Energy use in schools will count towards the total emissions of local authorities under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the mandatory trading scheme that will encourage local authorities and large businesses across Scotland, England and Wales to reduce emissions.

The Minister for Climate Change Stewart Stevenson and Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, welcomed the announcement today by Hilary Benn, UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. 

“The CRC will be a key part of our efforts to tackle climate change,” said Stevenson. “Schools are a very important part of local government property portfolios, and increasing the energy efficiency of schools in Scotland will bring important benefits.

“In the short term local authorities have the opportunity to make their buildings more energy efficient, hence more economical, and in the long term the CRC will help us reach our world-leading target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050. 

“The Scottish Government has been working closely with COSLA on the implementation of the scheme, as well as other Scottish partners, and with DEFRA on what the CRC will entail. DEFRA in fact agreed to amend proposals on how schools are to be included in the CRC following the intervention of the Scottish Government, making the scheme simpler and more efficient for local authorities to manage.”

Adam Ingram said: “We recognise that cutting emissions is key in the fight against climate change and therefore welcome the inclusion of schools into the Carbon Reduction Commitment.  We will continue to work with local authorities to promote significant improvement in the energy performance of schools - both in the design of new schools and the energy efficiency of existing schools.”

Participants will buy emission allowances at a fixed price at the start of each year in the first phase (2010-2012). At the end of the year those that perform well will receive a payment that exceeds their allowance costs, and those that perform poorly will receive a payment less than their allowance costs. Organisations are free to buy and sell allowances if they have a surplus or a shortfall.

Under the initiative, schools in Scotland will tell their local authority as the participating organisation how much energy they currently use, and supported by their local council will strive to bring their energy use down, thereby reducing their carbon emissions. The savings will help bring down the annual emissions total accumulated by the local authority.

COSLA's regeneration and sustainable development spokesperson, councillor Alison Hay, said: “Scottish councils are already working very hard to reduce carbon emissions and this scheme can only help to contribute towards this important work. COSLA has been playing a full role in the evolution of  this ambitious and innovative scheme and we look forward to continuing this in future.

“Children and young people who are at school at the moment will gain in future from action taken now to tackle climate change. As key elements of the local authority estate, it is appropriate that schools are part of the scheme but we welcome the flexibility which the Scottish Government has negotiated with DEFRA to enable schools to contribute to the scheme as appropriate. COSLA looks forward to participating in the next round of consultations in liaison with the Scottish Government and with our local authorities.”