A SERIOUS commitment to tackling climate change adopted by Dumfries and Galloway Council last week could spark transformation elsewhere in Scotland.
Councillors unanimously agreed to get serious about the council’s environmental responsibility by setting up a committee that’s solely dedicated to reaching net zero targets.
With the local authority leading the way on reducing its carbon footprint, it’s hoped that companies operating in Dumfries and Galloway, as well as housing associations and other organisations, will play their part too.
However, Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Tony Berretti believes that Dumfries and Galloway can trailblaze the way forward for other councils to up their net zero game.
Speaking at last week’s full council meeting, Councillor Berretti, a member of the council’s climate action group, said: “I’m proud to be part of this group. I think this should be one of the most important groups in the council.
“I’ve always been a believer that it’s people that make the change. We have to lead that change.
“There’s no point saying, ‘it doesn’t happen here’. And if it doesn’t happen here, it doesn’t mean the consequences that we commit to here don’t have impacts elsewhere in the world.
“So, if we’ve got to send a message to the other 31 councils in Scotland and elsewhere, then we’ve got to make these changes – and we have to make serious changes.”
Annandale East and Eskdale Councillor Archie Dryburgh tabled a motion at the full council meeting for a new climate and environment sub committee to enable effective scrutiny of progress towards the council’s net zero carbon targets. This was seconded by Dee and Glenkens Councillor Dougie Campbell.
Councillor Dryburgh said that creating the sub committee would be “the next phase of this journey” in tackling climate change in the region.
He added: “Our journey has really just started. Looking at procurement, we can progress on our road to becoming net zero.
“Looking at investment opportunities to not do things better, but differently, can improve our road to net zero.
“We need to look at a holistic approach, rather than doing it bit by bit, and get to our target on time – or even ahead of the target dates that were agreed just this year.”
The local authority is working towards a target date of 2040 to be net zero.
