Scottish city aims for carbon-neutral first

Citizens in Stirling are aiming to make their town Scotland’s first carbon-neutral city.

Some 29 organisations have so far pledged their support to “Going Carbon Neutral Stirling,” an initiative that launched a few weeks ago. The programme hopes to have 120 business members by year’s end and is also encouraging individual residents to do their part to reduce their carbon footprints.

The initiative’s goal is to immediately begin achieving an 8 per cent year-on-year reduction in carbon emissions, a target that’s in line with the Tyndall Centre 2007 findings on greenhouse gases.

“With our staff’s help, each group will create its own carbon-reduction plan, made up of weekly and monthly carbon cutting actions that everyone can do, together, starting with the easy actions first,” states the Going Carbon Neutral Stirling Website. “For the first 3 years, we will visit each group regularly, to provide support, advice and practical help.”

Part of the Keep Scotland Beautiful initiative, the Going Carbon Neutral Stirling programme is being funded by National Lottery’s Big Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government’s Natural Scotland campaign.