A sustainable Scottish libraries project has been selected to receive a share of the Scottish Government’s £550,000 Climate Engagement Fund, as part of its Net Zero ambitions.
The Climate Engagement Fund project, submitted by the Scottish Library and Information Council, seeks to encourage communities to take action on climate change by demonstrating practical and affordable ways to engage.
Dedicated skills workshops, discussion sessions and participatory art activities will take place in public libraries throughout Scotland over the next three months to help build climate literacy, drive conversation and raise awareness of what Scotland is doing to tackle the climate emergency.
Building on the already extensive sustainability work being undertaken across Scotland’s library network, it is hoped activity will take place in all 32 local authority areas – as part of the new ‘Shelf Life’ campaign - with activity tailored to engage people of all ages.
Marion Kunderan, acting head of programme at SLIC, said: “This funding will allow us to continue our work in driving the conversation around climate action, expanding our efforts to reach and inspire new audiences, while providing people with the opportunity to have their views heard on Scotland’s response to climate change.
“Libraries already play a central role in the climate action conversation, so it makes sense to continue this learning in these much-loved community hubs. Taking a place-based approach, we want to capture imaginations and increase engagement through a series of bespoke climate events which will facilitate people’s understanding of climate change issues and what it means for them and support their move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
“With the potential to support existing activity within the nine Climate Action Towns, we hope to stimulate and create demand for new long-term activities that encourage discussion and support local and national efforts to tackle climate change.”
The SLIC Climate Engagement Fund ‘Shelf Life’ events will include workshops that support upcycling, repair and traditional skills, linking to the existing Lend and Mend Hubs in public libraries; author events featuring climate-themed texts to generate engaging conversation; exhibitions which help tell the local climate stories; and multi-media art sessions aimed to address climate distress and anxiety which is shown to be highest amongst the 8-16 age group.
The Scottish Government highlighted the extraordinary number of high-quality bids the fund received this year. Following a thorough selection process, projects from eight organisations were chosen, including the Climate Engagement Fund ‘Shelf Life’ project from SLIC, which has received £75,000 to take forward this activity.
Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “We are committed to a fair and just transition to a net zero nation which places people, communities, and businesses at its heart. Tackling climate change will transform all of our lives and this can only be achieved with the endorsement and input of communities across Scotland.
“The Scottish Government’s Climate Engagement Fund is supporting community groups across the country to engage local people in the journey to net zero. I would like to congratulate all the successful bidders and I look forward to seeing their work make a real difference.”
