A SNP Councillor has called for North Ayrshire action on climate change.

Marie Burns believes “efforts will have to be ramped up if we are serious about the emergency we are facing”.

The council declared a climate emergency in June last year but removed it from its risk register.

Although it has now been reinstated as a risk, Burns believes not enough is being done in the area to help save the planet.

Burns said: “Hopefully we will see the council ramping up the work it is doing to address climate change.”

Nearly 300 council houses have been fitted with solar panels in North Ayrshire, LED lighting has been rolled out and the council have secured £10.5 million funding for wall insulation.

The council have now put forward more options to tackle climate change in North Ayrshire such as planting forests, setting up a solar farm and installing more electric vehicle charging points.

The North Ayrshire Council Audit and Scrutiny Committee ordered a report to find out the progress being made.

At a meeting of cabinet last month, members agreed to work closely with higher education institutions and local primary schools to engage North Ayrshire people in ways to overcome the global problem.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, cabinet member for place, said: “To have net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 is ambitious but we feel it is achievable and what is required.

“We are working on a number of innovative schemes that we are confident will make a huge difference as we tackle this escalating problem.”

The council said it has reduced carbon emissions by nearly 40 per cent since 2005.