Home
Climate Committee "Must Not Subvert Will of Parliament"
Latest News. Wed., February 24, 2010. 14:49.
Green MSP Media Release
The advice to Scottish Ministers published today by the UK Climate Change Committee was rejected by the Scottish Green Party as a flawed and misguided effort which risks undermining the 42% climate target approved by the Scottish Parliament last year.
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
"Parliament was unanimous last year - Scotland needs to make significant emissions reductions by 2020, both so we can meet our international obligations and start to see the benefits of a low carbon economy. The UK Climate Change Committee is there to advise on how to do it, not to unpick the clear democratic decision which Parliament reached. It now seems to be on the verge of encouraging the Scottish Government to backtrack on its commitments, and has made the absurd argument that Ministers are not responsible for emissions from energy generation.
"Their advice to wait for international action will be read by many as an attempt to subvert the will of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people, and Ministers must not use this paper as an excuse for a cop-out. Wider global action is vital, of course, but it will be made less likely, not more, if countries like Scotland start to falter. Greens will work with the tens of thousands of people who campaigned for this legislation in order to oppose any attempt to weaken it.
full story >>
Older News
- Mon., January 25, 2010. 12:27.
- Mainshill Evictions are &Quot;symbol of Ministers' Coal Addiction"
- GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE
- [img]http://www.twodoctors.org/myimages/patsmainshill.jpg[/img] Greens condemned today's moves to evict anti-opencast campaigners from Mainshill camp in South Lanarkshire. The camp was set up seven months ago when ten years of opposition by local communities was ignored by the local authority and planning permission granted for a 1.7m tonne opencast coal mine. SNP Ministers last year washed their hands of planning controls over opencast, and significant increases in this form of extraction have been approved, particularly in South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire and Fife. Communities in East Lothian and Midlothian are also opposing the Airfield opencast proposal near Cousland. [full story]
- Wed., January 20, 2010. 17:53.
- Budget: Green Progress on Renewables and Insulation
- GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE
- Following commitments given by Scottish Ministers on marine renewables and home insulation, the Green MSPs today voted not to block the Budget at Stage 1, and to seek agreement with Ministers on further improvements in these areas ahead of the final vote a fortnight today. [full story]
- Tue., December 22, 2009. 12:22.
- Awpr Decision is &Quot;salmond's Copenhagen Slap in the Face"
- Scottish Green Party Media Release
- Today's decision by Scottish Ministers to approve the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route makes a mockery of Alex Salmond's visit to the Copenhagen climate summit, Greens today argued. Ministers rigged the Inquiry to exclude all the key considerations (1), meaning this decision could yet be blocked by a proposed judicial review. If the road is built, it will also cost taxpayers dear, especially in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, draining money away from projects which could have reduced pollution and congestion. (2) [full story]
- Sat., December 19, 2009. 15:31.
- Copenhagen Summit &Quot;an Abject Failure Not Worth Signing"
- Green MSP Media Release
- The US-led agreement achieved yesterday away from the all-country talks is entirely unacceptable, Greens today argued, and the party condemned Gordon Brown for endorsing a sham. The final agreement, merely noted by the full conference, contains no legally binding targets and will bring in no new money. As a result, it will be unable to deliver a low carbon global economy, and makes it far less likely that the planet will escape devastating temperature increases of 3°C or worse. [full story]
- Sat., December 12, 2009. 11:07.
- First Minister Challenged on Aviation Expansion
- Green MSP Media Release
- Green MSP Patrick Harvie today used First Minister's Questions to challenge Alex Salmond over SNP plans on aviation. His administration voted for the Climate Change Bill's 42% emissions target in June 2009, but still support aviation expansion across Scotland. [full story]
Forthcoming events
- No events at present.