The Scottish Government has been asked to provide funding for a city-wide district heating system in Dundee to reduce carbon and tackle fuel poverty.
Council leader John Alexander has written to ministers to request the multi-million pound funding package.
The intention would be to link energy centres and existing district heating systems more widely.
Mr Alexander said: “Dundee City Council accounts for only 4% of total emissions and so it’s important that we lead from the front but take others with us.
“We can’t tackle this emergency in isolation.
“We also need to bring the port and airport into the conversation and challenge where most emissions currently come from.”
In four separate announcements, the SNP administration outlined huge investment as part of the budget for the upcoming financial year.
The SNP councillor said projects with a value in excess of £87 million will seek to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and to respond to the climate emergency over the coming years.
Mr Alexander said that in addition to that, the administration has set aside funding of £25m in future years to deliver sustainability projects and a further £10m for sustainable transport, including cycling infrastructure.
He said the intention would be to develop detailed plans and bring forward funding to achieve results earlier.
Spending of £57 million has recently been delivered on a wide range of measures to alleviate the impact and address the climate emergency, including external wall insulation, solar panels installation, LED lighting, electric vehicle infrastructure and investment in parks and public space.
Mr Alexander said: “It’s vital that we match our words with resource and that’s what we plan to do.
“I hope to bring forward further investment as we progress and we will also be seeking support from government and its agencies to deliver projects which significantly reduce carbon output across Dundee.”
He said more than 12,000 trees have been planted, solar panels deployed on multi-stories and new electric vehicle infrastructure utilising solar panels, all supporting a broader Climate Action Plan.
He added: “We are under no illusions that more has to be done but I hope that we’re sending a clear signal to the public and other partners that things need to change and investment is required as a result.”
Alan Ross, the convener of city development, has committed to delivering more than £2.5m of investment on city centre improvements as part of the administration’s capital plan proposals.
The administration has also tabled £500,000 for its participatory budget over the next five years, where communities decide how money is spent in their area, and a further £1m in future years.
The authority’s policy and resources committee meets on Monday.
