Parliament Climate Change Inquiry Announced and Welcomed - at Last!
Wed., November 17, 2004. 00:00.
Green MSPs have welcomed an investigation by the Scottish Parliament into climate change, acknowledged as one of the greatest challenges facing Scotland's people, economy and environment. Mark Ruskell, Green MSP and Deputy-Convener of the Environment and Rural Development Committee argued that it would be an important area for investigation to inform the Executive's forthcoming consultation on its Climate Change Programme - and will also be held in advance of the G8 summit where climate change is predicted to feature strongly.
Green MSPs have welcomed an investigation by the Scottish Parliament into climate change, acknowledged as one of the greatest challenges facing Scotland's people, economy and environment. Mark Ruskell, Green MSP and Deputy-Convener of the Environment and Rural Development Committee argued that it would be an important area for investigation to inform the Executive's forthcoming consultation on its Climate Change Programme - and will also be held in advance of the G8 summit where climate change is predicted to feature strongly.
The Committee has agreed to begin an inquiry at the start of the new year. (1)
Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife who has consistently argued for improvement to Scotland's poor level of action on climate change said: 'I'm relieved that my committee in the Scottish Parliament will be looking in depth at the globally important issue of climate change, in time for the G8 summit at Gleneagles next year when climate change will be at the top of the international political agenda. The Parliament has never in its lifetime scrutinised the Executive's often contradictory response to tackling the root causes of climate change, and the inquiry will dovetail nicely with the Executive's review of its own climate change programme. This inquiry will provide some much needed scrutiny at a time when the eyes of the world will be focussed on Scotland and our response to dealing with what Blair has called the biggest crisis facing humanity this century.'
Scotland's record on climate change lags behind the rest of the UK with recent government statistics showing increased CO2 emissions while the rest of the world is trying to reduce them according to the Kyoto Protocol. (2) A recent report at Westminster showed the UK action on climate change was 'seriously off course'. (3)
Notes to editors
(1) For details of inquiry go to: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/environment/or-04/ra04-2702.htm#Col1359
(2) Go to http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/news/2004/september/210904declineenvironment.htm for details of Scotland's rising climate change pollution.
(3) Motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament by Mark Ruskell MSP following the report on climate change in August this year:
That the parliament notes the UK Environment Audit Committee report 'Budget 2004 and Energy' which concludes that action on climate change is 'seriously off course'; notes the likelihood of failure in achieving UK carbon emission reduction targets and the complete absence of any targets in Scotland; recognises with growing concern the damage that climate change is inflicting on Scotland's people, environment and economy; is appalled that Scotland lags behind the rest of the UK in reducing emissions and calls on the Scottish Executive to 'climate-proof' all spending and policy decisions, in particular to address the growing pollution from rising traffic levels and the Executive's massive road-building plans which are making the situation worse. View the report at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmenvaud.htm
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.