OPINION

How can housing associations help to tackle climate change?

This opinion piece is about 3 years old

28 January 2021
Guest post

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Sponsored content: Stacey Dingwall, senior policy manager, on SFHA's strategic event series which kicks off by exploring climate change and sustainability

This is a key year for the journey to net-zero.

The Scottish Government has published an update to its Climate Change Action Plan, which brought forward the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing Two review date to 2023, and will soon publish its Heat in Buildings Strategy, outlining its intended direction of travel for decarbonisation. The end of 2021 will also see a significant event, with Glasgow set to host Cop26.

The social housing sector is already leading on action to address climate change and promote sustainability by meeting, and working towards, ambitious targets set by the government. However, these targets also come with significant investment demands for housing associations and co-operatives.

Our Housing Now, Housing’s Future: Climate Change and Sustainability Conference, taking place on 4 February, has sessions for those working in energy efficiency, fuel poverty, climate change and sustainability. It’s an event for staff and governing body members working for, and with, the social housing sector.

Delegates will hear directly from the Scottish Government about its plans to work with the social housing sector to achieve energy efficiency and climate change targets. You’ll also learn how conference sponsors Changeworks, Scotland’s leading environmental charity, can support the work of housing associations and co-operatives as well as their tenants.

The event also includes sessions on tenement retrofit, electric vehicles, and how to increase the impact of your work. The Existing Homes Alliance (ExHA) will give an overview of the Scottish Government’s recently published Climate Change Action Plan update and discuss the forthcoming Heat in Buildings and Fuel Poverty Strategies, exploring what they mean for the social housing sector and how ExHA is aiming to influence this work.

Here’s a look at some of our other conference highlights:

Collaborative Commitment on Climate

West of Scotland Housing Association, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Carbon Literacy Project will discuss how we can all play our part in Scotland’s transition to a low carbon future.

Certified Sustainable Housing Label

Link Group has become the first housing association in Scotland to achieve an internationally recognised accreditation, the Certified Sustainable Housing Label, awarded by RITTERWALD Consulting. This session will hear from Link Group Chief Executive Jon Turner on the benefits of the accreditation.

Working in partnership to tackle climate change and improve energy efficiency

Hear from SFHA and Changeworks chief executives Sally Thomas and Teresa Bray on why the two organisations will be increasing their joint working for the benefit of SFHA members. Catriona MacKean, deputy director of the Scottish Government’s Better Homes Division, will discuss how the government will work more closely with the social housing sector and SFHA as it accelerates its work on the 2045 net-zero target.

Secure your place now

To book your place for this event, and to learn more about our Housing Now, Housing’s Future event series, please visit the SFHA Live! section of our website.

Ticket bundles

Ticket options are flexible. Attend one event for £150 for SFHA members or attend all four events in the Housing Now, Housing’s Future series for £500, saving £100, compared to booking each event individually.

If you use the code TFN10 you will get a 10% discount on any of the conferences in our Housing Now, Housing’s Future event series.

SFHA Housing Now, Housing’s Future event series: