Climate change boost

South Lanarkshire Council have managed to cut carbon emissions by 3.9 per cent in the past year, councillors have been told.

That is one of the key achievements for the council in the past year according to their latest climate change duties report for 2015/16.

Councillors on an executive committee have been told the authority must submit the report to the Scottish Government by Wednesday, November 30.

Other key achievements include the first phase of LED street lighting, although this has proved controversial in some Rutherglen and Cambuslang communities.

A new garden and food waste collection service was also rolled out in East Kilbride and Hamilton, although this arrived in Rutherglen and Cambuslang too late to be included in this year’s report.

The council also point to the development of the ‘state of the environment’ pages within online resource GLOW for teachers and the development of online sustainable development and climate change training for all staff.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 commits the Scottish Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.

Part four of the act places duties on all public bodies in Scotland, including councils, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate and act sustainably.