Yesterday, the Scottish Government announced its Programme for Government for the forthcoming parliamentary year, placing a commitment to tackle the climate emergency at the heart of its legislative and policy agenda. Here, Dr John Rogers, the University’s Executive Director of Research & Innovation Services, talks about the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, and the relevance of innovation and partnership working in combatting climate change.   

Yesterday’s Programme for Government sets out a bold and ambitious vision to tackle the climate emergency facing communities and policymakers both in Scotland, and across the world.

The University of Stirling is delighted to support delivery of these critical national priorities, through the Scotland’s International Environment Centre.

Enabled through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal with £17m of capital investment from Scottish Government, the Environment Centre provides the ideal platform to build the large-scale programme of action, now, that will unlock clean, inclusive growth. 

In order to accelerate the pace of change, we will work together to establish the programme for action, using our regional, national and international partnerships to go further and faster in response to the climate emergency.

Scotland’s International Environment Centrewill transform the relationship between environmental management, policy making, people and business.  Headquartered within the major regional economy of Forth Valley in Scotland and working with the Forth Valley Regional Economic Partnerships this transformation will be achieved by truly embedded, collaborative approaches that translate into sustainable solutions and outcomes, a strong competitive economy and prosperity for all.

We are ready for action and we can help.  The prosperity, wellbeing, health and happiness of our current and future citizens and communities demands it. We must safeguard and enhance the environment in which they live, and we must create the fair work, the clean technologies, the skills and the routes to opportunities that are the cornerstones of truly inclusive growth.  Together, wewill help to create a better, healthier, happier and fairer society. 

To be part of this exciting development, please get in touch: CityRegionDeal@stir.ac.uk; tel: 01786 466445