Scottish Greens

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.

Scottish Greens back curriculum review

Thu 16 Jan, 2020

Scottish Greens have welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s call for a review of both phases of Curriculum for Excellence.

MSPs voted for a review of the whole curriculum, defeating the SNP amendment to restrict the review to only the senior phase.

The national curriculum must be judged on whether it has fulfilled its original aims, the party’s education spokesperson Ross Greer has said.

Commenting, Ross Greer said:

Scottish wetland wildlife at risk warn Scottish Greens

Wed 15 Jan, 2020

Scotland’s wetland wildlife is at risk because of inadequate protection from the Scottish Government, the Scottish Greens have warned.

Wetlands account for 10% of the UK’s biodiversity, including some of the rarest species, but the Scottish Government has insisted they are protected by the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation.

City deals revealed as directionless

Wed 15 Jan, 2020

City Region deals in Scotland lack direction and should be realigned behind efforts to lower emissions, the Scottish Greens have said.

Responding to the Audit Scotland report which shows the high-profile funding packages have no way of measuring success, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “While it would be hard to spend £5.2bn without some kind of positive impact, this troubling report reveals just how opaque and directionless George Osborne’s City Deals have turned out in Scotland.

Scottish Greens back COSLA wellbeing call

Wed 15 Jan, 2020

The Scottish Greens have welcomed a call from COSLA to protect funding for local services that promote wellbeing.

COSLA have warned a reduction in the local government settlement in this year’s budget would have an impact on the wellbeing of citizens.

Responding, Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone said: “COSLA are absolutely right to make this link between council funding and wellbeing. The Scottish Greens have always argued for a greater focus on prevention, and that means making sure local services are adequately funded.

Scotland denied a say on our future

Tue 14 Jan, 2020

Responding to the Prime Minister’s letter to the First Minister, refusing to transfer the necessary powers to hold an independence referendum, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie MSP said:

XR call to divest pension funds welcomed by Greens

Tue 14 Jan, 2020

Calls to divest the Scottish Parliament’s pension funds from fossil fuels have been welcomed by the Scottish Greens.

The demand from Extinction Rebellion on the parliament’s investment partner Baillie Gifford, which invests in oil giant Shell, comes after it emerged almost half of universities in the UK have committed to cutting ties with fossil fuel firms.

Commenting, Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “It’s important to lead by example, which is why MSPs of all colours have been calling for an end to unethical investments of our pension funds.

Greens launch campaign to stop Sheriffhall spaghetti junction

Mon 13 Jan, 2020

A proposed £120m spaghetti junction at Sheriffhall roundabout will increase congestion and should be scrapped, the Scottish Greens have said.

Scottish Green MSPs and councillors have launched a campaign to halt the proposal and instead use the money to improve clean transport across the city region, reflecting Edinburgh’s proposed new ten-year City Mobility Plan.

The campaign highlights how £120m could be better invested in segregated cycle paths, bus lanes and park and rides, transforming the city’s transport infrastructure.

Scottish Greens respond to budget timetable

Mon 13 Jan, 2020

Responding to reports that the Scottish Government has set out a timetable for its budget, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie MSP said:

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