One of the disappointing aspects of the current Government’s performance is the lamentable results in the carbon emissions that it has responsibility for.
It is all very well promising, and delivering, a Renewables sector for Scotland but the most immediate and pressing priority in terms of combating climate change is not creating the industries of the future but using less energy right now in our day to day lives. Scotland can boast about its most ambitious targets to cut emissions in the entire world as much as it likes, but if it isn’t followed up with deeds, actions and falling emission rates then it’s not only just a hollow boast but a recipe for Scotland to be embarrassed on the world stage when it falls way short of its own targets.
The defeat of the Government’s proposal to reduce year on year emissions by 0.5% as opposed to the 3% that was promised in 2007 is therefore to be welcomed, even if the 64 to 62 victory in the Parliament only came about because two dozy Tory MSPs pressed the wrong button (simultaneously perhaps boosting the argument that the Scottish Tories need to cut back on some of the deadwood in its cohort).
The road-building, coal power station creating, concrete-heavy and airport-expanding policies of the SNP do sit in stark contrast to the green-tinted rhetoric and this is disappointing for those of us who want, and expect, so much more from a party we believe has the ability and inclination to follow through on its promises. Individual examples can be detrimental to debates but one can’t help comparing Patrick Harvie’s train journey to Copenhagen with Alex Salmond’s flight out to the Maldives to, ironically, sign an agreement against rising sea levels. Surely, under the circumstances, a virtual handshake over a video linkup would have sufficed?
It’s not rocket science after all. Cut the number of flights, cut the number of lights left on, cut the barriers to increased insulation and you’ll cut the need, here and now, to burn more fossil fuels. That’s what the Scottish Government signed up to and there should be no reneging on that promise.
Sadly, in this instance at least, more Nats, less cuts is ringing true for all the wrong reasons.
SNP Tax
7 minutes ago
5 comments:
I'm sure I read somewhere that air travel only accounts for something like 2% of total global emissions. In Scottish terms the real policy has to be improving public transport, making it cheaper and more frequent. You can put up road tax and fuel tax (admittedly unpopular but who cares the worlds melting) and use the proceeds to fund better/cheaper public transport.
A friend of mine car pools from Dunblane to Edinburgh every day, costs him 20 quid a week, if he was to get the train it would cost him 12 quid a day, more needs to be done to persuade people to get off the road and on to the rail
Fully agree George.
Air travel may only be 2% but it's due to hit 4% before too long so best to nip the fastest growing carbon emission outlet in the bud and, well, needlessly flying to the Maldives is not the best example to set.
Domestic travel has to be a top priority though, I'm definitely with you there but have we heard anything on it from the coalition govt or Scottish one for that matter? Not that I know of.
Could you please tell me when Alex Salmond went to the Maldives. I am sure I saw pictures of that agreement being signed in Edinburgh as the Maldives were en route to Copenhagen. It's important to be accurate.
Anon, Salmond is due to fly to Maldives later this year.
I agree that it's important to be accurate.
Alternately we could admit that the globe isn't warming catastrophically & possibly not at all & stop trying to destroy half our economy over the next 10 years as an "example" to the world of what ----- we are.
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