£90,000 from Climate Challenge Fund for green Argyll projects

Carbon-cutting seems to be a spur to the imagination of Argyll communities. Four projects for the region have just been awarded a total of £90,204 from the final round of the Climate Challenge Fund. They are:

• Mull and Iona Community Trust: £39,358 to insulate the attics of older and infirm resident Islanders on Mull and Iona. Estimated carbon savings – 105 tonnes.
• Jura Development Trust: £23,182 for its Woodfuel Supply Pilot project to examine the practicalities of developing a biomass supply for Jura, facilitating the increased use of locally sourced sustainably-managed timber for heat and hot water.
• Tiree Rural Development Ltd: £15,604 to facilitate Tiree housing stock to become more energy efficient.  Estimated carbon savings – 81 tonnes.
• Eilean Eisdeal: £12,060 to raise awareness of energy usage, change behaviour and reduce household energy consumption and the carbon footprint of the island.  Estimated carbon savings – 34.22 tonnes.

The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) has helped hundreds of communities around Scotland realise their carbon-saving potential. I this final round of awards from the overall £27.4 million pot, 27 successful new projects have been supported.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead says: ‘The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) has helped 261 communities across Scotland and captured the imagination and inspired many more. As well as realising the carbon-cutting potential of all projects, CCF has encouraged real community spirit – a spirit I’ve found to be infectious while visiting CCF projects up and down the country. Across the seven rounds of CCF, I have been heartened by Argyll and Bute communities’ enthusiasm for hands-on action in our battle against climate change.

‘Last year, the Scottish Government passed the most ambitious climate change targets in the world, and everyone has a role to play. Our target to cut emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 is challenging but achievable, and in doing so we will create a cleaner, greener Scotland and be at the forefront of developing further a thriving low carbon economy. The grass roots action inspired through CCF is exactly the type of behaviour change that we need to reduce our carbon emissions’.

Green MSP, Robin Harper, says: ‘This unique fund has helped communities in Argyll and Bute and across Scotland to start seeing the other positive results that can come from acting together to tackle climate change. Community groups have set their own agenda and devised their own projects, and it has been truly inspirational to see them putting these good ideas into practice. As well as helping the environment, these projects are boosting local food and healthier living, they’re cutting people’s energy bills and helping kickstart local green jobs.

‘Everyone has a role to play in tackling climate change, from government and business to communities and individuals, and we must work together. Delays will mean a substantial price has to be paid, but early action can bring real benefits, and help give Scotland a competitive advantage on the green economy. That’s why the Green MSPs agreed this #27.4m fund with Scottish Ministers in 2008, and that money has now all been allocated across Scotland. The priority now is to learn from the best projects, and for Parliament to discuss how to build on the successes to benefit more communities in the years to come’.