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<title>Sustainable Scotland Network</title>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net</link>
<description>Local Authorities Working Together for a Sustainable Scotland</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<item>
<title>Committee on Climate Change Publishes First Progress Report on Emissions Reduction in Scotland</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:57:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2211</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2211</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Climate Change Committee (CCC) published its first progress report on emissions reduction in Scotland on 31 January. The CCC, UK Government's independent advisors on climate change, stated that Scotland had made 'good progress' to reduce emissions since 2009, but that new policies would be required to sustain this progress.]]></description>
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<title>First Climate Change Risk Assessment for UK and Scotland Published</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2210</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2210</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 25 January the UK Government published the first assessment of the impacts the UK is facing from climate change. The Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) presents the latest evidence on the threats and opportunities of climate change for the UK to the end of the century. The CCRA consists of a number of reports, including 'a Climate Change Risk Assessment for Scotland'. A summary of the Scotland report is also available.]]></description>
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<title>Climate Change and its Effects on Scotland’s Landscapes – New Research from SNH </title>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2209</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2209</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The impact of climate change and sea level rise on Scotland’s landscapes are explored in two major new reports from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>City of Edinburgh Council Publishes Sustainable Procurement Policy and Achieves Gold WWF Pledge</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:34:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Procurement</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2208</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2208</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 24 January, the City of Edinburgh Council announced publication of its new Sustainable Procurement Policy and revised Sustainable Timber Policy, detailing how the council will buy goods in a way that brings about social and economic benefits whilst minimising environmental damage. On the same day, the Council announced it had become the first Scottish local authority to achieve a WWF 'gold pledge', ensuring that it will only purchase timber and wood-derived products from sustainable and legal sources.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Job Vacancy: Greenspace Officer, Dundee City Council</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2207</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2207</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dundee City Council is currently advertising for a Greenspace Officer. The post holder will work as part of an interdepartmental team to ensure that Dundee has a varied and diverse Tree, Woodland and Greenspace resource delivering multiple benefits to the people of the City. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Behaviour Change: New National Campaign Urges Scotland to 'Go Greener Together'</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:23:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2205</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2205</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 17 January the Scottish Government launched a new national campaign that seeks to empower everyone to go 'greener together' and play their part in creating a greener, cleaner Scotland.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Government Announces New Sustainable Transport Funding Package </title>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2204</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2204</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Scottish Government last week announced details of a new four year sustainable transport fund. The Future Transport Fund is a four year £50 million funding package targeted at improving cycling infrastructure, shifting freight from road to rail and supporting low carbon vehicles.]]></description>
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<title>Scotland's 2020 Climate Group Agree Priorities for 2012</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2203</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2203</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 12 January, Scotland's 2020 Climate Group published its '12 priorities for 2012', highlighting key actions the group will address over the next twelve months to support the achievement of Scotland's climate change targets. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Local Authorities: Sustainability Round-up</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2202</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2202</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Fife Council benchmarking study reviews progress of local microgeneration market, Aberdeenshire Council teams up with charity to encourage composting and increase recycling rate, and City of Edinburgh Council increases number of electric vehicles across its Community Planning Partnership.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Government Launch Scottish Energy and Resource Efficiency Service </title>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:08:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2201</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2201</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 19 January the Scottish Government announced the launch of a new Scottish Energy and Resource Efficiency Service (SERES) web portal, which aims to integrate the support currently provided by Carbon Trust, Energy Saving Trust and Zero Waste Scotland and others to Scottish businesses and public sector organisations. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Leaked Agenda Reveals Key Aims for Rio+20</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2199</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2199</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 10 January the Guardian newspaper reported on a leaked document containing a draft agenda of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in June 2012. The agenda reveals that participating governments will be asked to adopt 10 sustainable development goals, the exact nature of which will be agreed by countries in advance of the conference. The goals, which will be measurable and introduced in 2015, are expected to cover key topics including oceans, food, energy, water, consumption and sustainable cities.]]></description>
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<title>European Commission Adopts Energy Roadmap 2050</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2198</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2198</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In December 2011 the European Commission adopted the Energy Roadmap 2050, which sets out how the EU can meet its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, while improving Europe's competitiveness and security of supply.]]></description>
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<title>Behaviour Change: Free Online Tool to Engage Staff with Energy Efficiency</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2197</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2197</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 5 January the Carbon Trust published a free online tool - Carbon Trust Empower - to help engage staff in cutting energy use, paper waste and travel. The interactive tool enables employees to make practical commitments through an interactive animated tour of a typical workplace.]]></description>
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<title>EST: Fuel Efficient Driver Training Offer</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2196</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2196</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Subsidised by Transport Scotland, the Energy Saving Trust are offering Fuel Efficient Driver Training sessions to help organisations reduce carbon impact, save money and improve their environmental credentials. A day of 8 subsidised sessions costs £80 plus VAT (normal price £300 plus VAT) for the public sector, community organisations and private businesses with less than 30 people - equating to a cost of £10 + VAT per driver.]]></description>
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<title>Local Authority Resources Available from CLASP</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2195</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2195</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The local authority and public sector sustainability support service for the NW of England - CLASP - has recently published a 'map' of some of the key tools and resources it has published over the past three years. Policy guidance, case studies, presentations, and fact-sheets are all freely available on a range of topics including: renewable energy, adaptation, local transport and green finance.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Government Publish Land Use Strategy Action Plan</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2193</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2193</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Following the publication of the Land Use Strategy in March 2011, the Scottish Government have published an accompanying Land Use Strategy Action Plan on 21 December 2011. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Nominations Open for Scottish Green List Awards 2012</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2192</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2192</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Scottish Green List 2012 awards celebrate the passion, drive and bright ideas of people of all ages, working to make a difference to sustainable development in Scotland. Nominations forms for award scheme are now available from the dedicated website.]]></description>
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<title>Advice for Local Authorities on Sustainable Timber Procurement</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:57:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Procurement</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2191</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2191</guid>
<description><![CDATA[WWF-UK and CPET (Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement) both offer free helplines to the public sector, to assist and advise on various aspects of the procurement of sustainable timber and timber products. ]]></description>
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<title>Good Places Better Health for Scotland's Children</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:56:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2190</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2190</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 20 December 2011, an independent expert evaluation group published a report on behalf of the Scottish Government which considered what is needed to deliver places that nurture good health for children. The authors concluded that “getting things right on place in central to optimising health for Scotland’s children.”, and that local authorities and community planning partnerships play an important part in implementing change in this area.]]></description>
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<title>Resource Revolution: meeting the world’s energy, materials, food and water needs</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2189</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2189</guid>
<description><![CDATA[All the price declines of the past 100 years have been erased within the last 10 years, due to increasing demand from emerging markets such as Asia. A recent report by McKinsey and Company examines the stress on the global resource system, and how it can be met. The report argues that over the next 20 years, “resources needs to be put at the heart of public policy and business strategy”. ]]></description>
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<title>ICLEI Europe Launches Sustainable Procurement Resources</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Procurement</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2175</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2175</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 16 December ICLEI Europe - the organisation of local governments committed to sustainability - launched three major websites to assist procurers, policy makers and others to apply sustainable procurement practises in their area. ]]></description>
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<title>Behaviour Change: DECC Report on Energy Behaviour</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:25:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2174</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2174</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In December, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published a report introducing some of the key models and theories of behaviour change in relation to domestic energy use, in order to better understand how policies might be developed to change 'energy behaviours'.]]></description>
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<title>CCC Analyse Factors Causing Household Energy Bill Rises</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2173</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2173</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 15 December the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) published a report analysing the impact of meeting carbon budgets on household energy bills, which concluded that recent rises in bills are largely attributable to increases in wholesale gas costs.]]></description>
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<title>EST Report Highlights Benefits of LED to Social Housing</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:23:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2172</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2172</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 16 December the Energy Saving Trust (EST) launched a report documenting the findings of a field trial of LED lights in social housing that revealed increases in light levels, colour temperature and good maintenance of performance over time, as well as considerable energy and long-term cost savings.]]></description>
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<title>SFHA Thermal Imaging Project To Be Rolled Out Across Scotland</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2171</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2171</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 19 December the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) announced that 30,000 housing association and co-operative homes will be scanned with thermal imaging software this winter, to identify and prioritise where insulation measures can best be deployed. ]]></description>
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<title>Audit Scotland Report: Reducing Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2167</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2167</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Audit Scotland published a report on 8 December assessing progress and plans to reduce Scottish emissions over the period to 2020. While the report said that the country had made good progress in cutting emissions, it describes Scotland’s climate change targets as ‘ambitious’ and underlines that the Scottish Government is dependent on the action of both the UK and Europe to achieve its goals. The report also estimated that the total cost of achieving Scotland’s targets would be in the region of £10-£11 billion. ]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Local Authority: Sustainability Round-Up</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2166</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2166</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Aberdeenshire Council publishes new Community Asset Transfer Policy, Aberdeen City Council wins EPSA award for carbon work, Glasgow City Council consults on Open Space Strategy and opens new allotment, and Clackmannanshire Council works with students to improve sustainability.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Local Authority: Further Sustainability News</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2165</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2165</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Fife Council win Green Apple Award for smoke detector work, Aberdeen City Council Carbon Management Plan progress update, energy efficiency plans at Falkirk Council, and East Lothian Council takes delivery of electric van.]]></description>
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<title>Scotland State of the Environment Report Launched Via New SEWeb</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:36:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2164</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2164</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 29 November, SEPA published its second major assessment of the condition of Scotland’s environment. Amongst its findings, the State of the Environment Report highlighted that the country was moving in the right direction with regard to tackling climate change, but needed to do more. The report was launched via SEPA’s new SEWeb service, which aims to become a hub for all information and data relating to Scotland’s environment.]]></description>
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<title>Measuring and Improving Well-Being: Recent Reports and Resources</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:29:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2163</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2163</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The measurement and promotion of well-being is of increasing importance to local government and other agencies. Some recent reports and resources include: a research report by the Office of National Statistics on how UK adults rate their own well-being, a report by the new economics foundation (nef) on how local authorities can implement actions to improve well-being, and a further nef report exploring well-being from different political perspectives.]]></description>
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<title>Resources from SSN Conference Now Online</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Dec 2011 17:08:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>SSN</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2162</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2162</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Resources from the SSN Annual Conference - including videos of the ‘quick-fire’ case study presentations that were delivered at the event and a compendium of 28 case study posters - are now available to download online.]]></description>
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<title>Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation Consultation</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Dec 2011 17:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2161</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2161</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published a consultation on the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) on 23 November, as part of the Energy and Climate Change Secretary’s Annual Energy Statement to Parliament.  The Green Deal, to be launched in October next year, will provide for the installation of energy efficiency measures in homes at no upfront cost, with repayments made over time out of the energy savings.]]></description>
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<title>UK Carbon Plan Published</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Dec 2011 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2160</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2160</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 1 December the UK Government published its Carbon Plan, setting out how the Government plans to meet its long-term carbon targets over the course of the current decade, the 2020s and beyond.]]></description>
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<title>Climate Change Committee Reports on Scottish Progress on Adaptation</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Dec 2011 16:54:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2159</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2159</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 24 November the Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) of the UK Committee on Climate Change published its first assessment of the Scottish Government’s progress on adapting the country to the impacts of climate change.]]></description>
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<title>Interactive DECC Maps Visualise Local Authority Datasets</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Dec 2011 16:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2158</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2158</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have recently published a series of interactive maps that bring together DECC’s Local Authority datasets into one place and allow users to view trends in fuel poverty, energy use and energy efficiency measures.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Councils Commit to More Responsible Timber</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Procurement</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2153</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2153</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Nineteen councils across Scotland have made a pledge with WWF to help protect forests by improving the sustainability of their wood and paper purchases. Conservation organisation WWF is working with Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) and the UK government’s Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement (CPET) to support local authorities to procure their forest products responsibly, by asking them to make a pledge as part of WWF’s What Wood You Choose? campaign.]]></description>
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<title>Behaviour Change: DfT Publishes Behavioural Insights Toolkit </title>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:39:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2152</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2152</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Earlier this month the Department for Transport (DfT) published a practical toolkit for delivery partners - including local authorities – who wish to apply the latest behavioural insights in the development of policies or initiatives in the transport context. The toolkit is designed to assist users in reviewing and developing transport policies and initiatives to ensure they take full advantage of the current evidence base and insights from behavioural theory.]]></description>
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<title>DfT Report Documents Experience and Potential of Alternatives to Travel</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:36:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2151</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2151</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Alternatives to travel are measures which can reduce or remove the need to travel, particularly for work, including home- and remote-working, and video-conferencing. Following an earlier Call for Evidence on alternatives to travel, the Department for Transport (DfT) published a report on 17 November documenting organisations’ experiences of this issue. The report includes: an outline of the benefits of adopting alternatives to travel, case studies and existing forms of support, and news of a new initiative that will support organisations who wish to improve in this area. ]]></description>
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<title>ECCI Event: Low Carbon Enterprise and Innovation Showcase  </title>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2150</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2150</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) will host its first Low Carbon Enterprise and Innovation Showcase in Edinburgh in January 2012. The Showcase provides an opportunity for over 40 Scottish low carbon businesses and entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative low carbon business, product or service and network with the most influential investors, serial-entrepreneurs and industry partners from across Scotland and Europe. The ECCI will be hosting further events in January on the theme of low carbon entrepreneurship and investment.]]></description>
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<title>Report: How Local Authorities Can Encourage Take-up of Low-Carbon Vehicles</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2149</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2149</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Published on 3 November, a report commissioned by the RAC Foundation has sought to explore the extent to which local authorities are influencing the use of low-carbon vehicles in their localities. The report sets out the powers that are available to local authorities to encourage the adoption and use of low-carbon vehicles in their areas, and also seeks to explore how these powers are being used in practice.]]></description>
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<title>CRC Performance League Table Published</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:38:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2148</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2148</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The first Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme Performance League Table (CRC PLT) was published by the Environment Agency on 8 November. In terms of local authority performance, councils in Scotland, the South West, the West Midlands and the North East were best overall. Local Energy – the social enterprise established by the LGiU to assist organisations manage risks associated with climate change – has on 14 November published key findings from the PLT. ]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Government Publish ‘Green Infrastructure: Design and Placemaking’</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:35:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2147</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2147</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 8 November the Scottish Government published a document which provides practical tips on incorporating green infrastructure in masterplans. The new publication builds on two earlier documents, ‘Designing Places’ and ‘Designing Streets’ and is aimed at planners, landscape architects, developers, housebuilders and others involved in shaping built and green environments.]]></description>
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<title>WWF-Scotland Report Launch: How to put electric cars on Scotland's roads</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:31:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2146</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2146</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 1 December, WWF Scotland will host a roundtable event with the Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP and key stakeholders in the electric vehicle industry to launch WWF Scotland's new report, ‘Powering Ahead: how to put electric cars on Scotland's roads’.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>EC Publishes Updated Handbook on Green Public Procurement</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:29:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Procurement</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2145</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2145</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 25 October  the European Commission published a fully revised version of ‘Buying Green! – A handbook on green public procurement’. The handbook, first published in 2004, is designed to help public authorities to buy goods and services with a lower environmental impact.]]></description>
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<title>Attitudes of Public Towards Sustainability Revealed in New Survey</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2144</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2144</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Supermarket chain ASDA has recently published the findings of an 8-month survey of 6,000 of its customers, which explored their values, attitudes and behaviours around sustainability. ASDA states that comparative surveys show that the wider UK population mirrors their panel of customers, making their sustainability survey ‘a barometer for the whole UK public’.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Local Action for a Sustainable Scotland</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Nov 2011 16:25:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>SSN</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2143</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2143</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On Thursday 10th November over 200 delegates will gather at the COSLA Conference Centre in Edinburgh for this 2011 SSN Conference. The audience will reflect a wide range of public sector organisations, private sector companies and community groups – an ideal audience to share experience of aligning public, private and community sector action for a low carbon, well-adapting, sustainable Scotland.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Government Reaction to Solar PV/FIT Consultation</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Nov 2011 09:48:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2142</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2142</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 3 November Scottish Government Energy Minister Fergus Ewing attacked the UK Government’s proposed cuts to Feed In Tariffs (FITs) for solar panels, describing the potential changes as a ‘body blow’ for the solar sector. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>District Heating Loans Announced</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Nov 2011 09:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2141</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2141</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 6 November the Scottish Government announced that it has offered nine projects loans totalling £1.9million to develop district heating schemes. It was further announced by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing that an Expert Commission on the delivery of district heating has been established, in a bid to accelerate the development of such schemes in Scotland. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Government: Planning Case Studies Online</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Nov 2011 09:28:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2140</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2140</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As part of the Scottish Government's 'Delivering Planning Reform' programme a set of over 60 case studies are now available highlighting examples of the new planning system in practice. Some of the new case studies have a strong sustainability focus.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>DECC Publishes Great Britain Housing Energy Fact File 2011</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Nov 2011 09:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2139</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2139</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has recently published its ‘Great Britain Housing Energy Fact File 2011’. This publication covers the period from 1970 to 2009, and aims to draw together most of the important data about energy use in homes in Great Britain. The Fact File aims to support informed decision making about how to reduce energy use and CO2 emissions from homes.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Consultation on Feed-in Tariffs for Solar PV</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 1 Nov 2011 17:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2136</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2136</guid>
<description><![CDATA[DECC have launched a consultation on Feed in Tariffs (FITs) for small scale renewables (under 5MW). The consultation is the first of two on the comprehensive review of the FITs that were announced at the start of the year and will close on the 23rd of December 2011.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>English Councils Scaling Back on Climate Change, Survey Reveals</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 1 Nov 2011 17:37:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2135</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2135</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A survey undertaken by the Green Alliance has revealed that climate change work has narrowed, is very weak or absent in 65% of local authorities in England. The survey forms part of a report by the environmental think tank, which argues that the UK government's localism agenda and an absence of central targets have led many local authorities to scale back work to tackle climate change. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Doing more with less – how European countries are planning to become more resource efficient</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 1 Nov 2011 17:31:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2134</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2134</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The European Environment Agency (EEA) have recently surveyed a number of European countries to find out about strategies and policies they are employing to increase resource efficiency. 
]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Event: Bridging the Gap Between Business and Community Groups</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 1 Nov 2011 17:07:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2133</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2133</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Climate Challenge Fund's Community Action and Support Programme (CASP) organises events and training for any community tackling climate change. CASP and Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) are jointly hosting two free events in November and December, that aim to enable the development of effective partnerships between businesses and community groups. ]]></description>
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<title>Behaviour Change: IBM Summit on Engaging the Sustainable Consumer</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 1 Nov 2011 17:04:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2132</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2132</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A summit taking place on 1 November, will bring business leaders together to address the role of business in catalysing sustainable behaviour change in British consumers. The event is jointly organised by  IBM, The Marketing Society and Start, the national initiative by the Prince’s Charities Foundation to promote sustainable living.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>SSN Conference 2011 Full to Bursting</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:25:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>SSN</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2120</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2120</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This year’s Sustainable Scotland Network conference – 'Local Action for a Sustainable Scotland' – is now fully booked with a capacity audience of 200 delegates. Late comers are being put on a reserve list and allocated a space only if cancellations arise. Considering the financial climate, this is a fantastic endorsement of the value of the event and a clear indication of on-going interest in sustainable development and climate change action in Scotland.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Major Study Finds Reliable Evidence of Global Warming</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2119</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2119</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The preliminary findings of a major new study on global warming have revealed 'reliable evidence' of a rise in the average world land temperature of approximately 1°C since the mid-1950s. The Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature study is the first study to merge and analyse nearly all the available data on surface temperature, combining 1.6 billion temperature reports from 15 pre-existing data archives.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Public Bodies to Receive £4.2mn For Low Carbon Vehicle Investment</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2118</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2118</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Scottish Government announced on 24 October that local authorities and their community planning partners are to receive £4.2 million to invest in the purchase of low carbon vehicles and the development of a network of charging points.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Longannet CCS Demonstration Project Scrapped</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2117</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2117</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, announced on 19 October that the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) demonstration project at Longannet power station in Fife will not proceed. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Local Authorities Encouraged to Take Part in Waste Reduction Week</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2116</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2116</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Taking place between 19-27 November, the third European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) aims to encourage local action, to reduce the amount of European waste being produced. Supported by the LIFE+ Programme of the European Commission, EWWR seeks to raise awareness of ways to minimise waste, as well as encourage change in everyday behaviour. Local authorities, businesses, charities, community groups, schools and universities are being encouraged to take part by organising an action in their local area.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Local Authorities - Sustainability Round-Up</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2115</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2115</guid>
<description><![CDATA[East Lothian Council reports on progress against carbon reduction targets; Highland Council and 20 other organisations report on progress against joint Climate Change Declaration, and; West Lothian Council commits resources to developing renewables opportunities. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Local Authorities - Further Sustainability News</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2114</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2114</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dumfries and Galloway pledge to halve construction waste by 2012; Fife Council set to create 25 new allotments; Aberdeen City establish new Zero Waste Sub-Committee; Dundee City Council work with social enterprise to reuse carpet tiles, and; South Lanarkshire work with SPT to encourage car sharing to train stations.  ]]></description>
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<title>Schools Global Footprint Resource Re-fresh and Re-launch by Education Scotland</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2113</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2113</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Schools Global Footprint Resource, which allows schools to measure and then take action to reduce their GHG and ecological footprint, has been refreshed and is now live on the Education Scotland website.]]></description>
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<title>Resource: Carbon Literacy E-Learning Modules</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2112</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2112</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 12 October, Defra's SD Scene news bulletin reported that the National Sustainable Public Procurement Programme (NSPPP) has launched a new carbon literacy e-learning resource. Jointly developed by Defra, the Department of Health, NHS bodies and the EU-funded Clear About Carbon project, the free course aims to develop awareness and understanding of the terminology and principles associated with the greenhouse effect and climate change.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Carbon Accounting Conference – Edinburgh</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:44:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2111</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2111</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The 4th International Conference on Carbon Accounting will take place on 25 November in Edinburgh. Organised by ICARB, the event will highlight the need to develop consistent, accurate carbon accounting methodologies in order to effectively track progress on meeting carbon reduction targets.]]></description>
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<title>Profile: Hamburg - 2011 European Green Capital</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2109</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2109</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The German city of Hamburg is the winner of the European Commission's 2011 Green Capital Award. Hamburg's Green Capital website contains a full overview of the city's green projects, plans and initiatives, that have led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 15% compared to 1990 levels.]]></description>
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<title>Behaviour Change: WWF-Scotland Publishes 'Natural Change' Report</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2108</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2108</guid>
<description><![CDATA[WWF Scotland has recently published a report profiling findings from its 2010/11 'Natural Change' project, a programme that works with people who hold positions of influence in society. Through a series of residential wilderness workshops, the project aims to support the growth of participants' personal experiences on the Project into 'leadership and social action for an ecologically sustainable future'.]]></description>
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<title>EU Emissions Increase in 2010, but Long-Term Decrease Continues</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2107</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2107</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The European Environment Agency (EEA) announced on 7 October that the European Union experienced an estimated 2.4% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 compared to 2009, but was still on track to achieve it Kyoto Protocol targets.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Government Increases Fuel Poverty Assistance</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2106</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2106</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In a statement to Parliament on 5 October, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil said that the Scottish Government will increase its budget for fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes by 35% over the next three years. Mr Neil also announced that the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) will receive an additional £5 million to its budget this year.]]></description>
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<title>Climate Challenge Fund Reopens</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2105</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2105</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Scottish Government announced on 5 October that the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF), which supports communities to take action on climate change, is again inviting applications for a new funding round. For the first time, a Junior Climate Challenge Fund has also opened to support projects run by under 18s.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Register Soon for SSN's Annual Conference</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 4 Oct 2011 17:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>SSN</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2094</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2094</guid>
<description><![CDATA[There are now only a limited number of tickets remaining for Sustainable Scotland Network's annual conference, and public, private and community representatives are asked to register soon to secure their place.]]></description>
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<title>Scotland's Greenspace Mapped</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 4 Oct 2011 16:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2095</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2095</guid>
<description><![CDATA[An interactive Geographic Information System (GIS)-based map that provides information on the location, extent and type of greenspace across each of Scotland's urban settlements is now available online. The project, led by Greenspace Scotland, used data provided by all 32 Scottish local authorities. In a separate project, Greenspace Scotland have also recently published a report that explores the potential role for different types of greenspace in both climate change mitigation and adaptation.]]></description>
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<title>Earth 'Overshoot Day' is 27 September 2011</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 4 Oct 2011 15:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2096</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2096</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Human demand for nature's services is unsustainable and continues to vastly outstrip the planet's ability to regenerate resources and absorb waste, according to the international research organisation Global Footprint Network (GFN). GFN calculated that 27 September was 2011's 'Earth Overshoot Day' - the day that humanity surpassed nature's budget for the year and moved into overdraft.]]></description>
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<title>Kirklees Council Launches Big Energy Upgrade Scheme</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 4 Oct 2011 13:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2097</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2097</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 30 September the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, launched a £14.9 million scheme led by Kirklees Council that will deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in homes within deprived communities. The multi-partner programme will create 114 new jobs while targeting hard-to-treat homes within a minimum of 10 of the most deprived communities across six local authorities in the Yorkshire and the Humber area.]]></description>
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<title>Green Groups Analyse UK Govt Delivery of Low Carbon Commitments</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 4 Oct 2011 12:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2098</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2098</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In September, five campaign groups published an assessment of the Coalition Government's progress against its low carbon commitments as they were set out in its programme for government. The analysis, undertaken by Christian Aid, Greenpeace, Green Alliance, RSPB and WWF, assesses both the quality of the policies that underpin the government's low carbon commitments and the timeliness of their delivery.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Government Publish 2011 Spending Review</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2086</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2086</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The 2011 Scottish Spending Review, which presents the Scottish Government's spending plans from 2012/13 to 2014/5, was published on 21 September. A number of commitments were made to fund low-carbon policies.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Govt Launches Phase 2 of Universal Home Insulation Scheme</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2090</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2090</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 26 September the Scottish Government launched the second phase of its Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS), which will offer a range of free home insulation measures to approximately 200,000 homes across Scotland. The £12.5 million scheme will be administered by local authorities. On 23 September, the Scottish Government additionally announced the launch of a pilot scheme in Orkney and Fife to incentivise the uptake of solid wall insulation.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference Kicks Off</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:25:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Climate Change</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2089</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2089</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The second annual Scottish Low Carbon Investment (SLCI) Conference began today (Tuesday), with an announcement by First Minister Alex Salmond of a new £35m fund to support the production of new offshore wind technology, and the launch of a new offshore wind guide by Scottish Enterprise. Delegates at the two-day event are set to be addressed by former US vice-President Al Gore tomorrow.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Local Authority Sustainability Round-Up</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2075</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2075</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Aberdeen City Council Opens Sustainable Social Housing Development; Fife Extends Light Fife Green Project; Active Travel and Sustainable Transport News from Fife, Angus and South Ayrshire, and other news from Highland, Perth and Kinross, Edinburgh and Glasgow Councils.]]></description>
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<title>DECC Publishes Local Authority C02 Emissions Statistics</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Local Government</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2072</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2072</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 15 September the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published estimates of carbon dixoide emissions at local authority level across the UK for the year 2009. DECC also published a data subset estimating carbon dioxide emissions within the scope of influence of local authorities for 2009. ]]></description>
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<title>SSN Welcomes New Local Footprints Officer</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Sep 2011 16:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2064</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2064</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sustainable Scotland Network this week welcomes Jenny Brotchie to the staff team, who will be taking forward the work of SSN's Local Footprint Project in her new role as Sustainability Officer (Footprints).]]></description>
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<title>Local Authorities Asked to Sign up for European Week for Waste Reduction</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Footprint and Sustainable Consumption</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2046</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2046</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The third European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) will take place between 19-27 November. The week aims to raise awareness of ways to minimise our waste and encourage change in everyday behaviour, in order to reduce the amount of European waste being produced. Local authorities, businesses, charities, community groups, schools and universities are being encouraged to take part by organising an action in their local area. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Scottish Local Authorities - Sustainability Round-Up</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1027</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1027</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Glasgow City Council becomes third local authority to pledge to halve construction waste; Aberdeen City invites entries for EcoCity Awards; City of Edinburgh green housing project shortlisted for UK award; South Ayrshire Council nominated for national cycling award; West Dunbartonshire procure hybrid minibus. ]]></description>
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<title>Report Assesses Use of SROI to Find 'Real Value' of Scottish Urban Nature</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1028</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1028</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Greenspace Scotland have recently published a report drawing together the experiences and learning of applying a Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology to four urban nature sites. The report explores the potential of the SROI approach as a way to demonstrate and quantify in financial terms the multiple benefits and impacts - social, environmental and economic - of urban nature sites and the activities which occur on them.]]></description>
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<title>Fife Diet Launch Festival Celebrating Local Food in Scotland</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Community</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1025</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1025</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The award-winning local food network Fife Diet is organising a pan-Scottish festival celebrating local food on 10 September. 'Blasda' - Scotland's Local Food Feast - will see communities throughout the country celebrate their local food with large scale public events.]]></description>
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<title>Carnegie Trust Report Explores Community Resilience</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Community</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1029</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1029</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 17 August the Carnegie UK Trust published a report seeking to explore and answer, 'what is community resilience?', 'how are people building it?' and 'why does it matter?'. The report proposes four key characteristics, or dimensions, of communities that are becoming more resilient, and also seeks to provide practical insights on how people and communities are engaging positively with rapid change. The report suggests that a new form of â€˜break through' resilience can emerge as activists, professionals and policy makers collaborate together to allow local communities to cope - and sometimes thrive - through difficult times.]]></description>
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<title>Distance Learning Course - Education for Sustainable Development</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Education</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1026</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Since 1994, London South Bank University has offered long-distance, flexible post-graduate courses from Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to Masters level on Education for Sustainability (EfS).]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Government to Consult on Reducing Numbers of Plastic Bags</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1018</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1018</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 15 August, the Scottish Government announced that it will launch a consultation looking at ways to reduce plastic bag use. The move comes after the release of figures showing that Scotland's plastic bag use increased by 9% over the period 2009/10-2010 - a trend not mirrored in either Wales or Northern Ireland.]]></description>
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<title>DECC Announces £3m Renewable Heat Scheme for Social Housing Providers</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1019</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1019</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced on 15 August that local authorities, social housing associations and other social housing providers will be able to bid for a share of a £3 million scheme to install renewable heating systems in the homes of social housing tenants. The scheme, available in Scotland, England and Wales, is part of the £15 million Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme. ]]></description>
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<title>West of England Carbon Challenge Reports on Story so Far</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:41:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Business</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1021</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1021</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In July, the West of England Carbon Challenge - a network of businesses, NGOs and public sector organisations committed to reducing their carbon emissions by 10 per cent by 2012 - reported on their progress made to date, and on lessons learned from the journey so far. ]]></description>
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<title>Green Living Blog's Top Ten Green Behaviour Change Resources</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1023</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1023</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sylvia Rowley of the Green Alliance's 'Green Living' blog has recently published a list of her Top Ten pro-environmental behaviour change reports and resources. The hit list - many of which have been featured in the SSN e-bulletin - will be followed up soon with Top Tens on more specific aspects of behaviour change, including sustainable communications, energy, water and waste.]]></description>
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<title>IPPR Report Learns Lessons from the US Green Jobs Market</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1020</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1020</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A report published in July by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) assesses the success of the 'green jobs' policy agenda in the US and investigates a range of localised, bottom-up approaches to fostering the 'green economy', reaching excluded workers and meeting environmental targets. The report also considers implications from the US experience for the UK's forthcoming Green Deal, which the Government says has the potential to create 250,000 green jobs.]]></description>
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<title>Figures for Home Insulation Rates Across UK Published</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 9 Aug 2011 16:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1012</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1012</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 4 August the Energy Saving Trust (EST) publishd a breakdown of the number of homes across England, Scotland and Wales that have had loft and cavity wall insulation professionally installed under the UK Government's Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). The figures, which cover the period April 2008-March 2011, are released on a regional, council and constituency basis.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Strategic Environmental Assessment Review Published</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 9 Aug 2011 15:34:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1011</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1011</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A review of the efficiency and effectiveness of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Scotland was published on 21 July. The review concluded that the fundamental components of SEA in Scotland are generally sound and fit for purpose, but that there is considerable scope for changes that would make SEA more effective at protecting and improving the environment, more proportionate and more flexible to accommodate novel, resource efficient approaches.]]></description>
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<title>Profile: Edinburgh Centre on Climate Change </title>
<pubDate>Tue, 9 Aug 2011 15:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1013</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1013</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Opening earlier this year, the Edinburgh Centre on Climate Change aims to become one of the world's leading centres for supporting the innovative ideas and solutions that will help create a low carbon future. The centre's Executive Director, Dr Andy Kerr, will be delivering a key note address at the SSN conference, â€˜Local Action for a Sustainable Scotland', taking place on 10 November in Edinburgh.]]></description>
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<title>Design Workshops will Contribute to Sustainable Communities, say Govt</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 9 Aug 2011 14:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1015</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1015</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 27 August, the Scottish Government announced that it is to run a series of three innovative design workshops, known as charrettes, that combine the knowledge base of local communities with the skills of specialist designers. The 'Charette Mainstreaming Programme' forms part of the Government's Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative (SSCI), and will build on the success of three pilot Charettes that ran in March 2010.]]></description>
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<title>ONS Publishes Progress on Measuring National Wellbeing</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 9 Aug 2011 12:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Community</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1014</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1014</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 25 July, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a report by Jil Matheson, the National Statistician, revealing findings from an ONS-led 'national debate' on what constitutes well-being. The debate, which concluded in April and generated 34,000 responses, was the first in a series of steps by the ONS to develop and publish an accepted and trusted set of National Statistics which help people understand and monitor national well-being.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Local Authorities - Sustainability Round-Up</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Aug 2011 16:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1007</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1007</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dundee City Council launch eco-driving campaign and purchase electric vehicles; Green Business Fife network tours Diageo plant; Glasgow Primary wins Sustainable School Award 2011; City of Edinburgh Council to open three new allotments and Scottish local authorities scoop park awards.]]></description>
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<title>Defra Publishes Framework for Sustainable Lifestyles</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Aug 2011 15:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1008</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1008</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Defra's recently published Framework for Sustainable Lifestyles is intended as a tool to support Defra and external organisations - especially local authorities, civil society organisations and business - to develop effective approaches to influencing behaviour.]]></description>
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<title>Smart Meters Must be Employed Intelligently, Says Ofgem</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Aug 2011 15:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Business</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=15</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=15</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A recent Energy Demand Research Project (EDRP) carried out by Ofgem has assessed the effectiveness of smart meters in domestic energy-use reduction. The Project found the effects of smart meters varied greatly, but were most effective when used in parallel with other interventions, such as community engagement and education.]]></description>
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<title>GreenFleet Scotland Event - 1 September, Edinburgh</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Aug 2011 14:42:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Business</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1006</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1006</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Registration is open for the 2011 GreenFleet Scotland event, which aims to promote low carbon vehicles to fleets across Scotland. Coordinated by the Energy Saving Trust and taking place on 1 September in Edinburgh, the event will combine: fuel efficient driver training and information; an exhibition; and the latest information on low carbon vehicle and fuels initiatives from Transport Scotland.]]></description>
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<title>Community Energy Projects Key to Low Carbon Energy, says IPPR </title>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Aug 2011 11:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Community</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1009</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=1009</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Community participation and engagement is a key factor for success in energy efficiency and micro generation projects, according to the â€˜Green Streets, Strong Communities' report from the Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPPR) launched on the 5 July.]]></description>
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<title>Community Energy Projects Key to Low Carbon Energy, says IPPR</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Aug 2011 11:41:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Community</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=10</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=10</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Community participation and engagement is a key factor for success in energy efficiency and micro generation projects, according to the ‘Green Streets, Strong Communities’ report from the Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPPR) launched on the 5 July.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Local Authorities - Sustainability Round-Up</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Aug 2011 11:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Public Sector</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=9</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=9</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dundee City Council launch eco-driving campaign and purchase electric vehicles; Green Business Fife network tours Diageo plant; Glasgow Primary wins Sustainable School Award 2011; City of Edinburgh Council to open three new allotments and Scottish local authorities scoop park awards.]]></description>
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<title>SSN Conference 2011: Local Action for a Sustainable Scotland</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>SSN</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=952</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=952</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The 10th annual Sustainable Scotland Network conference will bring together leaders and practitioners from across Scotland to explore how to deliver efficient and effective local action that contributes to meeting our climate change targets, and achieving improved community wellbeing. Save the date: 10th November, Edinburgh]]></description>
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<title>SSN Staff Moving On</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>SSN</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=954</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=954</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Amie Fulton (SSN's Local Footprints Officer) and Ruth Bush (Scottish Sustainable Development Forum Officer) will leave the SSN staff team in the coming months to continue their careers in sustainable development.]]></description>
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<title>Scottish Local Authorities Asked to Make Timber Procurement Pledge</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:09:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Procurement</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=873</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=873</guid>
<description><![CDATA[WWF Scotland is this week asking Scotland's local authorities to make a pledge and improve the way they procure timber and timber products. Supported by COSLA and SOLACE Scotland, the new pledge scheme is part of WWF-UK's 'What Wood You Choose?' campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the economic, social and environmental consequences of purchasing illegal and unsustainable timber and wood products.]]></description>
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<title>New Guidance on Sustainable Procurement of Food and Drink in the Public Sector</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Procurement</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=792</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=792</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 18 January the Scottish Government published new guidance to the public sector on the sustainable procurement of food and drink. ]]></description>
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<title>SDRN Report: Lessons for Sustainable Public Procurement from Private Sector</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Procurement</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=771</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=771</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On 9 December the Sustainable Development Research Network (SDRN) published a report outlining lessons for sustainable public procurement that can be drawn from successful businesses.]]></description>
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<title>City of Malmo: Latest News and Case Studies</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 5 Oct 2010 16:08:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Sustainable Development</category>
<link>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2099</link>
<guid>http://www.sustainable-scotland.net/news.asp?id=2099</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It was recently announced that the City of Malmo is one of six finalists chosen for the 2012 and 2013 European Green Capital awards. Malmo's Deputy Mayor Kent Andersson is set to address the SSN annual conference, 'Local Government Leadership for a Low Carbon Economy', on 4 November in Edinburgh. This news article also contains details of case studies from the City of Malmo on their organic schools meals initiative and a sustainable transport campaign.]]></description>
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