First Minister avoiding science on fossil fuels
The Scottish Greens have criticised the ‘cosy consensus’ at Holyrood that recognises the climate emergency but avoids the scientific evidence by supporting continued oil and gas exploration.
At First Minister’s Questions parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone asked Nicola Sturgeon to “accept the science” like the progressive government in New Zealand has done.
New Zealand Prime minister Jacinda Ardern has committed to end all new oil and gas exploration.
The call comes after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the “political will to stop subsidies on fossil fuels” at COP25, as the planet is “close to the point of no return.”
Leading climate striker Greta Thunberg today said to governments that “almost nothing is being done apart from clever accounting and creative PR”. [2]
Alison Johnstone said: “There is a cosy consensus in this parliament ignoring the science that says we can’t even use all the fossil fuels we know about, let alone explore for more. All the other parties support further exploration for oil and gas, yet claim they are taking the climate emergency seriously.
“No one is talking about turning off the supply, but the transition from fossil fuels needs to start now. That means taking steps to lower our dependence on them, like improving public transport and making all homes warm.
“COP26 comes to Glasgow next year. The other parties need to get their act together before then, or we will hear the same warnings again.”