Community Landowners & the Climate Emergency

Community owners have a deep connection to & understanding of their land. They take a holistic approach to climate action, often being involved in a wide range of activities due to an ingrained sense of stewardship & responsibility for the local community & environment.

Community Land Scotland represents community landowners, which collectively own thousands of hectares of land, buildings & assets. We believe community ownership is at the heart of a just transition and that the land should be in the hands of the people who live there.

"The lack of connection with nature is almost a driving force of the climate emergency. That connection & understanding has been lost. If you can get that bond re-established, maybe some of the bigger issues start to get resolved through actions & changes of attitude."

Isle of Eigg and Abriachan Forest Trust are pioneers of community land ownership in Scotland. Over the last 20 years, they have been far ahead of their time in creating clean energy and a sustainable future.

“If we get it across to everybody that comes to the forest that they have a personal responsibility. Because that’s where it starts, the choices you make. We try to create awareness &
encourage people to make the right decisions.”

“Community-led Housing has the capacity to tackle the climate emergency through the delivery of localised solutions.  Communities are focused on reaching the highest standards of low energy and sustainable design, recognising they have the capacity to implement change.”  

"There's still a great attachment to the land and the community. It's all about management and control and determining your own future.”

“Climate change and global warming are global issues that can induce anxiety and feel untouchable. When a community is able to take part in carbon reducing activities on a local level, it can boost their confidence and feeling of empowerment.”

“Our Glen will be a place where future generations can be secure in the knowledge that the asset has been retained for them. It is a place where everyone, but particularly children and young people can learn in a clean, healthy environment.”

“People are active participants, producers not consumers, ensuring all are treated equally & valued for their ideas. We can be adaptable & responsive, less controlled by systems of centralisation. We have a sense of land stewardship & responsibility for land we own together.”

"Community ownership can be a catalyst for regeneration, which we want to show can be done with the environment at its heart."

Communities are growing food on land that they own. They are providing people with opportunities to learn about and get actively involved in local food growing. They are reducing food emissions and creating resilience.

“As a man once said in a place many miles from our planet, ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’. Each small step we take to make our natural environment a place for our children, is more important than those first steps on the moon.”

“It's about sustainability for future generations and not just right now.”