About

The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Climate Commission is an independent organisation that brings together people and organisations from public, private and voluntary sectors to work together and help drive, guide, support, and track climate action.

Climate Commissions complement the activities of local government, community groups, businesses and regional partnerships, and extend their reach whilst building an area’s capacities to deliver climate resilience and low carbon transitions.

The Climate Commission model has been designed to create:

  • A visible and representative mechanism
  • Proactive, engaged, neutral, knowledgeable networks with collective power
  • A platform for broader engagement and democratic discussion.

Read below for more details about the Commissioners and their role.

Common functions of Climate Commissions include:

  • Area-wide climate strategy or action plan development
  • Independent assurance over the delivery of the action plan by different sectoral agencies and actors
  • Independent and expert advice to aid area-wide leadership and decision making
  • Advocacy for businesses, communities and civil society to act through engagement and behaviour change interventions

To maintain our independence, integrity and neutrality, it is also helpful to define what a Climate Commission is not:

  • A place for marketing or lobbying
  • An attempt to take over council responsibilities
  • An extension of local authority powers
  • A substitute for direct public representation
  • A policy maker (but we can guide/advise on policy)
  • A talking shop – we are here to make a tangible difference in the delivery of climate action
Birds illustration
CIOS Climate illustration section

Commission Structure

The Climate Commission is an independent body which includes between 12 and 20 Commissioners. The Commission is led by a Chair, supported by two Vice-Chairs, and secretariat support currently provided by the University of Exeter.

The Commission also hosts a number of Working Groups, some of which are open to non-Commissioners to join and contribute to.

  • Visit our Get Involved page to find out more
  • Download the Terms of Reference to read more about the Commission’s structure

Downloads

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Other Climate Commissions

For more information on the Climate Commission model, visit the PCAN (Place-Based Climate Action Network) website and visit the websites of other Climate Commissions around the UK.