Climate change is a major threat to the future of our planet, but we believe that everyone has a role to play. Rural and island communities are especially important, as we are often the first to be affected by the impacts of climate change. However, that also means we have a unique opportunity to lead the way in sustainable development.
This is the story of two people working in the climate space on the Isle of Raasay, helping their local community on their journey to net-zero by 2040 whilst ensuring the island’s environment and its people are thriving.
We are passionate about helping young people and communities realize the impact they can make if they engage and take ownership of their local place, and we hope to inspire more folk to take action in their local communities.
A Brief Intro to Raasay
The Isle of Raasay is a small island off the coast of Scotland. It is situated between the Isle of Skye and the mainland and is accessible by a 25-minute ferry ride from Sconser, Skye. The name Raasay, or Ratharsair in Gaelic, has Norse origins and is believed to mean the “Island of the Roe Deer.”
Despite its modest size, Raasay has a diverse landscape. The island is home to various geological formations, including Torridonian sandstone and Gneiss, as well as striking limestone cliffs on the east coast. A long extinct volcano, Dùn Caan, is the tallest peak on the island and offers spectacular views of Skye, the mainland, and the Western Isles.
Raasay has a rugged and bare landscape, with few trees and areas covered in heather, boggy patches, lochs, and rocky outcrops. The woodlands on the island consist of ancient temperate rain forests containing birch and hazel, possibly some of the oldest forests in Scotland, as well as planted monocrop plantations mainly of Sitka Spruce and Larch.
Raasay’s variety of landforms and conditions gives home to a rich array of flora and fauna, with over 3,600 species recorded (NBN Atlas, 2021).
The Isle of Raasay has been inhabited since the pre-historic period. The island’s population spiked from its usual 400-500 people to over 1,200 in the early 1800s, but clearances and limited access to land led to a decline in population, which dipped to 152 in 1972 (MacLeod, 2002). Today, the majority of the 179 population lives at the South-West end of the island, around the mining village of Inverarish and Raasay House.
The community owns Raasay House, various parcels of land, including a community walled garden, shop, Development Trust, and a Renewables Company.
What Are We Doing?
We are both young people living and working on the Isle of Raasay, looking to make a difference in our community. The Carbon Neutral Islands Project is a massive opportunity for us to get paid to do this!