South Lanarkshire councillors have approved a five-year plan to tackle climate change.
The Sustainable Development and Climate Change Strategy was endorsed by councillors at the full council meeting last week.
The strategy sets out how the council aims to develop sustainability and tackle climate change over the next five-year period from April 2022 to March 2027.
It will also provide a broad strategic direction for longer term planning, beyond the five year period to help deliver on agreed outcomes to achieve the longer term vision.
The strategy was developed following extensive public engagement. Nine online community engagement focus groups were held and attended by 62 participants and an online survey was launched in 2021 which received over 800 responses which helped shape the vision and themes of the strategy.
The council’s vision is to ‘improve the lives and prospects of everyone in South Lanarkshire’, the mission statement for the strategy is ‘Our Future is Now: building a sustainable, climate resilient and net-zero South Lanarkshire together, in a fair and inclusive way’.
The proposed themes for the strategy are: People, Progress (for place and communities), Planet (the natural environment) and Planet (a green economy).
Chair of the council’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change Committee, Councillor Mark McGeever, said: “People are at the heart of a sustainable South Lanarkshire. Health and well-being are paramount.
“The strategy also makes clear that we need to empower and support our communities to create sustainable, inclusive and thriving places that we can all be proud to call home.
“They should be net-zero, climate resilient and well connected. They must have genuine access to energy efficient, comfortable and affordable homes, as well as good local services and local, high quality outdoor space.
“South Lanarkshire’s natural environment, its greenspace and its biodiversity should not just be respected – they need to be restored, protected and enhanced.
“And the strategy is also clear that we should demonstrate leadership and innovation in the transition to a thriving, net-zero, climate resilient, and circular economy that offers a better future for everyone in South Lanarkshire.”
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