Mark Ruskell MSP

Mid Scotland and Fife

Climate, Energy, Environment, Food & Farming

Mark Ruskell was re-elected as an MSP in May 2016, having served Mid Scotland and Fife between 2003 and 2007, during which time he served on the environment committee, introduced legislative proposals on climate targets and GM crops. In this session he is a member of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform committee. He has been a councillor on Stirling Council since 2012. Outside of politics Mark has managed community development projects, worked in the renewables sector and for conservation bodies in Scotland. He lives near Doune with his young family.

Scotland climate targets 'cheap', warns CCC

Fri 17 Jan, 2020

Committee for Climate Change chief executive Chris Stark called Scotland’s net zero targets “cheap” in a radio interview this morning.

The top adviser said Scotland was not on track to meet the targets set out in the Climate Bill because not enough was being done by government to reduce emissions from transport and heating.

In November, Stark warned Scottish Government actions on agriculture were ‘half-baked’, but Fergus Ewing said he’d ‘take no lessons’.

Asylum seekers must be included in voting franchise

Thu 16 Jan, 2020

Administrative complexities often experienced by asylum seekers must not be an excuse to exclude them from democracy, the Scottish Greens have said.

While moves to give refugees a greater say in Scotland’s future win have been welcomed by campaigners, Scottish Green proposals to also give asylum seekers the vote, stand for election and hold office were frustrated as the Scottish Elections Bill passed Stage 2 at Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

Grouse moor review is weak washout

Thu 19 Dec, 2019

The Scottish Greens have branded the report of the Scottish Government’s high-profile review of grouse moor management a washout, after it failed to make any recommendation on licencing.

Boris Johnson has a duty to take on the climate crisis

Mon 16 Dec, 2019

Boris Johnson’s overall majority means he has huge responsibility for tackling the climate emergency in the wake of a disappointing COP25 outcome, the Scottish Greens have warned.

Following a general election which saw the climate crisis cut through the noise around Brexit and the constitution, Boris Johnson now takes charge of a government which will sit for half the time climate science tells us we have left to tackle the issue.

Greens win Christmas reprieve for Mossmorran communities

Wed 11 Dec, 2019

Responding to the announcement that the restart of the Fife Ethylene Plant will now be delayed until the New Year, Fife's Green MSP Mark Ruskell said:

“I am delighted that pressure from the Scottish Greens has delivered this welcome win for the communities around Mossmorran, who can now look forward to a peaceful Christmas and New Year break.

Special wildlife cops ‘a complete disaster’

Tue 10 Dec, 2019

The SSPCA should be given more powers, after a pilot which saw special police officers patrol the Cairngorms national park for wildlife crime was branded “a complete disaster”.

Speaking at the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, Raptor Ecologist Dr Ruth Tingay pointed to the fact that the special officers failed to report a single wildlife crime, despite the fact white-tailed eagles and hen harriers have disappeared in the area during the period.

“The special constables have been a complete disaster,” she said.

Sea rise report shows devastating impact on Scotland

Tue 10 Dec, 2019

A new scientific report has revealed vital parts of Scotland could be flooded by rising sea levels within just 30 years.

The global report from Climate Central uses new methodology to reveal coastal flood threats around the world, revealing the global vulnerability to sea level rise is far worse than previously thought.

Cross Forth public transport transformation required

Sun 1 Dec, 2019

Responding to reports in the Scotsman that one million extra journeys have been made over the Queensferry Crossing in the past year, Scottish Greens Fife MSP Mark Ruskell said:

Corbyn’s climate emergency claim is cobblers

Wed 13 Nov, 2019

Jeremy Corbyn’s claim that Labour were the first to call a climate emergency is cobblers, the Scottish Greens have pointed out.

The UK Labour leader made the assertion on the campaign trail in Scotland today.

In fact the Scottish Greens brought a motion declaring a climate emergency to the Scottish Parliament in March, which Labour, the SNP, Lib Dems and the Tories voted down.

SNP agriculture climate plan behind, warns CCC

Mon 11 Nov, 2019

The UK Committee on Climate Change has warned the Scottish Government is falling behind on transitioning agriculture to address the climate emergency.

Speaking to MSPs of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, CCC chief executive Chris Stark said plans to adapt agriculture were in place but progress was “half baked”.

The CCC told MSPs Scotland has not made enough progress on adapting Scotland to meet the challenges of global warming, especially with Brexit leading to the UK leaving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).