The Committee learned from our People’s Panel that there is a strong need to improve local community involvement in climate action. The Panel suggested this could be achieved by: <ul><li>local community climate action that reflects regional differences</li> <li>longer-term funding for climate hubs and initiatives</li> <li>face-to-face engagement between the government and communities</li> <li>commercial benefits for local communities</li></ul> <b>How does the Plan say it will support participatory and community-led solutions?</b> The Scottish Government says it ensures the public can participate in shaping the policies that will get us to net zero, through engagement and co-design. This includes: <ul><li>engaging with communities across Scotland to get their input on policies that will help Scotland reach its net zero targets through the Climate Change Participation Programme</li> <li>allowing communities to decide how a portion of a public budget is spent in their local area through encouraging Participatory Budgeting</li> <li> support for communities to develop, and benefit from their own energy projects through the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES)</li></ul> If you agree that the Plan clearly outlines how the Scottish Government will deliver participatory and community-led solutions to reducing emissions, rate it up (👍). If you disagree, rate it down (👎). Please tell us why you agree or disagree using the comment boxes below. Please tell us if there are other types of approaches you would like to see included, or changes you would like to see, that would help the Scottish Government to deliver participatory or community-led solutions.
The Plan currently overlooks the potential of community-led climate action. There are lots of fantastic projects already happening on the ground, and many more could come to fruition, which are making neighbourhoods better places to live, as well as more sustainable. But the government isn't proposing new policies or investment targeted at things like community-owned energy, transport or food projects.
I would like to see more support for existing schemes and investment targeting new schemes
I think Scottish Government have been trying hard to push the climate agenda. As a previous local community councillor, our community council always found it challenging to get local engagement in general unless it was on things that directly affected residents. Most were interested in schools being rebuilt that would directly affect them, or if there were housing applications but not many were interested in climate as they saw that as someone else’s problem…… so I personally find the concept of universal community engagement as overwhelming challenging and if this has been successfully delivered at scale please add example and methodology into the plan
the plan's actions are inadequate. However, the attention to this area is very welcome, because we know that when communities and individuals are involved in creating solutions through co-creation or deliberative processes (like the climate assembly) there is a strong willingness to engage and take action. This is particularly important for policies / issues which are tricky to solve like road congestion, the heat transition, support for local foods and 'low carbon' diets. Participatory budgeting is not enough as it often becomes a popularity contest (who has the best social media and networks to get the most 'votes') vs genuine community engagement. Local authorities should be resourced to run deliberative processes to inform decision-making.
I dont think the plan is clear about how it will deliver participatory and community led solutions. I think the plan would benefit from clear actionable goals in each sector and then how they will measure success toward each goal within the 5 year period. "allowing communities to decide how a portion of a public budget is spent in their local area" For example instead of "a portion" say 30% or 70% or whatever portion is intended.
I like participatory budgeting.
I am pleased to see the CARES project mentioned. It would be good to find ways to actively promote this though - within towns and cities as well as villages.
I agree with Participatory budgeting as a means of giving funding to important local projects but the pot has to be significant and large.
I dont think enough has been done to consider the current versions of community climate led action or to support them. Inteventions from scotgov have historically been top down and wasteful and this plan does not have enough detail or engagement with non statutory bodies to make me feel anything different is being proposed here
Net Zero is unrealistic, physically impossible with existing technology and not the critical item for Scotland. Most important is providing energy security and removing fuel poverty. Scotland contributes nothing significant to the world with its calcite emissions.
The “ Responding to this consultation” document (produced by the Scottish Government) does not easily match up to the plan document and makes it difficult to consult. The amount of time to consult (on the draft CCP) is far too short.
We mostly agree, but are unclear how the plan will change what local action groups currently do? What is the outreach strategy to increase engagement beyond those already interested in these issues?
Young people felt that they were not seriously consulted within their communities around planning other than lip service. They felt that their opinions need to be heard locally in a meaningful way, and that communities should be able to say no to changes that planners often make that are not what they want.
Again it would be good to have more information on areas where public input on decision making will have impact. There don’t seem to be many specifics about this in the plan!
I agree with this BUT we must move beyond words into real action. What is already happening in community groups must be supported, encouraged and shared
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