What the committee does
The Climate Change Committee provides advice, oversight and scrutiny on the council’s climate, ecological and environmental sustainability agenda.
Read the committee’s minutes and agendas
Its remit includes:
general responsibilities
- providing advice and guidance on climate, ecological and environmental sustainability
- identifying, supporting and championing climate and ecological progress across the council
- offering appropriate levels of critical challenge to the organisation
specific responsibilities
- overseeing the council’s duties under the Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020, including emissions baselining and monitoring
- overseeing the Net Zero Strategy, Action Plan and Programme, including setting and scrutinising performance targets across the following workstreams:
- built estate and energ and asset management
- social housing (HRA)
- fleet and staff travel
- waste and circular economy
- procurement and community wealth building
- planning, land use and environment
- capital programme
- net zero funding strategy
- responding to external policies and consultations
- reviewing policy and project progress related to climate and environmental matters, including:
- just transition
- adaptation
- land reform
- food growing and land use
- biodiversity
- supporting and promoting Highland’s high-quality environment, including air, land, water, food products and renewable energy resources, to create commercial opportunities and raise awareness of the need to protect and enhance environmental assets
- reviewing and monitoring the climate impact of council policies
- overseeing internal and external communication, engagement and partnership building related to climate change mitigation and adaptation
- promoting climate change and ecological issues through committee presentations and the development of internal and external events
The committee may make recommendations to the Highland Council or other strategic committees on these matters, including proposed changes to council policy or strategy.
Further details about the committee’s remit and delegated powers are available in the council’s Scheme of Delegation.