Climate action requires people to work together on every level
Moray CAN's Climate Change Conference brought together community leaders, local residents, CAN partners, third sector organisations and industry to discuss what action is being taken locally, and what work lies ahead.
Louise Nicol, Community Development Officer for Climate Action with Moray CAN, opened the conference, giving an overview of current community action and projects that have been funded by the Network. Louise was joined by Fabio Villani, from tsiMORAY's leadership team, who gave a wider lense view - illustrating how community led local development has a key role to play in building a more sustainable, just and equitable world.
George Gunn and Sophie Ward from Moray Council's Climate Change Team, gave updates on the local authority's climate change strategy and its role in decision making at the Council, as well sharing successes in current nature restoration activities.
Guest speaker Keith Masson, Head of Net Zero Transition for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, made the numbers make sense. Keith gave the context needed to understand the current statistics of Moray's emissions, and how HIE is supporting the region's enterprises in the collective move to next zero.
Peter Clark Deputy Director for Industry Sustainability from the Scotch Whisky Association, shared insights into the industry’s sustainability ambitions and what steps they are helping their members to take, to reduce operational emissions.
The conference seized the opportunity to literally show action too — welcoming conference attendees to go off-site, with organised participatory workshops and visits to local initiatives such as wildflower and meadow management at the Wards, community growing with REAP at the Oaks, a Deep Time Walk with naturalist Dan Puplett at Cooper Park, and even the chance to get active, with Cycling UK and a visit to the Active Travel Hub in Elgin.
Workshops were also held by Chris Hunt, Grampian Housing's Sustainable Lead, who discussed the role housing associations have in tackling climate change and the measures they are taking to reduce waste and emissions.
Elle Adams and Guy Harris from the Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Rivers Trust’s flagship nature restoration programme, the Findhorn Watershed Initiative, gave an in-depth account of the scale and breadth of local habitat restoration.
The conference began and ended with videos made by geography students at Speyside High School, who, working with the Cairngorms National Park, shared their stories for change.
The day was a setting in which stories and motivations were shared, practical information and examples of action exchanged, and hope given in the midst of crisis.
