Environment

Legislation which will help cut emissions, reduce fuel poverty and create green jobs by accelerating the deployment of heat networks has been passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament.

Bird keepers in Scotland are reminded to maximise biosecurity and keep their flocks housed after avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in a flock of approximately 14,000 mixed gamebirds on a gamebird rearing premises in Leven, Glenrothes.

Laboratory results of samples taken from the flock have identified the strain as highly pathogenic in poultry. In order to limit the further spread of disease, appropriate restrictions have been imposed on the premises.

Grant funding provided by the Scottish Government and European Regional Development Fund will empower shops, from 12 Scottish islands, to take the next steps in the war on waste by introducing shoppers with more reusable options.

A new partnership between Alyth Development Trust (ADT) and the Cateran Ecomuseum has secured major funding for a project to inspire the local communities of eastern Perthshire and western Angus to act quickly on climate change.

The partnership plans to use the natural and cultural heritage of the area to help communities switch to more regenerative ways of living.

Plans are underway to develop two hydro schemes on the Isle of Raasay with the launch of a £650,000 community share offer, which goes live today (Tuesday 12 January 2021).

Communities across the country are to benefit from fast-tracked funding to help tackle climate change and deliver Scotland’s green recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A total of 279 projects will be funded through the Community Climate Asset Fund, helping to deliver electric bikes, food growing equipment and glazing to improve energy efficiency.

The successful recipients of the Fund include:

Two new farmer-led groups are being established to develop advice and proposals to the Scottish Government on how to cut emissions and tackle climate change as reaffirmed in the recently published Climate Change Plan.

Projects with a specific focus on efficiency, cutting emissions and improving environmental performance have been selected as part of the next round of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF).

Plans to ban all non-household biodegradable waste from entering landfill by 2025 have been set out in the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan update.

A ban on household biodegradable waste being sent to landfill is already in place and the Climate Change Plan 2018 – 2032 commits to consulting on extending this to cover business and non-municipal waste.

A new 12-point action plan will support Scotland’s ambition to be a world class fishing nation and ensure responsible and sustainable fisheries management.