Introduction

“There is a global climate emergency. The evidence is irrefutable. The science is clear. And people have been clear: they expect action. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a stark warning last year: the world must act now.” Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham’s statement to the Scottish Parliament on 14 May 2019

How can town centres play their part in tackling the climate emergency?

• Make it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport into town and around our town centres, to reduce carbon emissions and pollution caused by private cars.
• Green our town centres with trees, shrubs, flowers and grass – to absorb rainwater, reduce flooding, tackle pollution, and make our towns healthier and more attractive.
• Individual town centre businesses can do their bit by using resources efficiently, cutting energy consumption and carbon emissions, and recycling responsibly.

Many of these need concerted effort by government and other partners, and significant investment over a number of years, to make a difference. But there are also individual actions that we can all take. We need to invest in long term infrastructure investment and individual behaviour change at the same time: both are essential.

Whether it’s about big projects or individual actions, we need to act now.