CCC report must sound alarm bells for Labour Government
The UK’s independent climate change advisor, known as the Climate Change Committee (CCC), has published their Seventh Carbon Budget. The report lays out how the UK Government must take urgent action to meet their legal carbon reduction targets.
Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said:
“Tackling the climate crisis is the greatest national priority that all governments must be working towards. But for too long, we’ve seen successive Prime Ministers fail to turn their warm words on climate into real action.
“Inaction has cost us already. 2024 was the warmest year on record, and we’ve seen natural disasters around the world and in the UK at an increasing rate. For the UK government to consider approving new oil and gas drilling or expanding airports would be simply climate vandalism.
“The advice sets out the huge benefits which will come from climate action, greatly cutting the cost of living for households, and that these benefits can be won at lower cost than previous estimates - a fraction of what Keir Starmer committed to military spending yesterday.
“The CCC is clear that these benefits will only come if action is taken now to reduce carbon emissions in all sectors, including heat, agriculture and especially in transport, which remains one of the biggest polluters in the UK.
"Rail travel in the UK is amongst the most expensive in Europe, and our infrastructure is still damaged from the brutal Beeching cuts in the 60s. It doesn’t have to be like this.
“With real investment in public transport, we can make it cheaper and accessible to all whilst protecting out planet. With new rail routes, reliable buses and integrated ticketing, we could end the reliance on private cars. This investment in public transport infrastructure would benefit us for decades to come.
“The SNP must also take heed. Specific advice for the Scottish Government will come next, but it's already clear that their energy strategy, their Heat in Buildings Bill, and their plan for cutting road traffic are all missing in action.
“It’s time for both Labour and the SNP to stand up and take real action to tackle the climate crisis, stop new oil and gas, reject absurd proposals for airport expansions and invest in our future.”