Funding
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 made provision for financial or other assistance for purposes connected with the environment. Section 153 (1) of the Act (as amended) specifies the programme known as the Sustainable Action Fund. The Sustainable Action Fund grant programme objectives are to fund research, demonstration projects and other relevant activities in support of sustainable development in Scotland. Support is given in the form of core funding or project funding.
From 2001 to 2006, grant funding was allocated through the Sustainable Action Grant (SAG) Scheme to a wide range of projects that demonstrate sustainable development in practice. Grants were given to projects that were innovative, easily replicable, promoted good ideas and practice and encouraged people to behave sustainably. From 2003 to 2006 projects had to be at a national or regional level.
From 2002 to 2008 Aggregates Levy funding was administered through the Sustainable Action Fund.
Case study reports on projects which have previously received government funding.
Grant funding from 2008
Climate Challenge Fund - This is a grant scheme administered within the Sustainable Action Fund.
Alongside the Climate Challenge Fund, the Scottish Government supports funding aimed at promoting a sustainable future as part of its Greener Scotland programme, comprising three cross cutting programmes designed to ensure greener progress in all that national and local government does (capacity building, public sector leadership and communications and learning) and five specific programmes:
- Sustainable Places - Smarter Choices, Smarter Places, sustainable health initiatives, regeneration and greenspace support, architecture and design support to develop demonstration projects.
- Climate Change - Low carbon initiatives.
- People and Nature - Biodiversity, landscapes, heritage projects, environmental volunteering.
- Consumption and Production - Waste, Energy Efficiency, Food.
- Cultural Identity - Promotion and support of a strong cultural identity across Scotland.
Core funding is given, with the approval of Ministers, to organisations whose activities support Ministerial priorities. Among the organisations granted core funding are:
Scottish Environment LINK - grant totalling £40,000 in each year 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, to assist LINK's co-ordination role for member organisations, to network and act as an information exchange, and as an intermediary organisation between the environmental voluntary sector and Government.
Sustainable Scotland Network - grants of £115,000, £115,000 and £118,000 for the financial years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively. (In 2007-08 the funding was provided from the Aggregates Levy.) The purpose of the grant is to allow SSN, the network of local authority sustainable development officers in Scotland, to support "Choosing our Future," Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy, providing for a Strategy, Policy and Programme Development Manager post and a Development Officer post. The grant facilitates the operation of the network for members of SSN and between SSN and other organisations, including arranging an annual conference and other meetings, distribution of a newsletter, website development and other communication work.
Alternative Sources of Funding
There are various other opportunities for projects concerned with sustainable development to attract government funding or funding from other sources. Opportunities to secure funding for environmental projects include Lottery funding and the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. More information.