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Currie and Balerno News 349

1 September 2009

Our local schools have shown commitment and leadership to improving our environment.

Balerno High School's environmental group is making progress and working towards an eco school award. Our primary schools are a great example to us through their energy saving, recycling and gardening schemes.

Currie High School has a first class reputation as an eco school and has already achieved two green flag awards. The School is supported by the Parent Council's own eco group – PIPER (parents in partnership eco representatives).

Last year PIPER received a grant of almost £4000 from the Council to get started and I was happy to support their successful bid for funding from the Climate Change Fund earlier this year. This Fund supports people and communities to take direct action to help us behave differently. The simple philosophy is that there are lots of things we can do as individuals to reduce our carbon emissions but if we act and work together as a community we can do even more.

The first stage of PIPER's plan is to produce a DVD highlighting the importance of taking action to reduce carbon emissions that damage the environment. This will be issued to pupils and parents in the Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green areas. I was very happy to be able to give my support to the initiative and take part in the filming of the DVD.

I know there's a great deal of enthusiasm across Edinburgh to tackle climate change and I want to thank PIPER, our local high schools and primary schools as well as other groups for helping to lead the way.