Dundee given A Rating for Climate Action

Dundee has been recognised as one of 119 cities across the globe that are taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency, despite the challenging global economic situation.

The charity CDP gave the city an A rating in its rankings based on actions being taken to tackle climate change.

Only 26 UK local authorities achieved the highest rating, with Dundee, Perth & Kinross and Edinburgh as the only Scottish recipients.

CDP is a not-for-profit organisation that runs the global disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

The climate actions cities are measured on by CDP focus on the themes of mitigation; adaptation; reporting, science and transparency; and just transition.

Dundee City Council Leader John Alexander said: “It is very welcomed recognition for the city to again be given an A rating by CDP for Dundee’s pressing and wide-ranging work in tackling the serious and accelerating challenges presented by climate change.

“We know that a lot remains to be done to achieve our ambitious targets of reducing emissions and to achieve Net Zero by 2045.

“However, this recognition highlights that we are leading on this change, we’re making good progress and the steps we are taking are the right ones.

“Together, it’s our responsibility to continue this momentum forward and bring the transformational change needed to benefit the environment.”

Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Committee Convener Heather Anderson said: “It is clear that when faced with the challenge on the scale of the climate emergency that no one body and no single solution is going to be able to address all of the issues. 

“However, in response locally, the partnership Dundee Climate Action Plan led by the Council and designed with public, private and community organisations, recognises that a concerted city-wide effort is required.

“CDP’s assessment of Dundee highlighted a number of areas where positive work is being carried out, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at a city-level with external wall insulation on hard-to-treat buildings. The Broughty Ferry Flood Protection Scheme was also specifically recognised as a local action of adapting to the effects of climate change.

“Dundee was seen to be transparent about its emissions, as can be viewed through the city’s Emissions dashboard, as well as with climate actions being measured in the Dundee Climate Action Plan. With regard to a just transition, Dundee was also highlighted as working hard to achieve national fuel poverty targets.”

To receive an A rating, among other actions, a city must have a city-wide emissions inventory and have published a climate action plan.

It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation goal to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards.

Professor Iain Gillespie, Principal of the University of Dundee and Chair of the Dundee Climate Leadership Group, said, “This is encouraging news for Dundee as we continue to build towards a more sustainable and resilient future and address the climate emergency that affects us all.

“This will require even greater effort and wider partnership working in the years ahead.”

Many A List cities are also taking a variety of other leadership actions, including political commitment from a city’s mayor or civic leader to tackle climate change – a step taken in Dundee in 2018.

In 2019, Dundee declared a climate emergency, recognising the serious and accelerating environment, social and economic challenges faced by climate change.

Making Dundee a sustainable city is a key priority for the city, which will pass through a period of transition from a carbon-based economy to one that plays a leading role in Scotland’s goal of achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 or sooner.

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