Sustainable development in Scotland has a number of distinct strands. The idea of sustainable development was used by the Brundtland Commission which defined it as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."United Nations. 1987."Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development." General Assembly Resolution 42/187, 11 December 1987. Retrieved: 2007-04-12 At the 2005 World Summit it was noted that this requires the reconciliation of environmental, social and economic demands - the "three pillars" of sustainability.United Nations General Assembly (2005). 2005 World Summit Outcome , Resolution A/60/1, adopted by the General Assembly on 15 September 2005. Retrieved on: 2009-02-17. These general aims are being addressed in a diversity of ways by the public, private, voluntary and community sectors in Scotland.
Sustainable communities Scotland's first dedicated programme for sustainable communities was delivered by Forward Scotland between 1997 and 1999 as part of a UK wide initiative led by Encams. Partnerships with a number of local authorities were developed and dedicated officers recruited to work with communities. This programme piloted the Community Eco-cal a forerunner of ecological footprinting. This programme was evaluated by Professor Michael Carley, Heriot-Watt University and the lessons learned informed a successor programme, 2000–2002, where community groups themselves were the focus. This produced the very first handbook for sustainable communities and a series of highly successful community projects. During this time the first community grants programme for sustainable communities was launched funded by the New Opportunities Fund (now the Big Lottery Fund). This programme funded some pioneering projects in areas such as community renewables, local food, community waste management and the first ecological footprinting projects in Scotland.
In April 2007 plans were announced for Biggar to become the first 'carbon-neutral' town in Scotland.Johnston, Ian (20 April 2007). "Biggar and better as Lanarkshire town bids to be Scotland's first carbon-neutral community" Edinburgh. The Scotsman. Retrieved on 27 April 2007. In the same month Findhorn Ecovillage confirmed that its ecological footprint is the lowest ever recorded in the industrialised world. In January 2008 HICEC published a report to "review the opportunities and actions needed to support an island community to become carbon-neutral"."Establishing a carbon-neutral island". HIE. Retrieved 10 February 2008. Following this, in June 2008 it was announced that Stirling was aiming to become Britain's first carbon-neutral city, hosting the Going Carbon Neutral Stirling project."Stirling bids to be first carbon-neutral city" (13 June 2008) Glasgow. The Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
Community Energy Scotland is a charity that provides free advice, grant funding and finance for renewable energy projects developed by community groups in Scotland. The main aim of the company is to enable all communities to generate and use renewable energy for their long term and collective benefit.HICEC. (2006) Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company Annual Review. Inverness. In March 2010 the local development trust on the island of Tiree commissioned a 950 kW community-owned wind turbine project, the fourth such large-scale project in Scotland."Tiree renewable energy". tireerenewableenergy.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2010. The first three projects were on Gigha and Westray and at Findhorn Ecovillage.
Transition Town projects aim to raise awareness of sustainable living and build local ecological resilience. Examples in Scotland include Forres, Portobello, West Kilbride and Hawick."Where Transition is happening". transitionscotland.org. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
In August 2010 the historian James Hunter stated that the transfer of ownership into community control had brought about "a spectacular reversal of Gigha's slide towards complete population collapse" and suggested that the UK Government should learn lessons from this and other community buy-outs in places such as Assynt, Eigg, and Knoydart to inform their Big Society plans."Ross, David (20 August 2010) "Cameron should visit Gigha to see the Big Society in action, says historian". Glasgow: The Herald. These successes notwithstanding, civil servants have been criticised for impeding community buy-outs of land via the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. For example, the proposed community purchase of the former RAF Machrihanish base was thwarted due to technical problems with the application despite 97.4% local support in a referendum.Ross, David (1 September 2010). "'Bias' thwarts community bids to buy land claims capaigner". Glasgow: The Herald.
Public sector
Government policy The first serious policy was written in 1998 in anticipation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, by the Secretary of State's Advisory Group for Sustainable Development. This was followed by strategy that focussed on Waste, Energy and Travel in 2002 and Choosing our Future in 2005, which was written in association with the UK shared framework for sustainable development. In 2007 the Scottish National Party took office in a minority government pursuing 5 strategic objectives that encompass sustainable development but do not specifically reference it. Instead the government has adopted sustainable economic growth as its principal target.
In June 2007 John Swinney, the new Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the Scottish Government, announced plans for a Climate Change Bill that would include an intention to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.Schofield, Kevin (22 June 2007). "Scotland could be ‘world leader’ in fighting climate change". Glasgow. The Herald. Retrieved on 31 August 2007.
In August 2007 the Scottish Government announced the creation of a Saltire Prize for innovation in industry, which will reward excellence in developing new renewable energy technologies. Hi-Energy (15 August 2007) Press release. Retrieved on 29 August 2007. In contrast the UK government's stance the Scottish Government have ruled out both new nuclear power stations in Scotland and the burial of nuclear waste."The Scottish Government's response to the UK Consultation on the Future of Nuclear Power." (9 October 2007)The Scottish Government. Retrieved 22 January 2008."Nuclear waste burials ruled out" bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
The passage of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 has a created and informed a wide variety of initiatives. The Climate Change Delivery Plan sets out what needs to be done to achieve emissions reductions to meet the statutory targets that are included in the Act. The Climate Change Adaptation Framework, published in December 2009 aims to build resilience and capacity for change. Other public sector initiatives include: The Renewable Energy Framework, the Renewables Action Plan, and the Renewable Heat Action Plan The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 Scotland's Climate Change Declaration The Rural Land Use Study The Scottish Climate Change Impact Partnership
Scottish Sustainable Development Forum The Scottish Sustainable Development Forum (SSDF) is a group the focussed on promoting debate and action on sustainable development issues in Scotland. Forum membership is open to any individual who wishes to make Scotland more sustainable."About Us" Scottish Sustainable Development Forum. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
Public bodies In January 2010 it emerged that SEPA, the government body responsible for protecting the environment had failed to reach its carbon emissions targets. Its aim is to cut emissions from business activities by 25% by 2012 compared with 2006 but a report showed that they had risen by 10% in the past year.Fyall, Jenny (29 January 2010) 'Green police' fail to hit own targets.The Scotsman. Edinburgh.
Energy production and distribution
The natural resource base for renewables is extraordinary by European, and even global standards. In addition to an existing installed capacity of 1.3 Gigawatts (GW) of hydro-electric schemes, Scotland has an estimated potential of 36.5 GW of wind and 7.5 GW of tidal power, 25% of the estimated total capacity for the European Union and up to 14 GW of wave power potential, 10% of EU capacity.RSPB Scotland, WWF Scotland and FOE Scotland (February 2006) The Power of Scotland: Cutting Carbon with Scotland's Renewable Energy. RSPB et al. The renewable electricity generating capacity may be 60 GW or more, considerably greater than the existing capacity from all Scottish fuel sources of 10.3 GW.Scottish Renewables (January 2006) Market and Planning Report. Issue No 4.
Much of this potential remains untapped, but continuing improvements in engineering are enabling more of the renewable resources to be utilised. Fears regarding "peak oil" and climate change have driven the subject high up the political agenda and are also encouraging the use of various biofuels. Although the finances of many projects remain either speculative or dependent on subsidies, it is probable that there has been a significant, and in all likelihood long-term change, in the underpinning economics.Monbiot, George (2006) Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning. London. Allen Lane.
In addition to planned increases in both large-scale generating capacity and microsystems using renewable sources, various related schemes to reduce carbon emissions are being researched. Although there is significant support from the public, private and community-led sectors, concerns about the effect of the technologies on the natural environment have been expressed. There is also an emerging political debate about the relationship between the siting, and the ownership and control of these widely distributed resources.HICEC. (2006) Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company Annual Review. (PDF). Inverness. Retrieved on 31 August 2007.
Wind power
Wind power in Scotland is an area of considerable activity, with 1550 MW of installed capacity as at October 2008.Turbines achieve energy landmark Wind power is the fastest growing of the renewable energy technologies in Scotland and the world's largest wind turbine generator (5 MW) is currently undergoing testing in the North Sea, 15 miles off the east coast. There are numerous large wind farms as well as a number, both planned and operating, which are in community ownership. The siting of turbines is sometimes an issue, but surveys have shown high levels of community acceptance for wind power in Scotland. There is further potential for expansion, especially offshore, given the high average wind speeds.
In May 2008 Scottish and Southern Energy confirmed it was proceeding with the Greater Gabbard wind farm, located off the south coast of England. However, they sold their stake in this project, expected to become the largest wind farm in the world, to Npower some six months later."Greater Gabbard Wind Project Gets Go-ahead " (27 May 2008) Renewable Energy World.com. Retrieved 9 November 2008.Rutherford, Hamish (4 November 2008) "SSE sells half of giant wind farm project to Npower for £308m." Edinburgh. The Scotsman.
Lower carbon power stations