Historic Environment Scotland's (HES) work to tackle the impacts of climate change on the historic environment and support of Earth Hour have been recognised today (Wednesday 20 March) as the organisation was crowned Public Body Champion by WWF Scotland.
Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of HES, accepted the award alongside the HES Climate Change team at Edinburgh Castle, one of 12 sites managed by HES that will be switching off its lights for this year’s Earth Hour on Saturday 30 March.
Alex Paterson welcomed the award win, saying: "Raising awareness of the impacts of climate change on the historic environment and supporting Scotland's carbon reduction targets are key priorities for our organisation, and I’m delighted to see our efforts in these areas recognised by WWF Scotland.
Scotland's climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, and as the lead public body for the historic environment we have a responsibility to place sustainability and environmental responsibility at the heart of everything we do.
"We will shortly be launching the public consultation on our forthcoming Climate Change and Environmental Action Plan, which will set out the key role HES has to play in terms of mitigation, sustainability and adaptation, and how we will continue to lead the way in researching and improving understanding of the impacts of climate change on the historic environment - not only in Scotland, but internationally."
Earth Hour, the global switch-off event to raise awareness of climate change, takes place this year at 8:30pm on Saturday 30 March. Historic sites throughout Scotland will join millions of people across the world in switching off their lights, from Clickimin Broch on Shetland to Melrose Abbey in the Borders.
Sam Gardner, Deputy Director WWF Scotland, said: "We’re delighted to award WWF’s Earth Hour Public Body Champion to Historic Environment Scotland. Its continued support for Earth Hour and sustainability have been really impressive. We look forward to their upcoming Climate Change and Environmental Action Plan. It’s fantastic that Historic Scotland will be switching off 12 sites once again this year on the 30th March for 2019’s Earth Hour at 8:30pm."
The HES managed Historic Scotland sites taking part in this year’s Earth Hour are:
- Castle Campbell
- Clickimin Broch
- Edinburgh Castle
- Glasgow Cathedral
- Jedburgh Abbey
- Kelso Abbey
- Melrose Abbey
- Ruthven Barracks
- Stirling Castle and Argyll’s Lodging
- Sueno’s Stone
- Urquhart Castle
- The Engine Shed
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- We are the lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. We will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
- Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
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For further information, please contact:
Claire Mullaney
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
Direct line: 0131 668 8714
Mobile: 07468 759 137
communications@hes.scot