Published Date: Nov 29th, 2023
The Fife Environmental Partnership (FEP) held the Fife COP (Conference of Partners) on Thursday 23 November at the Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline. The event provided an opportunity for organisations to increase the scale and pace of local action and to challenge, inspire and share what is happening in Fife.
Over 100 delegates discussed opportunities, actions and adaptations for Fife to become more resilient in the future. Workshops addressed current topics, such as:
- Climate friendly actions: Dunfermline Learning Campus, the largest Passivhaus construction project in Europe.
- Nature-based solutions to the nature crisis
- Adaptation to unavoidable climate change
- Energy networks and renewable energy
Passivhaus is a building standard which is used to lower the ecological footprint of a building. Using the Passivhaus building standard results in ultra-low energy building which can cool or heat spaces with very low energy usage, making it ideal for large building such as schools and office buildings.
Presentations discussed topics such as biodiversity, energy networks and renewable energy, net zero building design, and biodiversity and the nature crisis. Speakers at the conference included:
- Ken Gourlay, Chief Executive, Fife Council
- John Wincott, Chair, Fife Environmental Partnership
- Councillor Jan Wincott, Spokesperson for Climate and Environment, Fife Council
- Jack Evans, Central & Fife District General Manager, Scottish Power Energy Networks
- George Tarvit, Director, Sustainable Scotland Network
- Emma Yule, University of Edinburgh
- John Lewthwaite, Director of Estates and Facilities, Fife College
- Nick Bowen, Director, Raeburn Farquhar Bowen
- Rachel Howlett, Development Officer, Green Action Trust
Some of the key messages communicated at the conference were the need to increase the pace and scale at which climate actions are taken. Speakers touched on key targets that partners in Fife have been working towards, recognising that while all partners have been working hard to play their part in tackling the climate emergency, there is still plenty of work to be done.
Speaking at the conference, Ken Gourlay, Chief Executive of Fife Council, and Chair of Fife Council’s Addressing the Climate Emergency board, said:
"It is fantastic that Fife is hosting its own COP event, and it demonstrates our commitment to tackling the climate emergency in Fife. By working with partners and communities, we have a great opportunity to build greater climate resistance and make some difference to the future.”
“Fife Council is doing lots of work to tackle the climate emergency, including de-carbonising our fleet, developing the largest Passivhaus building in Europe in the Dunfermline Learning Campus, developing new food and electric vehicle strategies, as well as more localised work with communities through Climate Action Fife. These are just a few examples of the work we’re doing to try and be at the forefront of the climate agenda.”
John Wincott, Chair of the Fife Environmental Partnership said: “The climate and nature emergency is the greatest challenge of our time. The conference brings people together to discuss how we can increase the pace and scale of our actions to reduce carbon emissions and make adaptations. We are also aiming to challenge and inspire not only the people attending but through on-going conversations, the people of Fife.
The climate and nature emergency will require changes in how people work, travel, heat their homes and produce and consume food. We will be using this event to encourage people to take action to adapt and change so we can tackle the climate emergency together to help ourselves and the planet.”
Councillor Jan Wincott, Fife Council Spokesperson for Climate and Environment said: “It is great to see a wide variety of organisations coming together at the conference, and it’s important that we use this opportunity to build on this strong partnership and tackle the climate emergency in Fife.”
“Fife Council is currently renewing our climate strategy in line with new targets, science and conditions, and it’s important that through all the climate actions we take, we make sure to bring communities with us and engage with communities to tackle the climate emergency.”
The Fife Environmental Partnership includes Fife Council, NatureScot, Fife College, Fife Rural Partnership, NHS Fife, SEPA, University of St Andrews, Scotland’s Rural College, Fife Coast & Countryside Trust, Scottish Water, Forest & Land Scotland, Ore Valley Housing Association, Kingdom Housing Association, Fife Voluntary Action, Green Action Trust and Fife Communities Climate Action Network.
The Fife COP 23 conference addressed themes raised at the global COP events and how these issues impact Fife. This year’s global climate conference, COP28, is being held in Dubai.