SNP and Tories in denial about the scale of climate crisis
The SNP and Tories are sending dangerous signals to the world with a lack of leadership on the environment, say the Scottish Greens.
First Minister’s Questions saw Tory leader Douglas Ross calling for more climate wrecking oil and gas licences, in keeping with his party’s doomsday decision making.
While under pressure Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes again shifted further away from the Scottish Government’s previous presumption against new exploration, endorsed by her party’s previous two leaders.
That’s despite new data revealing12 months of record global temperatures, dramatic heating of oceans and alarming new reports that climate change is accelerating faster than any other time in history.
Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater said: “The SNP and Tories appear to be in complete and inexplicable denial about the scale of the climate crisis and the huge amount of damage being done to our future by fossil fuel giants and polluters.
“They are sending a really dangerous message and are putting their own narrow and short term political considerations ahead of our environment. Their lack of any leadership on the issue is as lamentable as it is alarming.
“The science is clear. We cannot and must not hide behind so-called climate compatibility tests. There is no safe amount of new drilling, not when it is destroying our planet.”
Prior to her election as MSP to the Scottish Parliament, Ms Slater was a project manager in Scotland’s renewables industry.
She added: “Scotland has a huge renewables potential, and we need to invest in it. That is how we will secure a fair and just transition for our communities and climate. We must focus on supporting workers and ensure that they are at the heart of the shift.
“We all need to act like our future depends on it, because it does.
“Yet, the SNP and Tories are trying to outdo each other in terms of support for fossil fuels, and Labour are all over the place on their climate and energy plans.
“It is clear that only the Scottish Greens are willing to take the climate action we need.”
