AT LEAST three of Scotland’s islands will become fully carbon neutral by 2040, according to Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon.

Announcing the new Carbon Neutral Islands project, Ms Gougeon said that Scotland's islands had the potential to become 'hubs of innovation' in renewable energy and climate change resilience.

The initiative will also create jobs, she promised, positively impacting on island economies and population retention and growth, and will start with carbon audits across the islands and a pilot phase to inform learning.

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Ms Gougeon said: “We are determined for Scotland to lead the world in tackling climate change. We know that our islands are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change but also have huge potential and natural capital that will help us meet our net zero ambition.

"Island communities are already engaged and acting to cut emissions and our commitment to make at least three of our islands carbon neutral by 2040 will seek to build on work already underway. Some of the actions that might be taken could also help address some of the other challenges for our islands like depopulation, the need for tourism to be more sustainable and fuel poverty.

“Scotland’s islands can play a really significant role in the race to Net Zero and we want to give them the tools to do that," said Ms Gougeon. "Supporting islands to become carbon neutral will help protect their unique heritage, culture and biodiversity, while also delivering on our commitment to support island communities to flourish economically and socially.”

There will be stakeholder consultation to gather views on how best to deliver the project, alongside consideration of good practices stemming from islands around the world.