A climate justice rally to push for more urgent and ambitious action in East Lothian.

In September 2019 Climate Action East Linton, collaborating with a number of other local community groups in East Lothian (LiL, Friends of the Earth East Lothian, Sustaining Dunbar, Sustaining North Berwick, Climate Friendly Aberlady, Scottish Youth Climate Strike, Rewilding East Lothian and the national campaigning group Mothers Rise Up) to organise an ‘East Lothian Rise Up’ rally in Haddington.  The event tied in with the Global #ClimateStrike/ #Earthstrike.  

The aim of this climate justice rally was to show support to East Lothian Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency, but to also push for more urgent and ambitious action in their draft Climate Change Strategy. Whilst the groups valued the huge amount of work that had gone into developing a comprehensive strategy, we felt that more ambition was needed.

The event included a range of speakers, music and activities for children to get involved, and the opportunity to speak with local MP Martin Whitfield, some councillors and the local press.

East Lothian Council’s Climate Change Strategy was approved in January 2020

The vision and overall aims of the strategy

East Lothian Council will take urgent action to make all our Council Services Net Zero as soon as reasonably practicable or in any case by 2045 and will lobby, support and work with government, all relevant agencies, partners and communities to fulfil this commitment. We will also work with our communities and partners towards making East Lothian a carbon neutral county, enabling the county to deliver its part of wider national and international commitments, and to prepare for the impacts of climate change.’

Cllr Norman Hampshire: ‘Whilst this strategy is initially considering priorities and actions over the next five years, the strategy will also be reviewed and updated annually as further legislative and policy changes occur’

Following on from the climate justice rally, the local community groups have formed an informal East Lothian network to work together on issues that we can better influence by working together.