East Lothian
Climate Action Plan

Nationally, the UK has a legally binding target to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. Many local councils have more ambitious targets. There are nearly 400 principal councils across the country: the majority have a net-zero target of 2030. Further information from the Council.

Local net-zero target date

2045

Plan published

January 2020

Plan scope

Plan covers council operations only

Climate emergency declared

July 2019

Working together

We use data on Climate Action Plans fromĀ data.climateemergency.uk

If you have more recent Climate Action Plan information for this area, please contact mySociety atĀ [email protected]

CO2 emissions

It's hard to visualise CO2 emissions. The data talks about 'tonnes of CO2' - but what does a tonne of gas look like? Well, imagine a typical large hot air balloon (almost 3,000 cubic metres in volume). One tonne of CO2 would fill one of these hot air balloons.

Additional local carbon emissions

Carbon emissions embedded in the imported goods we consume locally are typically not counted. However, these goods are produced and then transported here because of our consumer demands. Imported emissions are so big they should not be hidden*.

* Note: Imported emissions are estimated based on the Total UK Goods & Services Greenhouse Gases imported emissions (Defra UK's Carbon Footprint 2016: 353mt CO2 eq) pro-rated based on Local Authority population size and assumed equal per capita consumption of imported goods and services across all Local Authorities.

CO2 emissions in total

437,372 tonnes

People in the local area

107,900

CO2 per person per year

4.1 tonnes

Additional local carbon emissions

559,708 tonnes

Source: BEIS Local Authority territorial CO2 emissions within the scope of influence of Local Authorities (2020).

Local carbon emissions by sector

In getting to net zero as quickly as possible, we need to look at how we do things differently in every sector.

(000t)

2018
2019
2020

High-impact, low-carbon initiatives

Total published on Carbon Copy across the UK: 1044 See all Initiatives

There are some amazing collaborations between local councils, communities and companies. Some examples in/around East Lothian:

Castle Moffat Water Treatment Works

Generating energy through pumped water to power a water treatment site.

East Lothian
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Circular Economy

Lothians Conservation Volunteers

Carrying out practical nature conservation.

East Lothian
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Biodiversity & Nature

Community Woodlands Association

Supporting new and existing community woodlands across Scotland to achieve their aspirations.

Aberdeen City
  • Carbon emissions
  • Greater fairness
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Land Use, Food & Agriculture
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Energy

People's Energy

Offering renewable electricity with some of the lowest prices on the market.

East Lothian
  • Carbon emissions
  • Greater fairness
  • Energy

Highland Galvanizers

Increasing the lifespan of motorway crash barriers through re-use and refurbishment.

East Lothian
  • Carbon emissions
  • Waste
  • Circular Economy
  • Transport

SHRUB Zero Waste Hub

Empowering people to live a low carbon life, without waste.

City of Edinburgh
  • Excessive consumption
  • Food security & supply
  • Waste
  • Circular Economy

Glasgow Food Policy Partnership

Creating a fairer, healthier, more sustainable and resilient food system.

Glasgow City
  • Food security & supply
  • Greater fairness
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Land Use, Food & Agriculture
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Circular Economy

Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK)

Supporting students and wider society to learn about, act and lead on sustainability.

Aberdeen City
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Carbon emissions
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Energy