to be needed, which will be identified as the ACT Now plan develops. Options for securing such additional resources will be identified and pursued. This might include secondment of staff from within partner organisations and grant funding from Scottish Government and/or charitable trusts to support community action.

3.7 Evaluation, Learning and Improvement

Delivery and impact of the ACT Now Plan will be assessed using a self-evaluation approach, including quantitative and qualitative data. Performance measures will be agreed in early 2021 with baseline and performance data captured to enable assessment and reporting of progress and impact.

Progress will be monitored and reviewed by the Net-Zero Champions Network with regular reports to the NLP SLB.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

3.8 Consultation and Agreement of ACT Now Plan

Following discussion at the November 2020 NLP SLB, it is proposed that this paper is amended as appropriate to support wider consultation on the draft plan amongst key stakeholders, including the following. (Please see Annexe A).

key staff in NLP partner organisations (North Lanarkshire Council; NHS Lanarkshire; Police Scotland Lanarkshire Division; Fire and Rescue North Lanarkshire; Scottish Enterprise, West of Scotland; Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire on behalf of wider community and voluntary sector)

members of:o NL Community and Voluntary Sector Partnership Groupo NL CVS Climate Emergency Networko NL Children, Young People and Families Groupo NL Youth Forums

members of the nine NLP Community Boards

Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce, Business Hub and Economic Forum

senior colleagues in New College Lanarkshire and University of West of Scotland.

It is proposed that this consultation takes place during November-December 2020, with a final draft plan presented to the NLP SLB for approval in Jan-Feb. 2020.

Paper: Written by Maddy Halliday, CEO, Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire and Climate

Emergency Lead for NLP Strategic Leadership Board

Approved by NLP Strategic Leadership Board, 6th November 2020

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Annexe A: Key North Lanarkshire/Lanarkshire Organisations (for Consultation and Engagement with NL ACT Now)

A.1. Business

Lanarkshire Business Gateway

Lanarkshire Business Hub

Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce

Lanarkshire Economic Forum

A.2. Community and Voluntary Sector

Health and Social NL Community Solutions Programme

Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership

NL Climate Emergency Network

NL Children, Young People and Families Network

NL Community Boards (Airdrie; Bellshill; Coatbridge; Cumbernauld; Kilsyth; Motherwell; Northern Corridor; Shotts; Wishaw)

NL Community and Voluntary Sector Partnership Group

NL Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations

NL Youth Council (6 Forums and Champions Board for Care Experienced Young People)

Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire

A.3 Further and Higher Education

New College Lanarkshire

University of West of Scotland

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

A.4 Public Sector

NL Children’s Services Partnership

NL Community Learning and Development Partnership

Fire and Rescue Scotland North Lanarkshire

Health and Social Care NL

North Lanarkshire Council

NHS Lanarkshire

Police Scotland Lanarkshire Division

Annexe B: Regional and National Organisations B.1 Business

Scottish Chambers of Commerce

Scottish Council for Development and Industry

Scottish Enterprise

B.2 Voluntary Sector

Green Action Trust (previously Central Scotland Green Network Trust)

Greenspace Scotland

Keep Scotland Beautiful – Climate Change

Scottish Environment Link

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN)

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Sniffer – Knowledge Brokers for a Resilient Scotland and hosted initiativeso Adaptation Scotland o Climate Ready Clyde

B.3. Further and Higher Education and Research

Climate Exchange (Scotland)

Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges Scotland and linkedo Sustainability Exchange Scotland

B.4 Public Sector

COSLA’s Environment and Economy Board and Team

Nature Scot (previously Scottish Natural Heritage)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency – Climate Change

Scottish Government Energy and Climate Change Directorate

Scottish Parliament Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Sustainable Scotland Network

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Annexe C: NLP ACT Now Consultation Response Form

Please save the form below as a word document and return your completed form to actnow@vanl.co.uk by Friday 18th December 2020.

If you have any queries, please contact maddy.halliday@vanl.co.uk

Part A: Your details

Organisation/Group

Contact details Name Designation Email

Part B: Questions For each question, please advise yes or no and provide any supporting comment.

A.1. Does your organisation support the proposed Aim and Objectives of the NLP Act Now Plan?

A.2. Does your organisation support the proposed Principles and Approach of the NLP Act Now Plan?

A.3 Does your organisation support the proposed Activities of the NLP Act Now Plan:

3.1 Overall

3.2 For your sector/organisation?

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Part B: Questions cont. For each question, please advise yes or no and provide any supporting comment.

A.4. Can your organisation nominate a Net Zero Champion to support implementation of the ACT Now Plan within your organisation-sector and to join the ACT Now Zero-Champions Network?

If yes, please: either advise who this would

be

or when you would be able to advise who this would be.

A.5 Can you organisation support implementation of the ACT Now Plan.

If yes, please indicate how.

A.6 Does your organisation require assistance to engage with and support implementation of the ACT Now Plan?

If yes, please advise what support you would or might require.

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Consultation on NLP Action on Climate Together Plan – “ACT Now”November – December 2020

Part C: Please use the space below for any other comments

[document ends]

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