Dundee named as global climate leader

Dundee has been recognised as one of 122 cities across the globe that are taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency.

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

Just 19 UK cities achieved the highest rating, with Dundee and Edinburgh 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.

Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said: “This A rating is welcome recognition of the urgent and impactful work that is under way in Dundee to tackle climate change.

“We know as a city we have much more to do if we are to reach our goal of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 or sooner.

“What this recognition from CDP tells us is that we are on the right track – that the steps we are taking now are the right ones. It’s our collective responsibility to continue that momentum and make the big changes needed for the sake of our planet.”

In order for a city to be given an A rating, it must have set a renewable energy target for the future, and have published a climate action plan.

It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan 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 a welcome boost that will reinvigorate our efforts to be a leading city in addressing our greatest global challenge.

“Much good work has been done to set us on course but there is a great deal more still to be done by all of us across society.”

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.

The A rating comes just days after Dundee became the first Scottish city and one of the first in the world to publish a digital Emissions Dashboard and use it as a roadmap towards Net Zero.

In 2019, Dundee declared a climate emergency, recognising the serious and accelerating environmental, 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 on Scotland's goal of achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 or sooner.

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