Council looks to recruit to ‘very important’ climate change role

SHETLAND Islands Council appears to be bolstering its response to climate change as it looks to employ a team leader to coordinate its activity on the issue.

Among the key responsibilities would be to drive the council’s response to the “critical implications” of climate change.

The new post, called the climate change strategy team leader and described as “transformational” by the SIC, comes after the council recognised the global climate emergency last year.

In January last year the council introduced its climate change programme, which stated that the local authority would “adopt a proactive and collaborative approach” to the issue.

The new team leader will lead the development and implementation of this plan, with a focus on themes such as energy supply, transport, business process and waste management.

Also on their remit would be to monitor emerging trends in climate change to ensure the council is on top of the climate agenda.

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Chairman of the council’s environment and transport committee Ryan Thomson said the successful applicant would have an important part to play.

“Last year, the SIC recognised that the evidence on climate change is irrefutable and the science is clear,” he said.

“We as a community must act and Shetland must play its part in tackling this global emergency.

“The team leader of the climate change strategy is a small but very important part in determining the council’s overall strategic objectives and priorities.”