New website where Edinburgh residents can share ideas about fighting climate change in the city will launch next Monday

A new website where Edinburgh residents can share their views and ideas about climate change will be launched next Monday.

The site, called Edinburgh Talks Climate, is part of a wider £57,500 council engagement plan to encourage conversation around the action needed to tackle climate change as Edinburgh emerges from lockdown and works towards its net zero carbon by 2030 ambition.

On the website people will be able to submit ideas and engage with resources that will encourage them to take personal actions to become eco-friendlier.

The site will initially focus discussion around energy use and sustainable travel. Then, over the next eight weeks further themes and topics will be introduced for people to contribute their thoughts to.

On the site residents will have access to the results and findings of the Edinburgh Talks Climate Survey, a public consultation that ended in May this year, and the city’s Youth Summit on Climate Change, which took place in February.

The council’s Parks and Green Space Service will also make use of the site to inform planning on the future use of parks.

Alongside launching a website to encourage shared discussion and action on climate change, the council is also looking to potentially establish a citizens’ assembly or panel to assist and inform policy making on the issue.

The assembly or panel would involve a representative sample of Edinburgh citizens learning about and deliberating on the city’s environmental aims, and then generating recommendations, supported by different types of people, for the council to follow.

However, due to its precarious financial position, the local authority does not plan to make any formal commitments to the idea of citizens’ assemblies in the very near future.

Adam McVey, Council Leader, said: “Edinburgh is facing a dual crisis right now and both need urgent action: our recovery from the pandemic is coupled with the global climate emergency.

“As we adapt to the circumstances brought about by COVID-19, we can also start building a city for the future. Tackling climate change must be front of mind in this process and we have to take every step we can to ensure that our recovery is a green one.

“Edinburgh belongs to its residents and we welcome their views on how we can positively effect climate change within our city. I would encourage everyone to take part in the Edinburgh Talks Climate engagement and make sure their voices are heard throughout our recovery.”

Cammy Day, Depute Leader, said: “It’s clear that if we are to build an Edinburgh for the future and achieve our 2050 City Vision, then a green recovery is our only option. We have to make sure our plans, decisions and actions both in the short- and long-term serve this ambition and

“Edinburgh Talks Climate is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in how we tackle climate change within our city and the actions that we take as part of Edinburgh’s adaptation and renewal to the situation.”

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