Current activity and projects
Significant action is required to achieve a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to meet our target to deliver Net Zero by 2045 and to adapt to a changing climate.
We are busy delivering on key projects that help to reduce carbon emissions and to promote a more adapted and sustainable environment.
Carbon Baseline for ourselves and for the Scottish Borders area
Carbon baselines for ourselves as an organisation and for the wider Scottish Borders are being developed, the latter in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise.
This will establish firm foundations upon which on-going progress can be measured. As part of our ongoing commitment, we submitted our annual climate change report under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, to the Scottish Government in November 2022.
Waste and recycling
We continue to lead the way on recycling as the highest performing rural council in Scotland and the fourth highest overall. However, we still have a way to go to meet the Scottish Government’s ambitious recycling targets.
Continued public support and recycling participation is key. Find out more about our waste and recycling services and learn about the small changes we can all make to make a difference.
Transport
Transport is an essential part of everyday life, especially in a predominantly rural environment like the Scottish Borders. A range of public and community transport options are available to help Borderers reduce private car usage, while we've also been installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure for a number of years.
We are also changing our fleet to low emissions vehicles when opportunities arise and continue to trial a new on-demand bus service in Berwickshire. Further work is ongoing into supporting more active travel and to improving and supporting the local bus network.
Nature based solutions
This is a key area on the journey to Net Zero and we are already very active in a range of transformative initiatives, for example increasing biodiversity, community food growing, and the Pollinators Along the Tweed project.
Biodiversity and natural ecosystems are vital to human wellbeing and prosperity. The Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2018 – 2028 has been prepared by a partnership of local organisations with an interest in land management and natural heritage in the Scottish Borders. A biodiversity duty delivery report, prepared every three years, highlights the actions carried out to further conservation of biodiversity.
Energy
How we heat and light our buildings, cook and travel all requires energy and this is a significant priority in the transition to Net Zero. All local authorities in Scotland need to deliver a Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) to reduce energy demand and decarbonise heat supply. We are also a key partner in the Borderlands Energy Masterplan. More information is available on what we are doing and what you can do, and the support available.
Procurement
When we buy goods and services as an organisation as well as individuals, we have an impact on the environment. Reducing emissions from the supply chain for goods and services is complex.
We are striving to make a positive impact on reducing carbon emissions both during tendering and throughout the lifetime of contracts. We are committed to Sustainable Procurement and have adopted a Sustainable Procurement Charter.
Adapting to climate change
We will all need to adapt to climate consequences to protect ourselves and our communities. We are already establishing protection schemes for those vulnerable to flooding and have in place flood risk management plans.
However we must be aware of all the risks to future climate consequences e.g. water resource management, natural flood management, trees for shading and cooling, soil protection and infrastructure management. Working with nature is a key element of adaptation.
Behaviour change
Raising awareness of climate change and the role that we all can play in addressing the issues and adapting to change is key.
To date, almost half of our elected members have received carbon literacy training accreditation and an online carbon literacy training module is mandatory for all staff. Supporting communities, for example through the placemaking process, to adopt different behaviours and to implement initiatives such as car sharing, waste reduction and food growing, is also a key strand of our work.