Climate emergency

We declared a climate emergency on 27 June 2019. 

In agreeing the declaration, we  recognised that this represented a radical and comprehensive step change in our approach.

Our commitment to tackling climate change across the Dumfries and Galloway region aligns directly to the Scottish Government's climate change legislation.

Net zero targets

The full council agreed net zero targets for organisational and regional emissions on 28 March 2024. 

Organisational emissions targets

We aim to:

• make a 75% reduction in carbon emissions by 2027 (from 2008/09 baseline) – already achieved 63% reduction by 2022/23
• make a 90% reduction in carbon emissions by 2031
• become a carbon neutral organisation by 2033 

Regional emissions targets

We support the region to:

• become a net zero region on or before 2040
• transition to a carbon negative region by 2045 to align with the wider aspiration outlined by South of Scotland Enterprise

Climate reporting

The Scottish Government introduced mandatory annual reporting by public bodies on compliance with climate change duties in 2015.

Find Dumfries and Galloway Council climate change reports – Sustainable Scotland Network