People Make Glasgow Greener Launched

Published: 12 March 2021

Launching the People Make Glasgow Greener campaign, council leader, Councillor Susan Aitken appealed to Glaswegians' sense of civic pride and social responsibility and pledged to work with communities to improve their neighbourhoods and the overall city environment.

The campaign will incorporate a new litter prevention action programme and comes as the council approved plans to invest millions in an improvement fund for local parks and green spaces.

New commitments to support People Make Glasgow Greener include the expansion of the city's team of neighbourhood co-ordinators to tackle environmental issues, at a frontline community level.

The campaign comes ahead of the city's hosting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), in November.

The global event is expected to see world leaders gather in the city to thrash out a commitment that sees countries pledge to reaching net zero emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change and accelerate a green transformation of financial systems, to drive clean investment. It is hoped hosting COP will also help attract jobs and investment and become a launchpad for the changes Glasgow must continue to make in the decade ahead.

Councillor Aitken stated that just as collaboration was needed amongst world leaders and citizens to confront the global climate crisis, the council, its partners and citizens had to work more closely to make Glasgow a better place to live, work and visit.

She said today: "Glasgow is renowned and defined by our people. It is our Dear Green Place.

"I know Glaswegians are proud of our city and our communities. However, we continue to be let down by a minority who litter, fly tip and graffiti.

"But, we can all make a difference. We are investing an additional million pounds into frontline environmental services and an extra one and a half million pounds in to parks and open spaces, over the coming year.

"Of course, with COP26 being hosted by Glasgow in just over six months' time, the eyes of the world will be on us. We have an opportunity to not only have our city associated with the biggest - and maybe last - opportunity to steer our planet onto a safer path, but also to accelerate the changes we have to make as a city."

The first part of the campaign, a new Litter Prevention Action Plan (LPAP), will come before elected members next week (Tuesday 16 March) at the Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction City Policy Development Committee as part of the wider Clean Glasgow programme.

LPAPs are a relatively new approach to litter and fly-tipping prevention and help organisations and neighbourhoods to create a cleaner environment for their local community.

Our overarching citywide Litter Prevention Action Plan sets out what we have done and will do with regard to tackling litter, fly-tipping, fly-posting and dog fouling across the city.

The Clean Glasgow programme will also highlight the '4Es interventions we can make  -  Education, Engagement, Enhancement and, if required, Enforcement.  It also includes a toolkit for businesses, housing associations, communities and residents to empower and encourage them to identify a key role they can play in improving the city's environment.

People Make Glasgow Greener will also enact the City Charter that was adopted in May 2018, following engagement and dialogue with Glasgow citizens. It is a list of shared aspirations, commitments, aims and standards to help deliver our visions together and ensure that people remain at the heart of everything that we do.

Cllr Aitken added: "I understand that if we are to ask our citizens to help Glasgow step up to the mark, then the council has got to ensure the services we provide are effective and reliable, as they return to normality after the significant and inevitable impact of the pandemic.

 "We all have a shared interest in the future of our city and by all playing our own small part we are also contributing to the future of our planet.

"People make Glasgow and I'm sure Glaswegians will join us to help make Glasgow greener too." 

Visit the People Make Glasgow Greener webpage for more information: http://peoplemakeglasgowgreener.com

PMGG Leader Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA14zJxcE7Y

PMGG Launch video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gal5P51exr8

You can read the Clean Glasgow Programme 2021 - 2026 and the Litter Prevention Action Plan at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/agenda.asp?meetingid=17609

Read more about the Glasgow City Charter at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/citycharter