The Highland Council is preparing to welcome international delegates this week as Inverness hosts the annual conference and general meeting of environmental network KIMO International.
KIMO short for Kommunernes International Miljøorganisation, or Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation is a network of coastal councils from across Northern Europe, working together to protect marine environments and tackle pollution.
This year’s two-day gathering, themed “Gathering for Regeneration”, takes place in the Highland capital on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 October, bringing delegates from nine countries to the region.
Councillor Trish Robertson, who represents Culloden and Ardersier and currently serves as KIMO’s International President, said the Highlands was a fitting location for the event.
“The wildlife and natural beauty of the Highlands is iconic, and the work of KIMO and similar organisations helps to ensure responsible and sustainable stewardship of our seas,” she said.
“As well as offering a chance to showcase the best of the Highlands to visitors from overseas, the conference presents us with an opportunity to learn from other countries how best to balance tourism, farming including aquaculture and green energy.”
KIMO represents more than seven million citizens across Europe, through national networks in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Independent members also come from the Faroe Islands, Germany, Ireland and Lithuania.
The Highlands has long been an active participant in KIMO, supporting shared efforts to tackle marine litter, oil and chemical pollution, and the impact of climate change on coastal communities.
One of the organisation’s flagship initiatives, Fishing for Litter, recently celebrated 20 years of working with harbours and vessels to remove waste from the sea.
Derek Brown, Chief Executive of Highland Council, said the conference arrives at a pivotal moment for the region.
“Working together and learning from one another, across oceans and borders, is the only way we’ll be able to tackle some of the overarching challenges facing local government, including marine pollution and climate change,” he said.
“In the Highlands, we’re at a turning point.
“With significant investment on the horizon from the Green Freeport and renewables market, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to regenerate our economy, our communities, and our natural environment.
“To do that, we need to strike a balance between both competing and complementary interests, tourism and hospitality, farming and aquaculture, green energy, and environmental conservation.”
Brown welcomed the conference’s focus on community engagement, calling it essential for long-term change.
The programme includes a wildlife cruise on the Moray Firth and a visit to the Ardersier Energy Transition site a key part of the region’s push toward green industry.
