Combating the effects of climate change is more important than ever as the potential impacts threaten UK biodiversity and economy. In Scotland, the increase in frequency of intense storms, like Storm Floris, brings a threat to life. Changing weather patterns have driven shifts in species distribution and have made our country more susceptible to invasive species and disease. An increase in extreme weather events has also damaged transport systems and poses a threat to many vital industries, from agriculture to tourism.
In response to the threat posed by climate change, Scotland aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. Achieving this goal would drastically reduce greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, making this a crucial target to reach. To help reach this overarching aim, cities across the country are also setting their own climate targets and initiatives which focus on the individual threats they face. So, how is the former oil capital of Europe, Aberdeen City, hoping to become a greener city, and are we on track to reach its goals?
Aberdeen council has been hard at work to make the former oil giant an eco-friendly place to visit and live. Like the rest of the country, Aberdeen is hoping to be net-zero by 2045. The council has also set interim targets to monitor progress, including a 48% reduction in emissions by 2025, compared to stats from 2015-16. As it becomes more apparent that the country will suffer due to climate change, Aberdeen is also working to build resilience to the potential impacts and has a commitment to manage 26% of the city for nature by 2026. A number of projects and initiatives are being put in place to make these goals a reality; these projects range from city-wide to area-specific, and the council is supported by many partners to make their implementation possible.
Small switches make all the difference, and the council proved this with their LED Streetlighting Replacement Programme. The city has approximately 37,000 streetlights, but old lights were inefficient, expensive to manage, and consumed large amounts of energy. In 2015, the council decided to make the swap, with the last streetlight being switched in March 2024. Despite having only been completed a year and a half ago, it has already resulted in many positive outcomes that benefit the council and the people of Aberdeen. The new lights consume 60% less energy than the old ones, saving 400tCO2e every year. LEDs are also much more efficient than old lighting systems: it is estimated that the simple swap will save the council £1million annually. Maintenance costs and repair times have also dropped, increasing the reliability of the lights. Ensuring that streets are always well-lit also keeps people safer when out at night, meaning that this project is not only important for the environment.
Another project is working to ensure that sustainable living is affordable to people in Aberdeen. Between 2019 and 2022, in Auchmill and Cloverhill, the New Build Council Housing programme was put in place to resolve the issue of a long-term shortage of affordable social housing. All new housing built has to reach a ‘Gold Standard’. This standard includes built-in efficient technologies that can reduce carbon emissions by at least 27%, which is achieved through the use of renewable energy. The standard also includes effective insulation, air circulation techniques, and increased natural light to reduce energy demand. Additionally, all houses built for this project are connected to district heating, which is cheaper than conventional heating systems. In 2022, 92 homes that can house between 2 and 8 people each were opened. Work is ongoing to develop more Gold Standard, affordable homes in Aberdeen.
On top of the council running a plethora of projects to make Aberdeen green, there are also several ways for students at the University of Aberdeen to get involved and make a difference. For example, the Student Union hosts climate assemblies. Guest speakers come in to discuss chosen topics about sustainability and the climate, giving students a chance to learn more about how they can positively impact their community. Open every Monday, AUSA also runs a zero-waste shop. This is a refillery-type shop where students can pick up loose ingredients like pasta, rice, oats and coffee beans. Not only is it a great budgeting hack, as it is cheaper than most shops, but it also reduces both food and plastic waste.
One controversial part of Aberdeen’s new sustainable initiative is the recent step away from the oil industry. Oil production peaked in Aberdeen in 1999 and has been steadily declining ever since. Whilst moving away from oil and focusing on more renewable sources of energy is beneficial for many reasons, some Aberdonians are uncertain that it’s the best move for the city. As the former oil capital of Europe, oil and gas used to provide much of Aberdeen’s jobs and income – previously, 13% of Aberdeen’s jobs were directly linked to the oil and gas industry. Potentially, the move away from this industry could cause the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. Many workers who have worked with oil for decades have honed their skills specifically to this industry, meaning that finding new employment in Aberdeen again may be challenging. However, the development of new sustainable energy sources, such as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), has the potential to create new jobs, suggesting that moving away from oil may not be as disruptive to the economy as it appears.
So far, Aberdeen’s efforts have not been futile. Whilst it’s unclear if Aberdeen will achieve all the goals set out by the council, the city has been widely recognised as one of the greenest cities in the UK. In 2019, The First Mile ranked Aberdeen as the second greenest hotspot in the UK. Edinburgh and Glasgow also received recognition for their sustainability initiatives. Aberdeen was also described as the best major city for air quality, largely due to the creation of low-emission zones to regulate vehicle emissions. On a more local scale, the University has already exceeded the targets laid out in previous Carbon Management Plans, which suggests that whilst change is slow, it is definitely occurring.
From zero-waste shops to Gold Standard homes, Aberdeen is clearly working hard to ensure that its residents can live in an eco-friendly, sustainable way. While it may sometimes feel like we’re not making an impact, these changes are ensuring that Aberdonians have smaller carbon footprints and will be more resilient against climate change. If we continue on the path, it appears that the future of Aberdeen’s nature and economy is safe. However, ensuring Aberdeen does not fall apart at the hands of climate change will require, at least small, steps from everyone.