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.

Scottish Greens back climate target call

Thu 12 Sep, 2019

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland handed over a giant postcard to MSPs demanding stronger targets and action in the Climate Change Bill, which goes to final vote on Wednesday 25 September.

Scottish Green envrionment spokesperson Mark Ruskell has lodged a number of amendments to the bill.

Responding to the call from Stop Climate Chaos and others, Mark Ruskell said:

District heating commitments not enough

Tue 3 Sep, 2019

The commitments to district heating in the programme for government do not go far enough to ensure all Scots have warm homes, the Scottish Greens have said.

In her plans for the year, Nicola Sturgeon announced a Heat Networks Bill and a consultation on new buildings regulations.

Responding, Scottish Greens environment and energy spokesperson Mark Ruskell said:

“£30m for innovative low carbon heating projects is a flash in the pan, not the kind of transformational change Scotland needs, and which I called for this summer.

Government must take urgent action on air pollution

Thu 29 Aug, 2019

The Scottish Government must commit to taking urgent, robust action to tackle air pollution according to the Scottish Greens Environment and Climate Spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP.

Mr Ruskell made the call following the publication of a review into the government’s air quality strategy.

Mark Ruskell MSP said:

Scottish Greens welcome WWF call ahead of Scottish Green New Deal launch

Mon 26 Aug, 2019

The Scottish Greens have welcomed WWF’s 12-point call for action on the climate emergency ahead of the party’s launch of an ambitious Scottish Green New Deal this week.

The environmental NGO has joined with civic and business leaders - named the Climate Emergency Response Group - to call for 12 actions from the Scottish Government to address the Climate Emergency including maximising sustainable land use, investing in zero-carbon homes and dedicating the Scottish National Investment Bank to delivering on the Climate Emergency.

Urgent call for renewable heating to tackle climate emergency

Mon 12 Aug, 2019

The Scottish Greens have called for urgent action to transform the way Scottish homes are heated amid the climate emergency.

With most buildings in Scotland - including the majority of new houses - relying on fossil fuels to keep warm, Scottish Green energy spokesperson Mark Ruskell has written to Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse calling for action.

Heat accounts for half of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions from energy use and a failure to act swiftly would not meet the challenge of the climate emergency. Targets on heat in the 2009 Climate Bill have not been met.

Levenmouth: A new start for Scotland's railway?

Mark Ruskell MSP Mon 12 Aug, 2019

Thursday’s announcement in Methil breathed a new air of optimism into the whole of Levenmouth and East Fife. In an area still impacted by post-industrial decline – and on the back of yet more disappointment for the BiFab yard recently – the news of a £70m investment into reopening a rail link to Edinburgh and the rest of Fife could not be more welcome.

Levenmouth line to reopen

Thu 8 Aug, 2019

Responding to the news that the Levenmouth Rail Line is to reopen Fife’s Green MSP Mark Ruskell said:

“This announcement is fantastic news for Levenmouth and the East of Fife, and credit must be given to the passionate local campaign who have effectively demonstrated the transformative impact a railway line would have on the local community.

Mark Ruskell wins Parliamentarian of the Month award for animal cruelty questions

Tue 9 Jul, 2019

Mark Ruskell has picked up an award for holding Michael Gove to account on post-Brexit regulation of chemical substances to make sure animals aren’t needlessly being subjected to testing.

The ‘parliamentarian of the month’ award from animal NGO Cruelty Free International comes after the Scottish Greens MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament.

Extreme weather shows need for action

Fri 28 Jun, 2019

Scotland’s flash flooding and Europe-wide warning of a dangerous heatwave show the need for real action on climate change, Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell has said.

The party’s environment spokesperson won concessions from the Scottish Government this week as the Climate Change (Emissions Reductions Targets) (Scotland) Bill passes through parliament.

Greens call for climate action plan for farming

Tue 18 Jun, 2019

Scottish Greens Farming Spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP will today (18 Jun) bring forward amendments to the Climate Change Bill to create a new action plan to tackle emissions from farming as part of the climate emergency.

The system currently used to calculate Scotland’s climate change emissions separates agriculture from land use, meaning farming often is credited for emissions from agriculture, but not the positive sequestering effect of good land management and forestry, which also takes place on our farms.

Mark Ruskell MSP said: