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Climate Challenge Fund (Eligibility)
Rural Affairs and the Environment
2:15 pm
Margo MacDonald (Independent)
To ask the Scottish Government whether the recently announced increase in the climate challenge fund, or any future similar funding, will be available to groups who have temporary or short-term leasing. (S3O-12251)
Roseanna Cunningham (Scottish National Party)
There is no specific exclusion for projects that involve temporary or short-term leases in the application criteria for the climate challenge fund. If a community applies for funding, it is important that it demonstrates how it will achieve both significant carbon emissions reductions and a positive legacy for the community.
Margo MacDonald (Independent)
There might have been a feeling abroad that short-term leasing was not a good idea and did not give groups enough time to dig in—literally—and produce better reasons for their use of the funding. If we consider, for example, the evidence that has been produced by Royal Edinburgh community gardens, we can see that, over one year, there have been many benefits. People get into the idea, and where they have only short-term use of land, they are likely to go on to another area for leasing.
Roseanna Cunningham (Scottish National Party)
I am not certain that there was a question there, Presiding Officer.
Roseanna Cunningham (Scottish National Party)
I can reassure members that the climate challenge fund is not based on length of lease; it is based on outcomes. If people can demonstrate that the outcomes fit with those that are required under the climate challenge fund, their project will be worthy of as much consideration as any other project.