Creating a four-day working week, banning single-use packaging and making homes more energy efficient are just some of the ideas produced in a bid to tackle climate change.
Scotland’s Climate Assembly has produced 81 recommendations to help reduce CO2 emissions in a fair and effective way across the country in the future.
The proposals cover a wide range of issues which will be addressed to the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and society as a whole.
The assembly yesterday produced a Civic Charter - a public statement which highlights the support in Scotland for the vision of the group.
It includes more than 100 members of the public who represent Scotland in terms of age, gender, income, ethnicity, geography, disability and attitudes towards global warming.
Ahead of the COP26 United Nations conference, the group says there is a “groundswell of support” for the proposals.
The Charter states: “The assembly’s recommendations and conclusions are innovative and ambitious. They are also realistic and achievable – as long as they are matched by political will. Scotland now has a mandate from its people to provide genuine global leadership on climate change.
“As the Assembly makes clear, the climate emergency affects all of us and requires immediate action from government, industry, NGOs, CSOs and communities across Scottish society.
“Through the Climate Assembly, ordinary people from across the country have laid the foundations of a strategic vision and urgent plan of action for Scotland to deliver on its climate change commitments. Policy-makers need to take heed of both the Assembly’s specific recommendations and the spirit of their report. Clarity on a national strategy that delivers on the Climate Assembly’s level of ambition will make all the difference.
“The Assembly’s 100 members found common ground for driving both cuts in emissions and adapting to a changing climate - despite coming from diverse backgrounds and holding different views. This charter shows there is a groundswell of support across the country for the actions the Assembly has proposed.”
Some of the recommendations from the assembly include making public transport cheaper or free, creating a national tree planting day, setting targets for supermarkets and other shops to buy and sell local produce, having more flexible working conditions and putting wellbeing before profit.
Proposals were discussed by members of the assembly who were endorsed by politicians, authors, business owners, school children and university lecturers.
Josh Littlejohn, founder of Social Bite co-convener of the assembly, said: “This is about ordinary people providing leadership on climate action in Scotland.
“The Climate Assembly’s proposals are innovative and ambitious.
"They are also realistic and achievable, provided they are matched by political will. I urge more folks to get behind this, sign up using #SignForScotland and show there’s no better time for climate action in Scotland than right now.”
Ruth Harvey, leader of the Iona Community, said: “The vision, clarity, focus and sheer hard work of the citizens of Scotland’s Climate Assembly demonstrate just how seriously the people of Scotland take the climate emergency.
“They have asked our political leaders to be bold and visionary in turn. So now is the time to turn the heat up on decision-making, and to convert the detailed recommendations into powerful actions.”
Professor Karl Leydecker, Senior Vice-Principal at the University of Aberdeen, said: “As part of our 2040 strategy, the University of Aberdeen is committed to showing leadership in working for the sustainable future of our planet, setting an example to our sector and to society.
"This commitment aligns with Scotland’s Civic Charter on Climate, and as such the University is delighted to have signed the charter to express our support.”
Anna Fowlie, CEO of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “The climate emergency is all around us, right now. Scotland’s rhetoric is great, and it’s time to show real global leadership by turning those words into action.
"Charities, community organisations and social enterprises all have a part to play and that’s why SCVO is proud to support the Climate Assembly by signing the Civic Charter.”
Jamie Cooke, Head of the Royal Society for the Arts Scotland, said: “As the eyes of the world turn to Glasgow for COP26, it is more important than ever that we keep the momentum behind Scotland’s ambitious climate targets.
"Scotland’s Climate Assembly was a bold measure to harness the creativity of our people, and we at the RSA are honoured to be able to sign up to the Civic Charter, committing ourselves to that collaborative effort for a better future.
"We believe it is time for a new re-generation to bring the change we need to see, and look forward to working with others across Scotland, and the world, to make that happen.”
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