East Lothian Council and the climate change emergency

East Lothian Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. We acknowledge that climate change is already affecting us with hotter summers, wetter winters, and rising sea levels. We must act urgently to adapt to these effects and mitigate further climate change by reducing greenhouse gases. As a public body, the Council must contribute to Scotland’s target of reaching net zero emissions by 2045.

Our plan to address climate change is published in the East Lothian Council Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030 and its attached Action Plan.

Download the Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030

Download the Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030 action plan

The Strategy sets out our approach to the following focus areas:

  • Governance: Leadership, Adaptation Capability, Carbon Literacy, Procurement, and Resources
  • Assets: Buildings and Transport & Vehicles
  • Services: Education & Training; Waste; Planning; Libraries, Parks & Sports; and Care
  • Place: Communities, Green & Blue Networks, Commuting, Economy, and Homes

Each of these has an outcome, which is what we hope to achieve in the next 5 years.

Graphic showing the 4 Outcomes of the Climate Change Strategy

4 outcomes of ELC's Climate Change Strategy

To measure our progress reducing emissions, we have set 5-year carbon budgets for 3 possible scenarios, which include interim targets.

Scenario:

Transformational

Continual

Business-as-Usual

2024/25

15,760

15,950

15,950

2025/26

14,660

15,210

15,490

2026/27

13,560

14,580

15,210

2027/28

12,460

14,050

14,800

2028/29

11,360

13,570

14,530

TOTAL:

67,800

73,360

75,890
Graph with 6 bars showing East Lothian Council’s emissions targets in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The first bar represents the baseline year of 2023/24 and the 5 following bars shrink each year. The bars capture all 3 carbon budget scenarios.

Graph showing East Lothian Council’s emissions targets in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent

Our progress is reported to Scottish Government every year in Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Reports.

Download our Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) and Action Plan.

Check this page regularly for the latest updates on climate action. Upcoming plans include:

  • Continue quarterly meetings of the Climate and Nature Emergency Group of officers and the Cross-party Climate Change and Sustainability Forum for elected members of all parties. These groups ensure an effective one-Council approach to climate change.
  • Continue working with partners through Climate Ready South East Scotland to improve our region’s resilience to climate change.
  • Develop a climate change plan for all East Lothian.
  • Develop a Climate Change Risk Register for East Lothian.

What can I do to tackle climate change?

Community support

Community action will be critical to tackling climate change. Fortunately, East Lothian has climate action groups across nearly every settlement doing inspiring, local work. This includes groups which cover the whole county, such as East Lothian Climate Action Network (ELCAN) and the East Lothian Climate Hub, which link with over 80 organisations. Use this link to access support for:

  • Finding your local climate action group
  • Sustainable travel
  • Zero waste
  • Biodiversity
  • Food
  • Energy Efficiency

Find out more and get involved

Cyclists on a cycleway at Whitesands

Business support

Opportunities and support for businesses to be innovative and to transition to net zero:

Find out more and get support for your business

Haddington Farmer's Market showing customers browsing and chatting to stall holders.
father and son vegetable gardening raised beds

What we are doing to tackle the climate emergency

East Lothian Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. This means that we acknowledge the urgency of action and do what we can to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere, adapt to the changing climate and act in a way considered most sustainable across all Council services.

Our commitments:

  • annual climate change reporting to the Scottish Governmenton our journey to net zero:read our reports or download the reports in Excel file format on the Sustainable Scotland Network
  • our Climate Change Strategy (2020-2025) and Action Plan - this is updated annually and includes actions on mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and more - read our Strategy and Action Plan 
  • quarterly meetings of our Climate Change Planning and Monitoring Group - a coordinated and whole-council response to the climate emergency
  • forming a Climate Change and Sustainability Forum - elected members from all parties working together to accelerate action towards a net zero council

Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES)

Download our Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan.

Glossary

Carbon budgets: A limit on the emissions that can be produced over 5 years which keeps global warming at a sustainable level.

Climate change: The long-term shift in global climate patterns, including extreme weather events and rising sea levels, linked directly with the warming of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Climate change adaptation: Making changes to avert damage from the effects of climate change, such as heavier rainfall and rising sea levels.

Climate change mitigation: Reducing, eliminating, or offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity, which will lessen the impacts of climate change.

Greenhouse gases: Gases in the atmosphere that trap the Sun’s radiation within the Earth’s atmosphere and cause global warming. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapour.

Net zero: A balance between the emissions generated and removed from the atmosphere – this means the activity does not contribute to climate change.