Stirling pledges to become first UK carbon-neutral city

Stirling is aiming to become the UK’s first carbon-neutral city following a £1.25m cash injection from the Big Lottery Fund and Scottish government.

The funds will go to community-led project Going Carbon Neutral Stirling (GCNS), which encourages eco-friendly behaviour at grassroots level.

The organisation aims to cut CO₂ emissions from 12 tonnes per person per year, the annual average in Scotland, to 1 tonne.

Residents and businesses will be urged to recycle, switch lights off and buy local produce among other energy-saving measures.

The project is the first exemplar project under the £18.8m Climate Challenge Fund, set up to help Scotland achieve an 80% cut in emissions by 2050.

Richard Lochhead, the Scottish cabinet secretary for the environment, said: “This is the start of an exciting new era for community empowerment and I'd encourage all those in Scotland who want to make a difference locally and globally to come forward with their ideas.”