Nicola Sturgeon challenged over just transition claims
The Scottish Greens have challenged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over claims she made that the just transition from oil and gas is underway.
Sturgeon has made the claims during TV debates in the general election campaign [1], and this was raised by Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie at First Minister’s Questions.
Speaking afterwards, Patrick Harvie said: “The First Minister claims that a just transition from oil and gas is underway, but where is the evidence? Oil and gas extraction in the North Sea was up 5% in 2018, the last climate target was missed and transport emissions up every year since 2013.
“Mossmorran in Fife is a clear example. As Scotland’s second biggest polluter it has caused misery and poor health to local residents and operators have only promised to stop flaring for three days over Christmas.
“A real transition would bring a Green New Deal for Fife, securing new green jobs and a sustainable future. If a just transition was really underway, that would be happening now.
“It’s clear Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath would benefit from a Scottish Green MP, and the clearest way to demand climate action is to vote for us next Thursday.”
In the Channel 4 climate debate Sturgeon said, “We are in the transition.” In the BBC Question Time leaders special she said: “We’ve got to have a managed transition, a just transition, and that is transition is underway”