Scottish Greens respond to updated climate plan
The objectives Scottish Government’s new updated climate plan must be consistent with its budget decisions, the Scottish Greens have said.
Commenting on the newly published climate plan, which had been due in April, Scottish Green environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell said: “It is good to see this plan finally published, and parliament will be giving it intense scrutiny in the New Year.
“However, it fails to commit to the kind of transition from fossil fuels that we have started to see in Denmark, New Zealand, France and many other countries. Instead, it remains heavily reliant on untested technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage to keep the oil and gas industry running at maximum levels of extraction.
“There are some welcome commitments on transport including a mention of free bus travel for young people, which is part of the current budget deal with the Greens. But on the promise to cut traffic by a fifth, the Scottish Government have a dismal record at delivering anything other than traffic growth. If the government is serious about alternatives to private car use then that needs to be reflected in the Scottish budget, redirecting the billions of pounds currently being spent on road expansion to green transport infrastructure.”