Community-led environmental projects in the north and north-east have been awarded more than £400,000 in Scottish Government funds.
Six schemes in Highland and Grampian have received funding to help communities take action on climate change and move towards low-carbon living.
They are among 33 across Scotland to share £2.86million in the latest round of Climate Change Challenge Fund awards.
The fund has already helped communities reduce, re-use and recycle waste, increase energy efficiency of homes and community buildings, encourage active travel and the use of low-carbon transport, and promote and produce local food.
Awards include £39,552 to Draughtbusters, a project run by Pentland Housing Association in Caithness which uses a thermal-imaging camera to identify properties of tenants that are wasting energy; and £73,464 to a project run by Robert Gordon University Student Association in Aberdeen to reduce food waste and recyclables sent to landfill, and encourage a move away from cooled bottled water to refillable bottles.
Other awards are: £89,594 – Lochaber Environmental Group; £73,228 – Nature’s Pantry Project run by Cantraybridge College at Croy; £82,916 – REAP (Rural Environmental Action Plan), Elgin; and £49,227 – Melness and Tongue Community Development Trust.
Environment Minister Aileen McLeod said climate change was one of the most serious challenges facing the world.
“Some of the best initiatives to reduce carbon are devised and delivered at a local level and there are some fantastic examples in the Highlands,” she said.
“That is why I’m delighted to announce the latest round of grant awards. Beyond doubt, the Climate Challenge Fund is making a real difference in our transition to a low-carbon future.”