14 June 2018
Aberdeenshire Council, COSLA and Scottish Government Represent Scotland at EU Sustainable Energy Week
Aberdeenshire Council participated in the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) Policy Conference in Brussels on June 6.
This event was led by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) alongside Local Government Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden and delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government and Catalan Energy Agency.
EUSEW is the European Commission’s annual event to advance clean energy policy and the session on Subnational Governments Working in Partnership to Deliver the Clean Energy Transition allowed for local approaches in delivering energy efficient public services to be discussed at EU level.
Aberdeenshire Council is the first Local Authority in Scotland to develop and approve a Carbon Budget which allows for decreasing allocations of carbon dioxide across service areas. It also supports decision-making orientated towards reducing energy demand and developing renewable generation.
The Council recognises that all of its functions and operations have an impact on the local and global climate and over the past few years has implemented a range of measures to reduce carbon emissions and over all carbon footprint.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Team Leader for Sustainability and Climate Change Claudia Cowie sat on a practitioner panel alongside Oslo, Norway to present the Carbon Budget to a European audience in the Commission’s Charlemagne building in the European quarter. The event was chaired by Swedish EU Committee of the Regions member Agneta Granstrom.
Both Aberdeenshire Council and Oslo are members of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and have committed to go beyond 2030 EU climate and energy targets. COSLA acts as the official supporting organisation of the Covenant of Mayors in Scotland.
The Scottish Government also participated in the session and highlighted the import work of Local Authorities in delivering the ambitious aims of the new Scottish Energy Strategy. Published in late 2017, the Scottish Energy Strategy sets Scotland firmly on course for an inclusive, innovative and low carbon energy future. And in May this year, as part of the Energy Strategy implementation, Scottish Government published its Route Map for Energy Efficient Scotland, setting out the Scottish Government’s vision for all buildings in Scotland – that by 2040 all of Scotland’s buildings are warmer, greener and more efficient. The Routemap proposes a key role for local government, working in partnership, to plan and deliver programmes that will support building owners to meet new energy efficiency standards.
COSLA President Alison Evison said: “COSLA is delighted to be participating in the EUSEW 2018 alongside our European Local Government colleagues from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden and those in Scottish Government.
"On this occasion my own council, Aberdeenshire Council, has been in Brussels to represent Scottish Local Government at EU level and showcase the fantastic climate, energy and environmental work of Scottish councils.
The partnership approach of the event is a true testament to COSLA’s extensive European networks and we are strongly encouraged by the ongoing support for COSLA led initiatives in Brussels.
There is increasing international interest in carbon budgeting and it is with pride that Aberdeenshire Council is formally recognised for this innovative work. It is proof that Scottish Councils are advancing their commitment to climate change and have international standing for leading the clean energy transition.
To be presenting local work alongside Scottish Government is also very encouraging for the future of energy policy and delivery in Scotland, based on the principles of multi-level governance. Congratulations and thank you to all those that made the event a success.”