Nicola Sturgeon has warned the world is facing a “climate emergency” and vowed Scotland “will lead by example” by cutting carbon emissions. The Scottish first minister said the declaration was “a public promise” to act on global warming and had been inspired by young protesters who went on strike from school to urge action. At least 90 councils across the UK have declared a climate emergency and pledged to work to limit damage to the environment.
Independent 29th April 2019 read more »
The Scottish Greens have accused the SNP of making a “dramatic U-turn” by declaring a climate emergency just weeks after a debate on the subject in the Scottish Parliament. Nicola Sturgeon told delegates at the Nationalists’ spring conference on Sunday that she was inspired to make a declaration on global warming after meeting young campaigners who had led a schools’ strike. Labour is expected to demand the UK Government to declare a national climate emergency later this week. But Greens MSP Mark Ruskell said the SNP failed to back his original motion which would have made a similar declaration four weeks ago.
Scotsman 29th April 2019 read more »
Gina Hanrahan, head of policy at WWF Scotland, welcomed the SNP leader’s speech, and said Sturgeon would have the chance this week to prove her commitment to the environment. Hanrahan said: “A new expert report later this week is expected to advise a deadline year for ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change. “This will need political support for ambitious new targets and accelerated actions to make homes warmer and renewable-powered, to support sustainable farming, and to help get polluting fossil fuel vehicles off the roads.” Friends of the Earth Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said the First Minister’s declaration was “very welcome”. He added: “In an emergency you need to take urgent action on fixing the problem, to bring together the people who can make a difference and to immediately stop doing the things that make the crisis worse. “The Scottish Government have yet to spell out how they will behave differently now that they acknowledge that there is a climate emergency under way.”
The National 30th April 2019 read more »
Gina Hanrahan: It was so exciting to see Nicola Sturgeon declare a Climate Emergency and the Scottish Parliament vote for a 10-year economy-wide mobilisation in a Green New Deal to tackle the crisis. This has to mean accelerated and coordinated action commensurate with the crisis. And it has to mean new more ambitious targets. On Thursday a new independent, expert report will set out how the UK and Scotland can reach net-zero climate emissions. Scotland’s politicians can respond by setting a net-zero deadline date, thereby joining a growing group of nations who are focussing efforts on ending their contribution to climate change pollution. But they must also set out how they will move away from business and politics as usual. Scotland has brought itself success in moving to renewable electricity. But our political leaders are doing nowhere near enough when it comes to leading us away from fossil fuels for our heating and transport needs, and in transforming our natural landscapes to trap more carbon from the atmosphere. Crises call for cool heads, and swift, decisive action. Scotland’s politicians have the chance this week to show they have the heads to tackle the climate emergency facing people and nature.
Herald 30th April 2019 read more »