Climate change - public sector duty

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places duties on public bodies such as Councils, regarding climate change.  These duties came into effect in January 2011 and require that the Council must, in carrying out its functions, act:

  • in the best way to help deliver the Scottish Government’s emissions reduction targets;
  • in the best way that will help deliver any statutory adaptation programme; and
  • in a way that it considers most sustainable.

Scottish Government emission reduction targets are to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions from a 1990 baseline by 42% by 2020 and 80% 2050.  The Scottish Government has published guidance, Public Bodies Climate Change Duties: Putting Them into Practice, to support public bodies in delivering their climate change duties.