Conservatives on East Lothian Council are taking the lead on the Climate Change Emergency, becoming the first group to appoint a Climate Change Champion.
Haddington and Lammermuir ward Councillor Craig Hoy will take on a coordinating cross-council role examining how the climate change emergency declaration in East Lothian impacts his party’s policy positions.
Commenting Councillor Hoy said: “Climate change is the number one threat to our future and is hugely important to everyone, particularly to East Lothian’s young people. It’s vital that we look at every policy and every decision, from roads to schools, through the prism of its impact the environment. The Conservative Group recognises the scale of the challenge in transitioning to a zero carbon East Lothian by 2045. By creating this new role of Conservative Climate Change Champion we can bring a ‘whole council’ approach to our thinking."
The groundbreaking move comes as East Lothian Council publishes its Climate Change Strategy following the declaration of a Climate Change Emergency earlier this year.
Conservative Group Leader Jane Henderson said: “Craig recognises the huge importance of embedding environmental considerations into everything we do. Passing the council motion on the Climate Change Emergency Declaration was the easy part. Taking real action on the ground locally, nationally and internationally will be much harder - but we have to act to meet the ambitious targets we have now set. Craig will be an effective and articulate champion for the environment within our group and across East Lothian more widely.”
