WARNING - By their nature, text files cannot include scanned images and tables. The process of converting documents to text only, can cause formatting changes and misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you should refer to the pdf version of this document. CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Paper 4 11/07/08 CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY FOR INFORMATION Title: The Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Work Addressing Climate Change Prepared by: Gavin Miles, Strategic Planning & Policy Officer Purpose To update the Board on the CNPA’s involvement in work to mitigate and adapt to climate change Executive Summary This information paper sets out the context for the current work that Cairngorms National Park Authority undertakes related to climate change. It also provides an overview of the range of that work, demonstrating the links with the National Park Plan and the Scottish Government’s Strategic Outcomes and that staff from across the CNPA are involved in work that is linked with climate change. PAGE 2 THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY’S WORK LINKED TO CLIMATE CHANGE – FOR INFORMATION Introduction 1. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges to life, all round the world. It affects the Cairngorms National Park through its accelerated impacts on ecosystems, natural processes and human ways of life. The recognition that humans have contributed to current climate change trends means that it sits within the global sustainability agenda. 2. This information paper sets out the context for the current work that Cairngorms National Park Authority undertakes related to climate change and provides an overview of the range of that work. It does not seek to capture the work of all our partners in relation to climate change in the Park, but summarises the CNPA’s own work addressing mitigation of, and adaptation to the changing climate. Much of this work is of course focused on stimulating the necessary partnerships and enabling others to act. National Context 3. Climate change is a central theme of the Scottish Government’s purpose: “To focus Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth”. It is at the core of the Government’s Strategic Objective for a Greener Scotland and is reflected through 3 of the 15 National Outcomes for Scotland: a) We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production b) We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access the amenities and services we need c) We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations 4. The first of those three outcomes is linked to Scotland’s ability to tackle to causes of climate change and the Government sets out a number of actions that it will pursue to achieve the objective, many of which are relevant to the Cairngorms National Park and or the Cairngorms National Park Authority. The relevant actions are shown in Annex 1. The National Park Plan 5. The National Park Plan is about the sustainable development of the Park and it recognises that climate change will be one of the most PAGE 3 significant drivers of change in the Park. Two of its guiding principles on sustainable development and managing the Park in a changing environment set the tone for our focus on this work. Many of the special qualities of the National Park such as its rare and fragile habitats and species are particularly sensitive to changes in climatic conditions. The National Park also has large areas of peatland and forest that store carbon, one of the constituents of the greenhouse gas CO2. These are important illustrations of the national and international significance of managing the effects of climate change in the Park. 6. Measures to address climate change are embedded in the Park Plan. It contains objectives and actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change such as reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions through more sustainable transport, renewable energy, sustainable building design and carbon sequestration in forestry and moorlands, to developing stronger habitat networks and managing functional natural floodplains. A list of Park Plan actions that are associated with climate change are shown in Annex 2. 7. The National Park Plan forms the basis for much of the work that CNPA undertakes and guides the work of all the partners who together deliver it. The CNPA plays a coordinating role when required, and helps to bring together the partnerships needed to deliver the Park Plan’s actions, but where other organisations are better able to lead, the CNPA supports them in their work. The Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Roles 8. All public bodies have a responsibility in delivering the Government’s climate change outcomes. Many of the public sector partners delivering the Park Plan have remits that cover all of Scotland, and can directly influence people’s behaviour and the climate change agenda across Scotland. 9. The CNPA’s roles are tied to the Cairngorms National Park. This means that the CNPA must use the special conditions and higher profile of the National Park to highlight climate change issues that are relevant to the National Park as well as to others in Scotland, adding value to the work of other organisations. This reflects the CNPA’s coordinating role in the National Park and its relationship with the National Park Plan. A number of the CNPA’s roles in helping the Park and Scotland tackle climate change are summarised below: The CNPA’s corporate and operational role PAGE 4 10. The CNPA has a duty to respond to the challenge of climate change and to ensure that we minimise our contribution to climate change. This is an ongoing process, and is driven by Government as well as voluntary action. 11. The Board approved the CNPA Greening Policy in March 2006, that sought to reduce the environmental effects of the organisation. The policy has been taken forward through the CNPA’s Corporate Services group and the CNPA Greening Group that includes staff from all sections of the organisation. The greening policy sought priority for those activities which would yield the greatest gains relative to input of effort. This has meant that early efforts have focussed on areas with the greatest potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as ensure the pool car fleet is as efficient as possible and encouraging greater use of public transport for long journeys. The CNPA’s role in raising awareness, understanding and the profile of climate change 12. The CNPA has an important role in communicating the importance and relevance of climate change to people living in and visiting the National Park. There are iconic Cairngorms landscapes, habitats and species, valued by people that are threatened by climate change that can be used to highlight issues. The National Park also has many rural communities that rely heavily on carbon based fuels for transport and energy, making them sensitive to the economic effects of adapting to climate change issues. 13. This role extends beyond the work that the CNPA is directly involved in to highlighting the issues, challenges and the work of others in tackling climate change. It supports our role in promoting research and good practice by making sure that the important messages from that work are spread as far as possible. 14. This role is promoted by the Board and staff as a matter of business, but the CNPA has the Climate Change and National Park Plan Communications Officer to provide a consistent level of support. The CNPA’s role in promoting research, good practice and innovation 15. As a small public sector organisation with a broad remit, the CNPA’s impacts are usually greatest when working with others and using their strengths to achieve mutual objectives. The CNPA is involved in, and has catalysed the development of a number of projects and initiatives linked to climate change. These have developed through the building of partnerships with other organisations such as the Macaulay Institute PAGE 5 and UHI, and the selling of the National Park as a good case study or research topic. 16. Many of these projects are important not just to the National Park, but to anyone with an interest in climate change in Scotland, the UK or the world. They are good examples of the National Park being used to inform good practice and policy options that can be promoted beyond its boundaries. A snapshot of the CNPA’s climate change work 17. The CNPA is involved in a wide range of projects and work on climate change through its own corporate responsibilities, as a partner in delivering the National Park Plan and as a coordinator and enabler of action in the National Park. The following table provides a snapshot summary of the range of work the CNPA is involved in that is closely linked to climate change. More detailed summaries of the projects can be seen in Annex 3, with contact names of the CNPA officers’ best placed to provide more detail. 18. The table below shows the breadth of work currently being undertaken by the CNPA, including work linked to every priority for action in the National Park Plan. It includes: a) A rough outline of the timescale of the work or project or its effects b) A subjective assessment of the scale of the impact of the work or project c) The lead body associated with the work or project d) The purpose of the work or project. Mitigation - meaning reducing or preventing the human causes of climate change. Adaptation - meaning how we develop ways for (humans and other species, habitats and processes) adjusting to and coping with the predicted effects of climate change. Awareness - simply raising the profile of climate change issues, or mitigation or adaptation measures, to increase people’s understanding and their likelihood of taking appropriate action themselves. Project or work CNPA is involved in linked to climate change Timescale Impact (small medium large) Lead body Purpose (Mitigation, Adaptation Awareness) Corporate and operational measures Replacement and development of pool car fleet to ensure most fuel efficient vehicles and reduce CO2 emissions; continuous S CNPA Mitigation Promotion of public transport for practical work journeys and particularly journeys to central Scotland – has led to increase in continuous S CNPA Mitigation PAGE 6 use of train travel from cars. Establishment of the CNPA’s Green Travel Action Plan continuous S CNPA Mitigation Awareness raising on office energy use and support for practices that minimise unnecessary energy use. continuous S CNPA Mitigation Promotion of recycling in offices and use of recycled material where appropriate; Continuous S CNPA Mitigation Installation of video conferencing facilities in both Grantown-on-Spey and Ballater offices that should reduce numbers of car journeys undertaken; From June 08 S CNPA Mitigation General review of Human Resources policies to support home working and promotion of CNPA Cyclescheme. continuous S CNPA Mitigation Conserving and enhancing biodiversity and landscapes The Forest Habitat Network project. 2008 – long term M CNPA/FCS Mitigation, Adaptation Awareness Integrating public support for land management Clim-ATIC. 2008 onwards M - L UHI Adaptation Knowledge Transfer Project. 2008-11 M - L UHI/ Macaulay Mitigation Adaptation The Green Farm Project including publication of ‘climate change and Scottish agriculture’ booklet. Pilots complete. promotion underway M CNPA Mitigation Adaptation River Dee Catchment Management Partnership (RDCMP) Projects Multi-year M - L RDCMP Adaptation Scotland Rural Development Programme. Multi-year M RPID Mitigation Adaptation Supporting Sustainable Deer Management Inclusive Deer Management and Joint Agency Working continuous M DCS Mitigation Adaptation Providing high quality opportunities for outdoor access The Core Paths Plan. ontinuous S CNPA Mitigation Cairngorms Explorer Bus Timetables and Heather Hopper Bus service. Annual commitment S CNPA Mitigation Making tourism and business more sustainable Promotion of the National Park Brand and Green Tourism Business Scheme. continuous S - M CNPA/ VisitScotland Mitigation The National Park Annual Tourism Conference. 1 Annual event S - M CCC Mitigation Making housing more affordable and sustainable The development of the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan. Effects are long term M CNPA Mitigation Adaptation The development of the Cairngorms National Park Sustainable Design Guide. Effects are long term M CNPA Mitigation Adaptation PAGE 7 Raising awareness and understanding of the Park Carbon Footprinting the National Park: A Baseline Study. Study ended provides baseline S - M CNPA Mitigation, Adaptation Awareness Macaulay Institute Partnership Working. ongoing M CNPA/ Macaulay Mitigation, Adaptation Awareness Land Based Business Training & Cairngorms Awareness and Pride Project Courses. ongoing S - M CNPA Mitigation, Adaptation Awareness Climate Change Communications. ongoing M CNPA Mitigation, Adaptation Awareness Other Climate Change related work The Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund. 2008-2011 M (£18 million) Scottish Government Mitigation The Cairngorms National Park Sustainability Fund. N/A N/A N/A N/A Supplementary Planning Guidance on Renewable Energy Developments. To accompan y Local Plan M CNPA Mitigation Involvement in Regional Partnerships. ongoing M - L Local Authorities Mitigation, adaptation Awareness Next steps 19. This paper will inform the discussions of the next Board/Staff Climate change group meeting. Further updates on climate change related work will be provided with updates on National Park Plan implementation. Gavin Miles July 2008 gavinmiles@cairngorms.co.uk PAGE 8 Annex 1 Relevant Actions from the Scottish Government’s Strategic Outcome: “We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production” 1. Introduce a Climate Change Bill to place our commitment to reduce Scotland's emissions levels by 80% by 2050 on a statutory footing. 2. Ensure that policy options and public spending decisions contribute to reducing emissions and to the action needed to help mitigate climate change. 3. Fund initiatives by farmers and others to reduce climate change emissions from land management practices and to manage our rural environment more effectively. 4. Triple the funding for community renewables and microgeneration to reach £13.5 million a year by 2010-11. 5. Ensure the Forestry Commission can invest £15 million a year in new woodlands to help increase forest cover to 25% as rapidly as possible. 6. Vigorously pursue our zero waste policy, setting challenging targets for reduction in municipal waste sent to landfill; allocating £150 million to the Zero Waste Fund and consulting on a range of potential legislative measures. 7. Establish a Climate Challenge Fund to inspire community-based action to tackle climate change - £18 million over the period 2008-11. 8. Address the challenge of sustainable food in a new National Food Policy. 9. Improve sustainable procurement, for example urging all public bodies in Scotland to specify fresh, locally available, seasonal produce. 10. Invest in public transport; and support local authorities with plans for communities that are less car-dependent and incorporate green space that encourages more walking and cycling. 11. Publish Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy to ensure an effective response to the unavoidable impacts of climate change in order to safeguard our communities, and protect Scotland's long-term environmental and economic prosperity. PAGE 9 Annex 2 Actions in the National Park Plan linked to climate change issues. 6.1 Conserving and Enhancing Biodiversity and Landscapes 1e Provide guidance on design and encouragement for innovative design to enhance landscapes and townscapes as part of a Sustainable Design Guide. 3a Develop a programme, to be shared between a wide range of bodies, setting out priorities for biodiversity research addressing significant gaps in knowledge of the threats to the ecology and the distribution of priority LBAP species and habitats that prevent effective conservation management. (drawn from Local Biodiversity Action Plan list). 3m Use maps of existing habitat networks to target incentives for enhancing networks through favourable management or new linkages, as a means of improving habitat viability and to make them more able to cope with the impacts of climate change. 3n By agreement with land managers, implement a programme to reinstate selected wetland areas, including a reconnection between sections of rivers and their flood plains, to enhance natural river processes, increase riparian wetlands and reduce catastrophic flood pressures downstream. 3o Identify existing in-stream and bank-side engineering works/structures that are detrimental to river processes, species and habitats, and undertake a prioritised programme to remedy them. 3p Collate and publicise the results of ongoing climate change monitoring and research in the Cairngorms to help increase awareness of this issue and its impacts upon the Park and wider environment. 4d Land management support will be applied to safeguard and protect the geodiversity of the Park and the natural processes underpinning it. 6.2 Integrating Public Support for Land Management 1a Identify the various public benefits that are priorities in the National Park and tailor public support mechanisms to deliver them. 1c Establish a landscape scale approach to targeting support for public benefits, so that the varying priorities in different parts of the Park are recognised. 1e As part of the landscape scale approach, encourage whole unit and collaborative land management planning in order to realise benefits that are most effectively achieved across neighbouring PAGE 10 land holdings, such as habitat connectivity, species management, access and recreation. 1f Establish an effective advisory mechanism to support land managers to deliver priority public benefits. This mechanism will include clear guidance about the priorities and their implementation as appropriate to location and environmental conditions and the provision of training courses to provide support to land managers in delivering the priorities. 1h Work together to monitor the delivery of the priority public benefits by land managers and use this as a basis to feedback and review priorities, the advisory network, unit management plans and practices. 6.3 Supporting Sustainable Deer Management 1b Develop and implement an inclusive deer management planning process that underpins a large-scale patchwork of deer densities across the Park to meet a range of natural heritage and socio-economic objectives. 6.4 Providing High Quality Opportunities for Outdoor Access 1i Provide more cycling opportunities through provision of off-road facilities, removal of unnecessary barriers and by developing specific marketing initiatives. 1k Improve availability and use of functional walking and cycling routes, especially near schools and work places. 2k Promote the policy on car-park charging in the National Park and encourage its adoption by land managers. 3a Develop and promote a hierarchy of visitor information about outdoor access opportunities – with general information about opportunities at Park-wide level and more specific information available about opportunities in parts of the National Park. 3d Promote awareness and encourage use of shorter or easier outdoor access opportunities, especially around communities, within the National Park. 3e Specifically market the outdoor access opportunities that have good links to public transport. 4a Identify and address gaps in public transport provision in the Park. 4b Work towards universal cycle carriage and provision for other outdoor recreation equipment such as skis, snowboards and rucksacks on public transport and greater use of environmentally friendly fuel options. 4c Promote better provision of public transport to link with popular start and finish points for outdoor recreation routes. 4d Develop more integrated ticketing between different transport modes in association with activity/visitor attractions. 4e Provide more safe routes to school in communities. PAGE 11 4f Identity roads with low traffic volume and associated off-road routes and promote them to residents and visitors for both recreational and functional use. 4g Manage car parks, through both charging regimes and provision of information, to encourage longer stays and to fit with other more sustainable modes of transport. 6.5 Making Tourism and Business More Sustainable 1d Explore opportunities for getting a range of people involved in understanding and contributing to enhancement of the special qualities of the Park through visitor payback. 1e Develop stronger links between tourism and transport, land management, food and drink, retail and other key sectors. 2a Promote economic opportunities created by National Park status and ensure expert advice is available in relation to sustainable development. 2b Increase use of environmental management plans and accreditation by businesses. 2c Strengthen awareness and spending on local crafts and produce by carrying out research on producers, branding and visitor information. 2h Provide more advice and support for business development, including the marketing and processing of primary produce and add further value through appropriate use of the Cairngorms brand. 2i evelop innovative schemes to assist land management units develop their economic and environmental sustainability. 3d Make information on specific resource protection issues available to managers and users. 6.6 Making Housing More Affordable and Sustainable 3a Prepare a sustainable design guide to encourage new development and infrastructure to complement the built and landscape character of the Park and meet high standards of energy efficiency and sustainable design. 3b Introduce a programme of innovative activities to promote and increase awareness and understanding of sustainable and energy efficient design. 3c Introduce measures to improve house condition and management practices. 6.7 Raising Awareness and Understanding of the Park 2f Identify and promote a suite of themes to be integrated with the Interpretation Framework which will best exemplify, allow access to and interpret the influence of man on the National Park. 3d Extend the use of the John Muir Award to encourage more PAGE 12 people to experience a sense of wildness in the Park and to share their experiences. 3h Develop an outreach programme of activity that encourages people throughout Scotland, regardless of age or background, to engage with the National Park. 3i Make greater use of the formal education sector and the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ and other mechanisms as a path to enthusing Scotland’s young people about the Cairngorms National Park and involving them in its future development. 6b Promote the Park as a case study and pilot area for research and educational projects and as a destination for visiting special interest groups. 6c Understand more about the special qualities of the Park and how these are valued and share information about the special qualities between public bodies, land managers, businesses, communities and others with an interest. 6d Find new ways to make the information, data and collective knowledge about the Park available for everyone to use. PAGE 13 Annex 3 Summary of CNPA projects and work closely linked to climate change. The following summaries of work and projects linked to climate change include names of CNPA officers who can be contacted for more information on individual issues or projects. Corporate and operational measures 1. Replacement and development of pool car fleet to ensure most fuel efficient vehicles and reduce CO2 emissions. 2. Promotion of public transport for practical work journeys and particularly journeys to central Scotland – has led to increase in use of train travel from cars. 3. Establishment of the CNPA’s Green Travel Action Plan. 4. Awareness raising on office energy use and support for practices that minimise unnecessary energy use. 5. Promotion of recycling in offices and use of recycled material where appropriate. 6. Installation of video conferencing facilities in both Grantown-on-Spey and Ballater offices that should reduce numbers of car journeys undertaken. 7. General review of Human Resources policies to support home working and promotion of CNPA Cyclescheme. Conserving and enhancing biodiversity and landscapes The Forest Habitat Network project. Stephen Corcoran 8. This project is currently seeking funding but remains on track to launch in autumn. The project has twin benefits of managing a carbon sequestration resource and improving the network of forest habitats that will help species adapt to some of the effects of climate change. Integrating public support for land management Clim-ATIC. Fiona Chalmers 9. Clim-ATIC is a multi-partner strategic project part-funded through the European Commission’s Northern Periphery Programme (NPP). The project will explore the potential for rural peripheral communities to adapt to the likely direct and indirect impacts of all aspects of climate change. Community stakeholders from five regions across the Northern Periphery will work in partnership with regional public sector and academic partners to build local adaptation capacity and deliver local adaptation activities PAGE 14 that will provide local economic and social advantages. The project will provide new information from the practical evaluation of the opportunities for, and barriers to, the specific activities carried out to adapt to climate change impacts. 10.The Cairngorms National Park provides 3 of the four case studies in the Highlands & Islands: i) Sustainable transport provision: An electric community vehicle for Badenoch & Strathspey. The vehicle should be delivered by August 2008 and will be administered by B&S Community Transport Company. ii) Sustainable energy provision: Developing a Woodfuel supply cooperative iii) Tourism opportunities: New tourism ideas to diversify snow sports in Cairngorms National Park 11.The Clim-ATIC project will be subject of a more detailed informal Board discussion in the Autumn once the projects are established. Knowledge Transfer Project. Fiona Chalmers 12.We are waiting for news of bid to the Scottish Funding Council for a UHI and Macaulay Institute joint project on knowledge transfer linked to climate change and land management. The project would work with land managers in the Park to find practical ways to address issues and communicate amongst the land management community. The Green Farm Project. Fiona Chalmers 13.The Green Farms Project is being run as a partnership with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd (‘SAOS’). It is a pilot project to enable agriculture and food producers in the Cairngorms National Park to take action on climate change, develop market advantage and potential for added value to products. The challenge is to engage with farmers, local food producers/ processors to demonstrate practical measures that reduce carbon emissions, and importantly maintaining economic performance. From a business’ perspective it is about making more efficient use of inputs, cutting waste, reducing costs, and seeking opportunities to exploit extra value in the market from producing more ‘greener’ products. River Dee Catchment Management Partnership. Fiona Chalmers 14.The River Dee Catchment Management Partnership has brought together an active partnership of agencies, land managers and the MacAulay Institute. The partnership has started projects in the upper Dee catchment focusing on riparian woodland and natural flood management. The project is focused on Mar Lodge Estate with interest from neighbouring PAGE 15 estates. The CNPA is now looking to spread this approach across the National Park through a proposed ‘headwaters’ project, encouraging partners involved in the Dee Catchment to look across the whole of the Park and to stimulate similar activity on the Spey Catchment in particular. Scotland Rural Development Programme. Fiona Chalmers 15.We are working to support the SRDP in the National Park and have appointed two Land Management Support Officers to help secure coordinated and high quality applications within the National Park. SRDP is a mechanism to support delivery of land management actions related to many of the other projects detailed. Supporting Sustainable Deer Management Inclusive Deer Management & Joint Agency Working. Colin McClean 16. High deer densities can contribute to degradation of peat and release of carbon stored in the peat, one of the most significant carbon stores in the Park. CDAG are driving development of a framework for deer management that will help match deer management measures to objectives for carbon storage and habitat networks. The joint agency process for addressing deer management issues on designated sites is also making a significant contribution to reducing adverse grazing impacts. Providing high quality opportunities for outdoor access The Core Paths Plan. Bob Grant 17.The development and promotion of Core Paths in the National Park will contribute to people’s ability to travel without using the private car or other motorised transport. Cairngorms Explorer Bus Timetables and Heather Hopper Bus service. John Thorne 18.The Cairngorms Explorer bus timetable and Heather Hopper Bus service aim to improve people’s ability to use public transport and reduce reliance on the private car. Making tourism and business more sustainable Promotion of the National Park Brand and Green Tourism Business Scheme. Heather Trench 19.The Green Tourism Business Scheme encourages tourism businesses to reduce energy and water consumption, use local suppliers, and promote sustainable transport to visitors, thereby reducing contributions to climate PAGE 16 change. Businesses or organisations seeking to use the National Park Brand must also comply with environmental quality standards. The National Park Annual Tourism Conference. Heather Trench 20.The National Park Annual Tourism conference provides an opportunity to help raise awareness of climate change and associated action that can be taken by tourism businesses. In 2007 the conference was themed on local food produce and the 2008 conference is likely to be themed on “The Green Bottom Line”. Making housing more affordable and sustainable The development of the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan. Karen Major 21.The Local Plan addresses climate change as an underlying principle. It includes policies linked to the design of buildings and sets specific targets for reductions in carbon emissions from some developments. The development of the Cairngorms National Park Sustainable Design Guide. Alison Lax 22.The Sustainable Design Guide will help new developments to be as sustainable as possible, minimising energy use and carbon emissions, and helping to adapt to some of the predicted effects of climate change. Raising awareness and understanding of the Park Carbon Footprinting the National Park: A Baseline Study. Gavin Miles 23.The Carbon Footprint baseline study was prepared by the Macaulay Institute using the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI). The report provided a baseline Greenhouse Gas emissions from the National Park in 2003. It highlights the importance of the peat used national Macaulay Institute Partnership Working. Gavin Miles 24.The CNPA and the Macaulay Institute are developing a partnership through a range of projects and research that is bringing a strong academic focus to climate change in the Park. Land Based Business Training & Cairngorms Awareness and Pride Project Courses. Kate Christie 25.The LBBT and CATT schemes have run or plan to run courses on the following topics with links to climate change: a) Our Ecological Footprint (ran on 20th March) b) Ethical Enterprise (ran on 31st March) c) Solar Energy and Ground Source Heat Pumps as alternative energy sources (ran 6th May) d) Micro hydropower (ran 5th June) PAGE 17 e) Woodfuel as an alternative source of energy - 9th September f) How to retrofit your home - 13th November Climate Change Communications Plan. Stephanie Bungay 26.The Climate Change Communications officer has a programme of events of communications opportunities that will be used to highlight messages about climate change. Outputs of the communications plan include: a) The CNPA attending a number of shows and events in the Park during the summer with climate change messages targeted at children and land managers. b) Using August’s “Green Diary” (http://www.reapscotland.org.uk/greendiary.htm) that is distributed throughout northeast Scotland to highlight the range of climate change work and issues in the National Park. c) Drawing together a “Green Guide” to the National Park that will help residents and visitors find out how to minimise their environmental footprint in the Park. Other Climate Change related work The Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund. Quentin McLaren 27.We are working with the Scottish Government to identify how to stimulate community groups to get a share of the fund coming into the Park. The Cairngorms National Park Sustainability Fund. Quentin McLaren, 28.The utility of a Cairngorms National Park Sustainability Fund has been reduced by the implementation of the SRDP, Cairngorms Leader and Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund. Development of the fund is on hold while the CNPA ensures that best use is made of the other available grant and assistance mechanisms. Supplementary Planning Guidance on Renewable Energy Developments. Karen Major 29.The Local Plan team will be preparing SPG on renewable energy developments to supplement the Local Plan. Involvement in Regional Partnerships. Gavin Miles 30.We are involved in regional partnerships to tackle climate change such as the North East Scotland Climate Change Partnership. The partnerships aim to work together to tackle climate change and share good practice.