CLIMATE CHANGE INQUIRY TO FEATURE TBI CONVENER

31 May 2010

By Rita Campbell, Published in the Press & Journal: 31/05/2010

THE environment will be on the agenda at a public meeting hosted by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) in Inverness on Wednesday 2 June.

The RSE is holding the meeting at 6pm at the Town House as part of a major inquiry into how Scotland should respond to climate change.

Transition Black Isle convener Wendy Price will be taking part, along with others including Highland council leader and climate change working group chairman, Michael Foxley.

Councillor Foxley said: "I would encourage as many people as possible to come along. "Climate change is a serious challenge affecting us all and its implications will have a bearing on our communities and environments."

People will be shown how they can save hundreds of pounds by cutting down on waste at events in the Highlands during the week.

Highland Council is giving tips on how to live a greener lifestyle at venues in Inverness and Sutherland as part of World Environment Day.

From 11am to 3pm on Wednesday Environmental group Grean will offer tips on how to save £430 a year by avoiding food waste at the council's Drummuie Place offices at Golspie.

Representatives from the Energy Savings Trust, Highland Real Nappy Project, Homeaid Caithness and Sutherland, the Co-operative, Waste Aware Highland and the Woodland Trust will also be giving demonstrations and tips. Staff will be offered the chance to try a driving simulator and a local food producer will have a stall selling fruit, vegetables and preserves.

Another event at the Council's Glenurquhart Road headquarters will feature cookery demonstrations showing how leftovers can be turned into tasty meals and snacks.

Real Food from Inverness High School will be selling vegetables, bread and jams and Countryside Rangers will be showing how to build a biodiversity garden to attract wildlife.

John Laing, chairman of the council's transport, environmental and community services committee, said: "Sometimes it is the small changes that can have the biggest impact. I am particularly pleased that both New Start Highland and Homeaid will be promoting their services as all donated unwanted items get passed on to help others in the community."

The University of the Highlands and Islands will host a climate change summit at the city's Eden Court Theatre on June 10. Guest speakers will include former Friends of the Earth chief Tony Juniper and popular TV presenter Johnny Ball.

For the full Press and Journal article click here. Highland Council's press release is available here. To download a poster click here.