Climate Inquiry: Urgent Action Will Help and Protect the Economy, Not Damage It
Wed., January 26, 2005. 21:51.
Climate change enquiry is an historic opportunity to protect Scotland from climate change.
The Parliament’s climate change inquiry by the Environment and Rural Development Committee (ERDC) is an historic opportunity to initiate serious and crucial action to help protect Scotland's economy, and communities, from the impacts of climate change, Greens said today. (1)
Mark Ruskell MSP, Green speaker on the environment and vice-convener of the ERDC, said, “Greens have pushed for this inquiry into Executive policy since the beginning of this parliamentary session and today’s meeting was a positive start to what I hope will be an extremely rigorous investigation. It is fitting that we have representatives from across society – business leaders, NGOs, public organisations, scientists – as this issue will impact on every aspect of our society, economy and environment.
“This is an historic opportunity – the inquiry and the recommendations that we put forward could be the catalyst for some long-awaited action on the biggest threat to Scotland. As Scotland gears up for the G8, we must take a lead in acknowledging – and acting on – the causes and effects of climate change. The economic costs of doing too little, too late will rebound on us all - whilst their are great economic and social benefits to Scotland in taking early action - for example in leading the market in renewable energy, better public transport and energy efficiency.”
Shiona Baird MSP, Greens’ Co-convener said, “The main problem facing Scotland just now is the Executive’s contradictory policies – lip-service paid to reducing climate-changing gases accompanied by costly road-building projects; support for renewables with too little investment and no national strategy for wind farms; initiatives to promote energy efficiency without any targets to work towards. Ministers have made the right noises about tackling this issue, but we have yet to see any commitment. The contradictions in policy need to be eliminated and all future policy climate-proofed.”
Scotland's record on climate change lags behind the rest of the UK. (2) A recent report at Westminster showed the UK action on climate change was 'seriously off course'. (3) A report out this week by a leading global climate change task force made up of business leaders, politicians and academics issued a stark warning that the rate of climate change pollution might reach 'a point of no return' within a decade unless more serious action is taken now. Scientists predict that at some point when carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere hit 400 ppm, (currently at an unprecedented level of 379ppm and rising around 2ppm per year), global warming could 'run away with itself' and humans would face potentially catastrophic climatic changes. (4)
For further information call the Green MSP press office on 0131 348 6360.
(1) See http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-comm-05/cenv05-001.htm (2) See Green report 'The Burning Issue' available at scottishgreens.org.uk or from the press office by email. (3) UK Environment Audit Committee report Budget 2004 and Energy. View the report at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmenvaud.htm
(4) To find out more about the IPPR report 'Meeting the climate challenge' - http://www.ippr.org.uk/press/index.php?release=352
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.