Climate 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.

Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030

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
• resources

Assets

• buildings
• transport
• vehicles

Services

• education and training
• waste
• planning
• libraries, parks and sports
• care

Place

• communities
• green and blue networks
• commuting
• economy
• homes

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

Climate action plan outcomes

Governance

All our employees and partners understand how climate change affects us and what our responsibilities are.

Assets

Our buildings and vehicles are lower emission and adapted for climate change.

Services

We will design our services to be lower impact and resilient to climate-induced disruption.

Place

Through partnership working, we enhance nature and our built environment. Communities benefit from the energy transition.