Scotland is going backwards on climate
Today’s Climate Change Committee report into progress in Scotland shows that as the is intensifying Scotland is falling further behind, says Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie.
Patrick highlighted the backward steps that have taken place, particularly since John Swinney took office. He has called for the SNP to reconsider its commitment to unproven technologies like carbon capture and to take the bold action that is needed.
Patrick said:
“The Scottish Government is failing to show the urgency that's needed if Scotland is to have any kind of credible climate policy instead of just more rhetoric.
“We’ve seen significant climbdowns on lots of important areas, from how we heat our buildings, where they have shelved critical plans, to transport where they have scrapped their road traffic reduction targets, and replaced them with nothing.
“We are hurtling towards climate breakdown and the SNP have decided to shy away from taking action, as if they hope someone else is coming to save us.
“The reliance on unproven and unreliable technology like carbon capture is a costly and counterproductive distraction from the solutions we already know how to use.
"Climate action is also vital for cutting the cost of living, and while vested interests pump out propaganda to suggest otherwise, the truth is that a low carbon economy will be better for most people’s pocket, saving on bills for energy, food and transport.
“This isn’t a far off crisis, and we are already seeing the impact. That’s why we need to support communities to adapt to a changing climate, as it will only get worse. It will mean more flooding, heatwaves, droughts in agricultural regions and wildfires. Mitigating these devastating impacts need as much attention as cutting emissions."
Patrick added:
“The report also underlines the weakness of the Climate Change Committee itself, which refused to engage with the parliamentary scrutiny process of its plan and is as guilty as the Government of ignoring the extreme over-reliance on carbon capture.
“We know what kind of action we need to take, and we can’t keep putting it off. With a climate change-denying government in the White House and the rise of anti-climate movements in the UK and beyond, we badly need to get this right.
“That means halting new roads and new fossil fuel power stations, cutting the cost of transport and helping people to switch to clean, affordable heating in our homes.
“Yet, despite the growing urgency the SNP is taking us backwards and ducking the hard decisions. It is vital that Scotland elects more Green MSPs who will recognise the scale of the challenge we face and take the action that’s needed.”