Council raises challenge of marine carbon footprint with Net Zero Committee

The role of local government in helping to reach Scotland’s net zero targets was the focus for the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recent visit to Orkney.

During the visit on Monday 6 June, Mark Ruskell MSP, Jackie Dunbar MSP, Liam Kerr MSP and Monica Lennon MSP were hosted by Orkney Islands Council and heard from organisations working at the heart of tackling climate change. These included for example the European Marine Energy Centre; the Islands Centre for Net Zero; the Community Energy Trust and THAW Orkney, a local fuel poverty charity.

The visit was part of the Committee’s work exploring the role of local government and its partners in achieving the challenging commitment of making Scotland net zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Now the Committee want to see this work in action by visiting projects and communities across Scotland.

Council Leader, Councillor James Stockan, met with the committee whilst they were in Orkney.  He said " This week saw some very positive engagement with the Net Zero committee - as we discussed local climate change issues from just transition to becoming Net Zero as an island group.  The committee were hugely impressed with the pionerring work that goes on in Orkney around these issues.

"Orkney's biggest challenge is the number of our marine vesels that have a high carbon footprint.  The meeting gave us an oportunity to discuss our current ferry provision - particularly our challenges around ferry replacement - including an appeal that local authority ferries are not ignored in future cross-parliamentray inquiries.

"We look forward to further opportunities to discuss this with all areas of Government."