FMQs: Scotland cannot afford more broken climate promises
The First Minister must ensure that his Government does not backtrack their targets for tackling Scotland’s climate emergency, says Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Ms Slater highlighted the importance of keeping promises when it comes to climate action, after news that the SNP have cut their car use reduction targets.
In her first question to the First Minister, Ms Slater said:
“As with their climate targets, the Scottish Government is not on track to meet its targets to cut car use.
"Instead of putting forward a practical plan for success, it sounds like their preferred solution is to just drop the target altogether.
"We urgently need to cut car use to tackle the climate emergency.
"We need cheaper trains, buses and ferries to drive up passenger numbers.
"We need better connections for rural communities.
"And we need public ownership of bus services so that they are run for the people who use them, not for private profit.
"Will the First Minister confirm, is the Scottish Government scrapping their car use reduction target?”
Following a response from the First Minister, Ms Slater laid out the financial loss Scotland will face if our governments fail to take climate action now.
In her second question, Ms Slater said:
“Scotland cannot afford any more broken promises on climate.
“If we don’t act now, economists have found that Scotland could be up to £140 billion poorer by 2035.
“People have been paying the price of a lack of progress to insulate our homes and move away from expensive gas heating, through their soaring energy bills
“There is no route to net zero by 2045 that doesn’t involve making our homes warmer and cheaper to heat by insulating them and replacing moving away from gas heating systems.
“Bold action is needed on climate to get Scotland back on track.
“What new action will next week’s Programme for Government contain to reduce our sky high energy bills, and achieve the rapid cut needed in the use of fossil fuels?”