The dear green place is about to get greener

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Glasgow has launched an ambitious plan to cut its carbon emissions by 30 per cent over the next 10 years to become one of Europe's most sustainable cities.

Sustainable Glasgow, a consortium led by the University of Strathclyde, aims to pull in £1.5bn of investment from private companies to implement the sustainability strategy, improving transport and implementing clean energy developments.

The plan includes turning the city's sewage and municipal waste into biogas, transforming an area of vacant land in to urban woodland and developing a district heating system, overseen by a "sustainable city tsar".

The study was commissioned in the wake of Glasgow successfully bidding to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Council leader Steven Purcell said it was a "key component" in the bid – with the promise of hosting "the most sustainable and greenest Games the Commonwealth had ever seen".

And despite the economic downturn, Purcell is confident that the project's ambitious aim will be realised.

"One of the mistakes of this city in previous recessions, such as the 1980s, was not to plan for the upturn and stop investing in skills and training," he said. "Part of the action plan will see our colleges and universities investing in the skill set required for the workforce of tomorrow to attract emerging clean green industry jobs. This will put us in a very strong position for the economic upturn."

Richard Bellingham, lead author of the report, said the 30 per cent reduction figure was formed by what the city could achieve "technically and financially".

The report reads: "Glasgow will become a literally greener city through the planting of trees to form leafy boulevards, and the creation of urban woodland on vacant land. Its image would be transformed from a post-industrial city with significant problems – to a city that is actively delivering a new sustainable strategic vision for its future."

Its recommendations include the creation of energy efficiency private home loans, linked to property tax bands, which could be recovered via the council tax. To reduce traffic in the city centre it suggests re-examining congestion charging as part of a wider transport strategy – already the council has plans for low emission zones at a select number of Commonwealth Games locations in 2014. A survey conducted for the report found that two thirds of residents supported "some type of congestion charging". However, it added, "these results might change once residents are asked about a specific scheme."

The report also recommends Cathkin Braes, Netherton Braes and Robroyston as potential sites for the erection of wind turbines.

The next stage of the project includes the creation of an Energy Masterplan for the city – a first for the UK. The masterplan will form the framework for delivering efficient and sustainable low carbon energy developments across the city.

Glasgow emits around four million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – contributing to eight per cent of Scotland's total carbon dioxide emissions from energy production and use.

Its carbon dioxide emissions per capita (7.1 tonnes) are lower than the Scottish average (8.5 tonnes), however the city centre has the highest density of energy consumption in Scotland due to commercial and retail activity. The proposed energy systems are designed to support each other and integrate areas such as renewable energy, district heating, combined heat and power, biogas, biomass, energy management, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and smart grids.

The launch of Sustainable Glasgow comes as the council begins a six-week public consultation on its draft Climate Change Strategy. The strategy examines the effects of climate change on a range of subjects including education, cultural and natural heritage, and health and wellbeing.

Scotland's Energy Minister Jim Mather said, "The Scottish Government supports this ambitious initiative which will help us realise Scotland's goals on clean energy, green jobs creation, energy efficiency and tackling climate change. We hope the Sustainable Glasgow approach is one that can be replicated in towns and cities across Scotland."

Capital investment will come mainly from the private sector and several commercial organisations have already indicated their interest.