Climate funding is confirmed for north-east hub

Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government that the North East Scotland Climate Action Network (NESCAN) will receive £468,000 in funding for 2024/25.

This funding is part of a £5.5 million investment in 20 climate hubs across Scotland to help communities reduce their emissions and improve their resilience in the face of climate change.

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan announced the funding and highlighted that “tackling climate change is our collective responsibility and will require collaborative action at all levels.”

Climate hubs support communities in a number of ways, such as by delivering assemblies to schools, supporting local businesses to reuse and recycle and providing advice for tackling fuel poverty.

Ms Martin said: “It is very welcome news that £468,000 will be invested in NESCAN this year.

“It is our collective responsibility to tackle the climate emergency and the network of climate hubs across Scotland empower communities to engage and get involved in local initiatives.

“The Scottish Government will continue to tackle the climate emergency by empowering people in Aberdeenshire to take the necessary actions for their communities.”

Communities will receive a share of up to £5.5 million Scottish Government funding to help reduce their emissions and improve resilience in the face of climate change.

The funding, for 2024-25, will support Scotland’s network of 20 Community Climate Action Hubs, which encourage and support climate action.

Based across Scotland, the Hubs have supported a range of projects bespoke to their area, including on local energy generation and flood mitigation.

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan confirmed the funding during a visit to the North East Scotland Climate Action Network (NESCAN) Hub in Aberdeen.

One of the original two hubs that successfully piloted the concept in 2021, the NESCAN Hub has delivered climate assemblies to schools, climate literacy sessions to the local community, supported repair cafes to increase local reuse and recycling rates and provided advice and support around tackling fuel poverty by improving energy efficiency for buildings as well as renewable heat and energy generation.

Ms McAllan said: “I am very pleased to hear first-hand how NESCAN Hub’s work has been helping communities in Aberdeen to support climate action through projects tailored to meet the needs and interests of the area.

“Tackling climate change is our collective responsibility and will require collaborative action at all levels. We must also share in the benefits that our net zero journey will bring.

“Communities are uniquely placed to play a critical role in shaping and driving forward the transition to low carbon and climate resilient living and we want to empower people to take action in their neighbourhoods that’s right for them.

“That is why we are proud to continue to support our hugely successful framework of regional climate hubs, which provide a vehicle for communities to come together and engage in collective grass-roots action.“

NESCAN Hub manager Alison Stuart said: “We are proud of the continuing achievements of groups supported by NESCAN Hub. In particular, the ongoing work to help fulfil the residents’ wishes to create a healthier, happier and more sustainable community.

“This will not only support our response to the climate crisis, but also improve wellbeing, help address fuel poverty and increase community capacity, assets and wealth-building.”

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