Edinburgh chosen to join climate action network

Edinburgh has been chosen as one of three UK cities to join a network of new and extended city commissions aimed at driving action on climate change at a local level, UK energy minister Claire Perry has announced.

The Place-based Climate Action Network (P-CAN) will help the UK meet its climate commitments through establishing local climate commissions to support action in UK cities through a partnership of the private, public and third sectors.

With the Economic and Social Research Council providing £3.5 million in funding for P-CAN over five years, the initiative will attempt to build local capacities in UK cities and stimulate the flow of green finance.

In an announcement later today, Perry is expected to say: “I would like to announce the establishment of the Place-based Climate Action Network (P-CAN). This is a new £3.5m research network that has been set up to enable cities and towns to build much needed local action on climate change, by building their capacities for action, developing investable projects and accessing finance.

“The network will include researchers from universities across the UK, and will explore innovative approaches to sustainable finance, renewable energy and low-carbon projects, and also highlight the business opportunities and social and economic benefits of local energy projects to communities.”

P-CAN will be hosted by the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Leeds, the University of Edinburgh and Queen’s University Belfast.

Professor Simon Kelley, head of the University of Edinburgh’s school of geosciences, said: “Edinburgh City Council is developing its longer term vision for a vibrant, green and prosperous city through its City Vision 2050.

“The Climate and Energy Commission created through this project will help the city make those plans real – engaging people across Edinburgh in delivering a fair and equitable transformation in our energy and finances to meet the challenge of climate change.

“The University, through our climate impact hub the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, is looking forward to working with government, business and the third sector to accelerate our transition to a thriving low carbon future.”