Highland to host KIMO international meeting and conference
The Highland Council will this week offer a warm welcome to delegates attending the annual general meeting and conference of the local authorities international environmental organisation, KIMO.
KIMO stands for Kommunernes International Miljøorganisation (Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation) and meets every year to discuss ways local government can help to prevent pollution and to protect, preserve and enhance the seas and coastal waters of the North-East Atlantic and Baltic regions.
The theme for this year’s two-day event in Inverness is 'Gathering for regeneration'.
The current president of KIMO international is Culloden and Ardersier Councillor Trish Robertson.
She said: “The wildlife and natural beauty of the Highlands is iconic and the work of KIMO and similar organisations helps to ensure responsible and sustainable stewardship of our seas.
“As well as offering a chance to showcase the best of the Highlands to visitors from overseas, the conference presents us with an opportunity to learn from other countries how best to balance tourism, farming (including fish farming) and green energy.”
KIMO is an international local government network representing more than seven million citizens in nine northern European countries.
Alongside five national KIMO networks – in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom – the organisation also has independent members in the Faroe Islands, Germany, Ireland and Lithuania.
The flagship KIMO project ‘Fishing for Litter’ recently marked 20 successful years of working with fishing vessels and harbours across the UK to remove rubbish from the sea.
Derek Brown, Highland Council’s Chief Executive, said: “Working together and learning from one another, across oceans and borders, is the only way we will be able to tackle some of the overarching challenges facing local government today – including marine pollution and climate change.
“Regeneration has never been more necessary. In common with many councils serving remote and rural populations, the Highlands is facing declining and aging communities, increasing need to care for our older people, and changing weather patterns which disproportionately impact on coastal and remote areas.
“But in the Highlands, we are at a turning point, with significant investment on the horizon from the Green Free Port and renewables market. We have a once in a generation opportunity to regenerate our economy, regenerate local government, and regenerate our communities. To do that, we need to balance both competing and complementary interests: tourism and hospitality, farming and aquaculture, green energy, and conservation.
“I was delighted to see a focus on community engagement in the programme, because transformation at this scale makes it vital that we listen to people and incorporate their views, suggestions and priorities.
“It is exciting to be involved in bringing together fellow local government colleagues with a shared passion for listening, engaging, and driving change.”
The annual general meeting takes place on Wednesday (8 October), while the conference programme on Thursday (9 October) includes a wildlife study cruise on the Moray Firth and a visit to the Ardersier energy transition facility site.
More information on the work of KIMO UK can be found on their website at www.kimointernational.org