Greens challenge First Minister on Scottish Government’s climate credentials
The Scottish Greens have challenged the First Minister on his Government’s climate credentials after officials dropped several critical commitments.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay pressed John Swinney on his Government’s approach to the environmental impact of hyperscale data centres and the risk they pose to increasing energy bills.
The First Minister was also challenged on his Government dropping the right to a healthy environment in the Human Rights Bill and whether ministers will make big polluters pay their fair share at the upcoming Budget.
In her first question, Gillian said:
“Today we learned that a senior civil servant has warned the Scottish Government of the risks of data centres, including ‘rising energy bills for locals’, We know that the Scottish Government has been lobbied by AI firms.
“We also know that it’s refusing to carry out a public consultation on its new guidance. The Minister for Innovation and Technology has dismissed people who are sceptical about big tech firms AI promises. He said they would have called the invention of the lightbulb ‘a dangerous anti-candle device.’
“Is that how the First Minister views communities worried about hyperscale data centres?”
The First Minister said the Government had to take a considered approach to a range of views before setting out their position on a range of topics.
In her second question, Gillian said:
“The First Minister’s government has removed the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment from its upcoming Scottish Human Rights Bill.
“This was despite more than 100 civil society organisations, including Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Action on Smoking and Health Scotland, and Asthma + Lung UK, urging him to support it.
“This is not some abstract concept. It offers people protection from pollution and toxic chemicals. It could also help them protect their communities from harmful developments, such as hyperscale data centres. It also means people legally being guaranteed clean air and pure water.
“So can I ask the First Minister why his government does not think that Scots should have a legal right to clean air?”
The First Minister said that as a right to a healthy environment is not grounded in any international treaties, it could “jeopardise the strength” of the legislation.
Gillian responded:
“I appreciate that and the things that have to be balanced by the First Minister, but he claims his Government is a world leader in so many places and this is one of those places where we could be bold and establish what it means to have that right.
“In the upcoming Budget the Scottish Government has a real chance to make up for some of the climate-damaging decisions it’s made recently.
“If it sets a high rate for the incoming frequent Private Jet Tax, it could raise tens of millions of pounds. Looking ahead, a frequent flyer levy could also bring in £50 million.
“Measures like those, which make wealthy polluters pay, could be used to make rail travel cheaper, perhaps through the Millennial Rail Card proposed by the Scottish Greens, which would cut fares for people aged between 31 and 49. Will the First Minister commit to making wealthy polluters pay their fair share?”
The First Minister said the Budget will be set out to Parliament in early December.
Gillian continued:
“We’ve seen from Hungary, Serbia, Brazil, and, this week, the United States that when politicians tackle big polluters, stand with communities rather than dodgy tycoons, and give them hope for a fairer future, then we can defeat the far right.
“The US has its first Muslim senator in Abdul El-Sayed from Michigan and its first black woman governor in Georgia’s Keisha Lance Bottoms, tapping into power of the country’s diverse communities.
“Does the First Minister join with the Scottish Greens in condemning those who would stir division; those who would deny the rights of Scotland’s diverse communities to live the way they want to, even trying to police what women wear?”