Climate action is back on agenda

The closing date for Stirling Council’s Climate Survey has been extended across the summer.

The online questionnaire was launched just a week before the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK forced a nationwide lockdown.

Focus for the council over the past three months has been on maintaining the delivery of essential services, such as child care, waste collection and supporting the area’s most vulnerable people.

As many of these key services begin to take their planned first steps towards operating in new ways or returning to full service delivery, the council’s environment conveners have urged the Stirling community to continue to provide their input in developing a Stirling-wide programme of action to tackle the ongoing climate emergency.

Environment and housing convener Councillor Jim Thomson said:“The term‘green recovery’ has emerged in recent weeks, underlining the ongoing discussion across the world about the importance of sustainability.

“Everyone wants Stirling to be a greener, healthier place to live and that is the responsibility of everyone who lives and works here, so we would be delighted to have their feedback.”

Councillor Danny Gibson, vice convener, added:“Although the coronavirus pandemic is by no means over, it is vital environmental issues are at the heart of our forward planning and I would urge residents, organisations and businesses across the Stirling Council area to express their views, tell us what needs to change and help us shape our plans for the immediate and long-term future.”

Residents can access the survey by visiting: https://www.stirling. gov.uk/council-democracy/ consultations/ and clicking “Climate Conversations”.

At a recent virtual meeting of Stirling Council, Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache asked Councillor Thomson how the council would ensure action would be taken to tackling the climate emergency during the lockdown recovery phase.

Councillor Thomson replied: “The climate emergency remains central to the long-term planning within the council. The Covid-19 situation and national lockdown has clearly affected our planned approach to development of the Climate Emergency Plan during the current year, as our own staff and that of partners have been redirected on to Covid-19 response activities.

“The climate emergency plan will be recognised in the various phases of the council’s recovery plans.”