Glasgow City Council has now approved an Action Plan and Framework to support the delivery of the Glasgow Green Deal, a nine-year mission to transform the city’s economy to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies. 

This Action Plan and Framework will enable council services and partners to implement the Green Deal and align their activities, and to allow appropriate measurement and scrutiny of progress.

The council has already delivered a number of activities to deliver the outcomes of the Glasgow Green Deal, including the establishment of a Green Economy Unit, and drafting a regional Just Transition Skills Action Plan (JTSAP), identifying the sectors at risk from the transition to Net-Zero, and providing the support, reskilling and upskilling needed. In addition, a range of finance-related work has been undertaken with a view to developing a Glasgow Climate Investment Framework, an innovation programme to support mitigation and adaptation activity has been set up, and a dedicated Green Business Grant has also been developed and will shortly be launched.

The Framework sets out six activities which will further deliver the outcomes of the Green Deal:

  • Ensure the city enables and directs the transition to Net-Zero by building capacity and changing attitudes and cultures;
  • Ensure a strong framework of support for people affected by the transition to a Net-Zero, climate resilient economy;
  • Mobilise capital so the city can meet infrastructure investment needs of the Glasgow Climate Plan and ensure wider flows are compatible with the Paris Agreement;
  • Innovation – address the complex barriers to widespread decarbonisation and adaptation by developing, showing, and scaling systemic solutions;
  • Mobilise a critical mass of businesses, community groups and citizens to support the transition and involve them in the politics needed for a new Green Economy; and
  • Build momentum by mainstreaming fair mitigation and adaptation through all economic development activity.

Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for Climate and the Glasgow Green Deal at Glasgow City Council, said: “Good progress has been made in laying the foundations of our Glasgow Green Deal, as we plan for a future economy compatible with Net Zero. Our new Action Plan builds on a number of programmes already in place or shortly to be live which are supporting the transition to a green city economy. The council and our city partners will work together to support businesses to transition to net zero, promote climate innovation and identify ways to finance the green infrastructure changes we need. The Glasgow Green Deal can underpin a shift in our city economy over the coming decade to make the city more resilient and realise the environmental and economic benefits that we all want.”

Council officers will continue to work with colleagues across the council, and other stakeholders, to finalise the Action Plan and Framework.

More information on the Glasgow Green Deal is available at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/glasgowgreendeal