Councillor asks if time is right to appraise purpose of climate festival

THE NEED for a Shetland Climate Festival has been questioned by the chair of Shetland Islands Council’s environment and transport committee.

Moraig Lyall asked if there were better ways for the SIC to get climate information out rather than to hold a festival.

She instructed officers to prepare a briefing note for councillors including the cost of the Shetland Climate Festival, attendance numbers and whether it is fulfilling its purpose.

The council’s fourth climate festival was held at the Clickimin in Lerwick on Saturday, with the bowls hall turned into a series of exhibitor stands.

Exhibitors ranged from Home Energy Scotland and the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub to local companies, the NHS and Cycling UK.

There were also activities for children, cooking demonstrations, poetry readings and a repair cafe.

While the event was hailed as a success by organisers, there was some talk that numbers were down on previous years.

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A lot of ‘really good conversations’ at council’s climate festival

Lyall brought up the festival at a meeting of the SIC’s environment and transport committee on Monday.

“I’m wondering whether now is the time to appraise what the purpose of that is, and whether it is fulfilling those purposes in the best way,” she said.

The councillor noted that the festival is trying to educate to the public, and get information out to folk in areas like home energy saving.

“But potentially there are better ways than having a standalone climate festival,” Lyall said.

“I know that numbers have not been huge over the years.”

One alternative way the SIC has been getting information out to the public is through the ‘Climate Yarns’ video series.