National park on the road to a greener place

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs aims to slash its emissions through new vehicles, sustainable energy sources and planting trees, writes Ilona Amos

Air source heat pumps, solar panels, fully electric vehicles and a hybrid-powered patrol boat are among a number of measures being rolled out in Scotland’s original national park in a drive to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

They come as part of a new strategy unveiled by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, which sets out a route map for achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 – some 15 years ahead of Scotland’s national target and 20 years ahead of the UK goal.

Major investment will back the scheme, including £200,000 in the coming year alone.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park covers 720 square miles across four local authority regions, and the park authority manages visitor facilities, offices and a fleet of vehicles to patrol the vast area.

The park authority has already cut greenhouse gas emissions by 38 per cent since 2014, but the Mission Zero route map will see efforts stepped up.

Immediate plans include bringing in additional electric vehicles and an electric hybrid boat for patrolling Loch Lomond.

Nature-based projects, such as tree-planting and peatland restoration, could also be used to offset climate impacts where emissions cannot be entirely removed.

Both offer natural ways of absorbing and storing carbon from the atmosphere, while degraded peatland can actually increase emissions.

Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, stressed the need to ramp up efforts to tackle climate change.

He says: “The Scottish Government declared a global climate emergency in 2019 and set out its ambition to become a netzero nation by 2045.

“As a public body, and as a national park authority for whom protection of the environment is a core aim, we are confident that we can play our part by reaching netzero 15 years ahead of that target.

“While we have seen some real progress in reducing our emissions, we know that now is the time to redouble our efforts and strengthen our commitment to Scotland’s future.

“We have a clear route map outlining how we will achieve net-zero over the next decade, involving a real step-change in how we operate so that emissions reduction is at the heart of our decision-making.

“With this goal in sight, we will dramatically reduce the emissions associated with the work we undertake, the services we deliver and those arising from