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Policy Statements and Initiatives
ScotGov: The Scottish Government has underlined its commitment to delivering a ‘Greener Government’, with the publication of its Carbon Management Plan. Developed in conjunction with the Carbon Trust the Plan sets out a number of actions which aim to reduce the organisation's carbon footprint.. Developed in conjunction with the the Plan sets out a number of actions which aim to reduce the organisation's carbon footprint.
The Plan was published on the same day as the Scottish Government's Environmental Annual Report for 2007-08, which shows a reduction in waste produced by the Scottish Government, high levels of recycling and an increase in video conferencing. It also shows a 6%increase in business travel emissions.
Press release ~ Carbon Management Plan ~ Annual Environmental Performance Report 2007-08 ~ Carbon Trust
DECC: A study of the role of the North Sea in providing storage space under the sea-bed for carbon dioxide from European countries has been commissioned jointly by the UK and Norway. The study will look at how quickly the base of the North Sea could be needed for carbon dioxide storage and what the UK, Norway and other countries have to do to get it ready in time.
The aim of the study will be to build a profile for the whole of the North Sea, assessing each country’s storage potential and projections of likely volumes & locations of CO2 flows, against a rising price of carbon.
This will involve identifying network issues and proposing methods for managing CO2 flows across borders.
This will involve identifying network issues and proposing methods for managing CO2 flows across borders.
Press release ~ North Sea Basin Task Force ~ Development of a CO2 transport and storage network in the North Sea: report to the North Sea Basin Task Force ~ Storing CO2 under the North Sea Basin ~
ScotGov: Lessons from a French programme, which has cut childhood obesity by almost a quarter in participating towns, are to be trialled in 8 towns, villages & cities in Scotland.
The pilot Healthy Weight Communities have been inspired by French projects showing participating towns curbed childhood obesity & maternal weight gain over 8 years, while ‘control’ towns saw both rise.have been inspired by French projects showing participating towns curbed childhood obesity & maternal weight gain over 8 years, while ‘control’ towns saw both rise.
The pilot Healthy Weight Communities have been inspired by French projects showing participating towns curbed childhood obesity & maternal weight gain over 8 years, while ‘control’ towns saw both rise.have been inspired by French projects showing participating towns curbed childhood obesity & maternal weight gain over 8 years, while ‘control’ towns saw both rise.
The 8 pilot Communities have been inspired by two French projects, EPODE (Preventing Childhood Obesity Together) and its predecessor Villes Santés, which showed participating towns reversing obesity trends.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison launched the programme together with a consultation on revising Scotland's Diabetes Action Plan, as part of a two-pronged approach to tackling obesity. ScotGov will consider all responses & views received by the closing date of 22 August 2009 and publish the revised action plan later in November 2009.
Press release ~ Consultation: Better Diabetes Care ~ 2006 Diabetes Action Plan ~ Scottish Diabetes Group ~ Diabetes UK Scotland ~ ScotGov: Healthy weight and obesity ~ Healthy Weight Communities
ScotGov: Action to improve public services and cut the number of public bodies should save at least £40m a year, according to an update on the Scottish Government's Simplification Programme published last week.
Along with publication of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill, which will further streamline & improve services, the update shows Ministers are ‘on track’ to shrink the number of public bodies by over 25% by 2011.
The number of public bodies has already been cut from 199 to 162 and the Public Services Reform Bill and forthcoming Children's Hearings Bill will reduce that number to around 120 bodies by 2011. . The number of public bodies has already been cut from 199 to 162 and the Public Services Reform Bill and forthcoming will reduce that number to around 120 bodies .
The number of public bodies has already been cut from 199 to 162 and the Public Services Reform Bill and forthcoming Children's Hearings Bill will reduce that number to around 120 bodies by 2011. . The number of public bodies has already been cut from 199 to 162 and the Public Services Reform Bill and forthcoming will reduce that number to around 120 bodies .
