Perth and Kinross councillors have this week signed up to several climate change commitments.
Councillors gave their approval at a virtual meeting on November 15.
But some questioned councillors’ commitment to tackling climate change.
At Monday’s meeting councillors approved a motion committing PKC to three initiatives: The Global Covenant of Mayors, Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration and Edinburgh Declaration on post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate Change and Energy comprises over 10,000 cities and local governments who “share a long-term vision of supporting voluntary action to combat climate change.”
The Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration is a commitment to hasten the development of integrated food policies and urge national governments to act.
The Edinburgh Declaration pledges governments, cities and local authorities across the world to a set of shared commitments for nature over the coming decade.
Council leader Murray Lyle told councillors it was “at the local government level that so many of the actions need to be implemented.”
He said this was made clear during his visit to COP26 where he met representatives from all over the world. He said councils were encouraged to join a number of initiatives to demonstrate their commitment.
Lib Dem Perth City South councillor Liz Barrett said: “We need to take action. To quote Greta Thunberg (and I will refrain from breaking into song in case I’m thrown out of the chamber) there is frustration about lots of blah blah blah without clear commitment to action, and it is the job of each of us to act, lead by example and explain what we are doing, and why, and to support voluntary action by individuals and by groups to combat climate change.”
SNP councillor Fiona Sarwar said: “Our response to food poverty as well as the climate emergency must ensure a just transition. I hope these commitments will allow for accountability between councils and governments as well as knowledge-sharing and best practice.”
Lib Dem councillor Willie Robertson called the report “laudable” but expressed cynicism and said PKC had a “long way to go.”
He said: “This council works really hard to reduce our carbon footprint and make ourselves a greener organisation. But at the same time staying here in Kinross-shire I see our bus services disappearing - or reduced substantially - and fields covered in houses. We have to get resources in place to allow us to become a greener area and cut down our emissions.”
Independent councillor Xander McDade - who voted against the Cross Tay Link Road project - questioned Cllr Robertson’s commitment to retaining greenspace when he voted to approve the road running through native forest back in autumn 2020.
He added: “We need to make sure our actions do follow our words and it isn’t all blah blah blah. That’s something members maybe need to reflect on when they vote.”
