Happy New Year!

In the pages that follow you’ll read about a whole range of environmental issues SEPA and others are tackling in 2005, as well as a review of 2004. Our cover story is about the use of rock dust to improve soil fertility and help the climate change problem. I find it fascinating that in the 21st century we are finding solutions to present day problems in 420 million year old raw materials! Indeed, many of today’s problems appear to be best solved by turning to nature not technology. Howard Liddell’s challenging article about edible buildings – an interesting concept! – deals with sustainable solutions to building materials. And Brian D’Arcy’s fascinating report from China shows us how, internationally, natural sustainable systems are being used to tackle urban pollution.

Not that technology doesn’t have its place too. Look at the green car SEPA is using at out east Kilbride office, and the way video conferencing is helping us reduce our environmental impact. Then there’s the need to manage waste by mixing high tech solutions (energy from waste) and low tech ones (worms for recycling).

And so much of what SEPA is trying to do depends on engaging with others in tacking the problems. Scattered throughout this issue are examples of the environmental achievements of others: the 2004 Community of the Year Award winners, children making ‘litter critters’ and mittens out of old sweaters, the Moray Waste Busters recycling centre and the UK-German climate change partnership.

It’s the time for making new year resolutions. Perhaps we could all make just one – to find ways, large and small, for making our own lives more sustainable.

Campbell Gemmell

SEPA Chief Executive



A full contents list for this HTML version is available via the navigation bar to the left. Alternatively, you can download the pdf version here