ECO HOPE OF CLIMATETRIO
East Perthshire experts part of panel
Three members of the new Climate Change Commission in Perth and Kinross are from east Perthshire.
Martin Mathers from the HEAT Project - part of Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust -
Nathan Jamieson from Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Climate Cafe and Nicole Rattray, a senior pupil at Blairgowrie High School and member of the Beeches Road school’s eco group have all joined the new commission.
Perth and Kinross Council unanimously agreed to establish a Climate Change Commission for the area last year ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow.
The commission is made up of 26 members from the public, private and civic sectors and aims “to help drive, guide, support and monitor climate action” in the region, scrutinising and overseeing Perth and Kinross’s Climate Change Plan.
Three members of the new Climate Change Commission in Perth and Kinross are from east Perthshire.
Martin Mathers from the HEAT Project - part of Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust Nathan Jamieson from Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Climate Cafe and Nicole Rattray, a senior pupil at Blairgowrie High School and member of the Beeches Road school’s eco group have all joined the new commission.
Perth and Kinross Council unanimously agreed to establish a Climate Change Commission for the area last year ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow.
The commission is made up of 26 members from the public, private and civic sectors and aims “to help drive, guide, support and monitor climate action” in the region, scrutinising and overseeing Perth and Kinross’s Climate Change Plan.
The 26 members comprise six from the private sector, six from the public sector, six from the third sector, six from targeted areas of expertise such as transport and biodiversity and two youth representatives.
Nathan and Nicole are two of the youth representatives while Martin was selected for his work in the third sector providing energy advice to householders, landowners and businesses and organisations.
Martin told the Blairie: “The commission has met twice now and so far it has been very positive.
“As it is a new organisation and we all have different areas of expertise, we are bringing everyone up-to-date with the various issues and challenges facing communities and what PKC can to about those issues.
“I gave a presentation on domestic energy issues and highlighted what could be done in the short, medium and long term.
“Short term is all about helping people in fuel poverty and providing advice on energy saving measures and how to access the Home Heating Fund for example, which the HEAT Project is already doing in east and Highland Perthshire.
“In the medium term I suggested looking at the results of the heat pump project that we are also involved in while for the long term I suggested looking at exterior insulation solutions and options for properties in the region.
“I have been very impressed by the wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm that everyone on the group has shown - everyone is making a positive contribution and the elected members are also actively involved as well.”
The local authority has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045 and has also established a committee made up of elected members to tackle the declared global climate emergency and protect biodiversity.
And representatives from the Climate Change Commission will sit on the new Climate Change and Sustainability Committee which is due to meet for the first time in the last week of August.
Martin said: “This gives the Climate Change Commission a direct link to senior levels of the council and I am confident that PKC is taking the issues seriously.
“Having worked in government I know that that is not always the case but this is not just a talking shop, they want us to change things.
“One of the challenges for the commission however, is going to be communicating and engaging with communities.
“We need to go out and talk to people and see what they think and take their advice on what will work to avoid any potential backlash.”
Environmental consultant Nathan Jamieson explained why he joined the commission: “I have a keen interest in progressing climate action at the local and deliverable scale.
“Climate change is an enormous challenge and requires emergency action as with current policy and action we are still on track for 2-3.6oC, well behind the ‘safer’ 2oC or 1.5oC that is targeted globally.
“Scotland and Perth and Kinross are well positioned to, and must lead on action if others in less fortunate positions are to follow.
“I want to help contribute to action within Perth and Kinross through my academic learning, professional experience with sustainability and carbon management and volunteering experience helping with local community action and engagement.”
Martin said: “I am personally delighted to have been selected to be part of this new group. Having been an environmental campaigner for several years I see this as a real opportunity to make a difference and I am quietly optimistic that we can achieve that.”