This achievement is the result of a collaborative effort with Climate Action Fife to provide climate literacy training to over 120 staff and elected members, primarily within the planning department.

Owing to the Planning Services’ sustained commitment to tackling the climate emergency, the number of accredited staff increased from 39 to 65. The team has created a service-level climate action plan, introducing measures to reduce the department’s carbon emissions. Carbon Literacy training is also now mandatory requirement within the service.

The training has equipped staff with the necessary knowledge, tools, and inspiration to confront the climate emergency and adapt their behaviour and work in Fife to meet the challenges of climate change.

Cllr Jan Wincott, spokesperson for environment & climate change, said: “Achieving Climate Literacy Gold is a great recognition of the hard work, dedication and pledges made by our staff in Planning Services and being the first service in the UK to achieve this is outstanding.

“The whole Council has overall achieved bronze status, thanks to staff and elected members who are taking on the climate crisis. We all have the power to make an impact on climate change, and efforts made to gain knowledge, put it into practice, share behaviours and more are already making differences in Fife.

“We hope even more of our people will attend the training with Climate Action Fife to learn about the climate emergency and what they can do to combat it at home, at work and with others.”

Ross Spalding, service manager, and Cllr Jan Wincott attended the awards ceremony to receive the award.

Pam Ewen, head of planning, said: “Addressing the Climate Emergency across Fife is a key priority for Fife Council. Furthering our knowledge through training and development of staff and elected members is important to lead with change.

“Throughout 2022 Planning Services staff worked intensively to achieve Gold Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation. This enabled the Planning Service’s officers to be aware of the impacts of the climate crisis globally and locally and empower them to act as agents of change.”