Chamber and committees

The local investigation teams are part of a broader Scottish Government/Young Scot project that is aimed at inspiring young people and encouraging them to consider the issues and opportunities that arise from tackling climate change.

Each team will conduct an investigation into different aspects of low carbon living. The findings of each investigation will be published.

Approximately £4,000 will be allocated to the work of each of the teams.

The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50874). It highlighted good performance in the areas of waste reduction and recycling but weaker performance in reducing emissions from energy use.

Carbon dioxide emissions arising from energy use in the then 18 target Scottish Government buildings decreased by 0.3% between 1999-2000 and 2008-09.

The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50874). This 10% target has been met.

As at 1 March 2011, the percentage of establishments awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag is:

(a) 38% of local authority schools including primary, secondary and special schools 

 (b) 31% of local authority nursery schools and nursery classes. 19% of local authority or partnership pre-school education providers have been awarded a Green Flag.

The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, (Bib. number 50874). 73% of waste was recycled during this period.

The Government On Line Sustainable Performance Information Exchange (GOLSPIE), a web portal within www.scotland.gov.uk is under development and will publish daily energy consumption data. In line with our commitment in Conserve and Save: Energy Efficiency Action Plan we will start to publish this information in the spring. Copies of the Action Plan are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 52545).

Young Scot used their networks and experience to establish the teams. The process of identifying locations included ensuring that the teams should represent urban and rural areas.

The process also involved ensuring that participants included young people of different ages in full time education, and young people who are currently not in education or employment. Two schools and one training organisation are involved in the local investigation teams, which are based in Stirling, Lochgilphead and Kilmarnock, and worked with the young people attending their organisations to identify team members.

The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50874). Carbon dioxide emissions arising from the business travel of Scottish Government officials decreased by 2.5%, between 2005-06 and 2008-09, including a reduction in air mileage of 9% and an increase in rail mileage of 6%; this modal shift of journeys was in line with the Scottish Government''s Travel Plan.

The one-off grant scheme is managed and administered by Eco-Schools Scotland and funded through the core grant from the Scottish Government. Eco-Schools Scotland could continue to operate the one-off grant scheme but in the context of increasing demand for assessments and in order to make best use of their resources, the grant scheme has been suspended from 31 March 2011. Eco-Schools Scotland agreed this approach in consultation with the Eco-Schools Advisory Group which includes the Scottish Government.

Eco-Schools is a highly successful programme and it is important that Eco-Schools Scotland have the operational flexibility to make best use of their resources.

The Scottish Government has confirmed that core funding of £425,000 will be made available in 2011-12, which is the same level of funding as in 2010-11. The shows the Scottish Government''s commitment to Eco-Schools Scotland at a time of considerable financial pressures.

Section 64 (6) (a) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires Scottish ministers to publish a report setting out the measures that they intend to take to reduce emissions from living accommodation. This requirement has already been fulfilled by the publication in October 2010 of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan and in November 2010 of the draft Report on Proposals and Policies. Both reports include information on current and planned policies to reduce emissions from living accommodation and to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and communities.

Section 64 (6) (b) of this act requires Scottish ministers to set out when they intend to make provision in respect of certain aspects of the use of regulation making powers under section 64, within 12 months of their commencement. This report will be published by the end of March 2011.