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.

Greens respond to BiFab decision

Thu 22 Oct, 2020

Responding to the news that the Scottish Government has withdrawn assurances for the NnG jacket fabrication contract for BiFab, placing 500 jobs under threat, Scottish Greens energy spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP said: “This decision makes a mockery of the Scottish Government’s commitments on green jobs and is a huge blow for communities in Fife and Scotland’s ambitions on renewable energy.

Scottish Greens: COP26 must see climate justice commitment

Tue 20 Oct, 2020

The Scottish Government must commit to international climate justice ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, the Scottish Greens have said.

Scottish Greens respond to Environment LINK report on nature recovery

Mon 19 Oct, 2020

Responding to the new report by the Scottish Environment LINK which calls on the Scottish Government to recover Scotland's nature, Scottish Greens environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell said:

“The Scottish Government must wake up to the fact that our country’s nature is in decline, and act swiftly to halt that decline. When I raised this recently with the First Minister I got no sense whatsoever that there was any kind of urgency on this.

Greens warn physical education under threat from COVID winter

Wed 7 Oct, 2020

Conflicting advice for teachers about what physical education is acceptable under current restrictions could lead to a winter of physical inactivity in schools, the Scottish Greens have warned.

At Holyrood’s COVID committee Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell asked what the guidance was around indoor contact sports in schools, after it emerged Education Scotland had issued guidance this week that “physical education within school settings should only take place outdoors for the time being”.

ExxonMobil treating communities with contempt says Ruskell

Mon 5 Oct, 2020

Commenting on yet more unplanned flaring at the Mossmorran gas plant in Fife, Scottish Greens Fife MSP Mark Ruskell said:

“Once again my constituents’ lives have been made a misery by this fossil fuel relic.

“Noise, light and vibration through the night makes it impossible for folk to get a decent nights sleep.

“ExxonMobil continues to treat those who live in the shadow of this plant with utter contempt.

Disappointment at lack of just transition for Mossmorran

Wed 30 Sep, 2020

Campaigners have expressed disappointment after the Scottish Government rejected proposals for a just transition board for the Mossmorran gas plant in Fife.

Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell heard from local residents, Friends of the Earth and Climate Camp Scotland in a live event following his debate in the Scottish Parliament on the future of the plant, which got cross-party support.

However, the Scottish Government refused to act.

Scottish universities left behind on routine testing

Wed 30 Sep, 2020

Scottish universities risk being left behind due to the Scottish Government’s reluctance to introduce routine testing on campus, Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell has said.

Speaking at the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 Committee today Mr Ruskell highlighted the work being undertaken by the University of Cambridge which announced that all undergraduate and postgraduate students living in university accommodation would be offered a weekly covid test, regardless of whether they show symptoms.

Scottish Government must act on Attenborough warnings

Thu 17 Sep, 2020

The Scottish Government has been urged to step up to protect Scotland’s nature in the wake of the harrowing ‘Extinction’ documentary by veteran conservationist Sir David Attenborough.

The impactful programme warned that an eighth of the planet’s species are at risk, and the situation is getting worse.

Scottish Green environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell raised Sir David’s urgent call for action to governments at First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament.

WWF report must be wake up call for Scottish Government

Fri 11 Sep, 2020

A new report by the WWF showing the alarming decline in wildlife populations must be a ‘wake up call’ to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Greens have said.

The global report reveals global numbers of mammals, birds, fish and insects have fallen by two-thirds since 1970, including a drastic decline in numbers of the Arctic Skua in Orkney.

Scotland must resist Tory race to the bottom

Thu 10 Sep, 2020

Scotland must resist taking part in a Tory race to the bottom through a deregulated Brexit, the Scottish Greens have said.

The comments came as the Scottish Government vowed to refuse consent for the highly controversial UK Internal Markets Bill, which will grant UK ministers a veto over any devolved area.