Scotland’s new climate plan must live up to scale of emergency
The Scottish Government’s new Climate Plan must live up to the severity of the challenge we face, say the Scottish Greens.
With a Ministerial Statement on the Draft Climate Change Plan 2025 expected this afternoon, the Greens are calling on the Government to halt the rollback of recent years and prioritise action to expand public transport and cut its cost, reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and deliver warmer greener homes that are cheaper to heat.
The party’s climate spokesperson, Patrick Harvie MSP, said:
“We are living through the greatest environmental crisis we have ever faced. Yet, as temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more common, the Scottish Government has been in retreat.
“Whether it is the Heat in Building strategy which has been diluted beyond recognition, the energy plan that has been shelved or the road traffic targets that have been scrapped, they have failed to make the kind of changes that are needed.
“I hope that today’s statement will be a turning point and that we will start to see some action and the plans and priorities that are long overdue.
“That means keeping the presumption against new oil and gas, investing in nature, slashing the cost of public transport, making it cheaper and greener to heat our homes and buildings and supporting farmers and businesses to make the transition.
“There are no quick fixes or second chances when it comes to our climate. Every day of inaction now will only cost us more in future.
“We can’t wait for someone else to come and fix it for us. It is time for the Scottish and UK governments to live up to their rhetoric and deliver the kind of change that is badly needed.”