IN THE year of COP26 in Glasgow, we often hear of what legacy this event will leave.

Last week, I visited the Fidra charity in North Berwick. Fidra is an environmental charity working to reduce plastic waste and chemical pollution in our seas, on our beaches and in the wider environment. Their work shines a light on environmental issues, working with the public, industry and governments to deliver solutions which support sustainable societies and healthy ecosystems.

They use the best available science to identify and understand environmental issues, developing pragmatic solutions through inclusive dialogue.

They are working to reduce plastic pollution from pellets, packaging and pitches. Their work led retailers and manufacturers to change cotton bud sticks from plastic to paper, one of the first successful single-use plastic actions in the UK.

Their Best Fishes project aims to minimise Scottish salmon farming’s environmental impacts, from feed to disease. They are combating the harmful chemical contamination of our environment from consumer products, industrial processes and waste. They are evidence-based, pragmatic and collaborative.

We face unprecedented challenges in the next few years as we tackle climate change.

As we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, we need to look at how we can do things differently in the years ahead.

How we look after our planet and its resources is fundamental; how we develop our local communities, and how we grow communities in a resilient and sustainable manner, is key to tackling climate change.

How we measure the success of economic growth needs to be more than GDP. Community wellbeing is much broader. I have met a number of environmental groups already in East Lothian since I was elected two months ago; I aim to meet more over the summer months.

I look forward to sharing ideas, driving forward change and building a greener, more sustainable, resilient East Lothian.

As Mahatma Gandhi would say: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”