Updates and news

Are you interested in contributing to the development of the the East Lothian Climate Action Network, which steers the activities of the Climate Hub?

The East Lothian Climate Action Network are recruiting new Steering Group Members.
This is a voluntary post, which requires about a day a month on average, including some evening meetings and weekend events.
DEADLINE: 5pm 9 December 2024.

The Climate Hub recently facilitated a discussion about farming practices and sustainability in Scotland, to help us all become better informed about the opportunities and challenges around a transition to more sustainable practices. This included a presentation from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) with lots of interesting data and graphs, followed by a generative discussion between community climate activists, farmers & landowners, and our academic colleagues.

The world moves so quickly these days, doesn’t it? Sometimes, it’s nice just to take a break. The East Lothian Climate Hub is now doing so. We are going to take a rest for a week, then analyse our first 6 months’ progress, reflect on it, and pivot our strategy for the second half of this year’s delivery based on these reflections.

We will not be in our inboxes until 23rd October. Thank you for understanding about the delay in our reply. 

Belhaven Community Garden is a beautiful, well-established, and much-loved space that has been built up from the grassroots on derelict land owned by the NHS. As the NHS has decided to sell the land, this inspirational space is now at risk of destruction. Check out this update to find out how to support Saving Belhaven Community Garden.

The last week of September was Scotland’s Climate Week, part of the Let’s Do Net Zero campaign, which includes our Climate Action Programme. The East Lothian Climate Hub and our network of climate action organistions had a very busy week indeed! The week included a visit from Acting Climate Action Minister Alasdair Allan, the distribution of nine sophisticated Community Heat Team Kit Bags to communities across East Lothian, a showing of the film ‘Wilding’ by Climate Action East Linton, and workshops on Effective Group Working and Mental Health for Climate Activists

The initiative, funded by Scottish Ministers in conjunction with the Tyne & Esk Local Action Group, enables community groups to use thermal imaging cameras and other tools to offer free Heat Surveys for local homes, helping households reduce heat loss and energy costs.

We have being working with communities across the region to create a vision of a thriving, sustainable East Lothian. The vision text is ready to read here. This will be then created in a story and images for people to immerse themselves in.

In order to prepare ourselves for climate change, we need to understand what changes are happening and how they are effecting people’s lives. We are asking people to submit their stories of changing weather and climate change here, which will contribute to understanding adaptation needs.

The Climate Hub is having a series of Pop-Ups across the region. This is to allow community members to pop by, ask any questions and discuss action we can take together. Climate change effects all of us so it is important we make ourselves as accessible as possible.

“You don’t have to have a big plan.
You don’t have to do everything at once.
As long as you start somewhere, then it’s better than doing nothing.”
People and organisations, large and small, are doing their part across East Lothian to move towards our net zero, circular economy, plastic-free, and biodiversity targets and ambitions. Oftentimes, the initiatives they undertake go unnoticed and uncelebrated.