Cost of living and climate must be at heart of government programme
The First Minister must put tackling the cost of living crisis and climate emergency at the heart of his programme for government, the Scottish Greens have said.
Greens are calling for bold action to put money in people’s pockets, including cutting the cost of public transport and expanding free childcare.
After a summer of wildfires and climate chaos, the Scottish Government must also lead on climate adaptation – including opposing new oil and gas drilling, tackling the growth of hyperscale data centres and investing in renewables.
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said:
“This must be a bold and ambitious plan that puts money in people’s pockets and protects our communities from climate chaos.
“The cost of living crisis has not gone away. With bills still spiralling, people need action now.
“The Scottish Greens secured the £2 bus fare cap for communities across the Highlands and Islands. The First Minister should roll this out across Scotland as soon as possible and support councils to deliver affordable, accessible public transport for everyone.
“We have just seen a summer of wildfires and extreme weather. The next five years will be crucial for protecting our environment.
“Scotland must stand firm against new oil and gas drilling, as the SNP Government did under Nicola Sturgeon, and take action against climate-wrecking hyperscale data centres that threaten our communities.
“Greens have always worked constructively to deliver for Scotland. That is how we secured free bus travel for under-22s, ended peak rail fares and scrapped school meal debt.
“With more Green MSPs than ever before, we can go further. We will keep pushing for a fairer Scotland and a safer climate.
“Labour is all over the place, while the SNP has retreated from the progressive vision it once claimed – from rolling back on equality to abandoning Nicola Sturgeon’s opposition to new oil and gas developments.
“The Scottish Greens will always put cutting the cost of living and protecting our climate at the heart of our politics. We will keep demanding better for people and planet.”