Dear Green Place Launches Ten Year Plan

Glasgow has decided to come out all-guns-blazing with a ten year plan to make itself more sustainable.

They reckon that they can reduce carbon emissions from the city by 30% from 2006 levels in a decade, which they reckon equates to the Scottish Government's 42% target, but crucially they seem to have made the connection between sustainability and job creation. If only other politicians could see this!

Their plan involves:

• creation of systems to turn the city’s sewage and municipal waste into biogas

Hmm, that sounds suspiciously like "incinerators" to me. I'd rather see more and better recycling, the one thing that doesn't seem to be mentioned in the report.

• creation of urban woodlands in the city’s vacant land – literally making Glasgow greener

I can't believe they have the brass neck to include this. When local residents turned some wasteland into the North Kelvin Meadow, Glasgow City Council took them to court!

• development of a district heating system for the city –starting in five identified zones

I'm wholeheartedly in favour of decentralising things like heating and power generation

• development of a smart grid system

Again, this goes hand in hand with decentralising power generation, leading to more micro-renewables

• development of light rail systems for passenger and freight

Trams? Did they say trams? Can I hear every resident of Edinburgh pissing themselves laughing?? Glasgow has an extensive bus and subway system, and the largest urban railway system outside of London. Do they really need trams?

There's points awarded to the first person to ask Glasgow City Council how demolishing Buchanan Street Bus Station conforms with their sustainable "vision".

All cynicism aside, it'll be interesting to see them deliver this plan, and good luck to them.