Greens Set Climate Challenge for Scotland
Mon., March 12, 2007. 07:01.
12 Steps to a Low Carbon Scottish Economy
Mark Ruskell
The Scottish Green Party has today set out an action plan to tackle climate change. Their pre-manifesto document, “The Climate Crisis: 12 Steps to a Low Carbon Economy”, includes proposals for a massive injection of funds for lead communities who want to move towards ‘carbon neutral’ status. (1)
The Greens in government will establish a £100m Climate Challenge Fund, which will invite bids in the first year from communities across Scotland, both urban and rural, encouraging them to rise to the ambitious challenge of cutting their climate change emissions by a third in just five years.
These Climate Challenge communities will in turn inspire others to reduce their own carbon emissions, putting Scotland at the forefront of grassroots efforts to tackle climate change. Their projects will also bring tangible benefits for local people, in terms of better quality of life, green jobs, and greater economic efficiency. (2)
The challenge fund is just one of the key proposals set out by the Scottish Green Party in today’s pre-manifesto document. In it the party sets out the next steps needed to deliver a low carbon economy for Scotland, including commitments to binding national carbon reduction targets, improved public transport, major investment in warm, affordable homes, measures to ‘climate-proof’ the planning system, and a personal carbon account for every citizen. (3)
Mark Ruskell MSP, Green Election Campaign Director, launching the action plan at Fintry Renewable Energy Enterprise, said:
“Today the Scottish Green Party publishes its proposals to start the transformation of our economy for the post-Kyoto era. We take a long view of Scotland's future, and believe this country can flourish only with a successful low-carbon economy. The 12 steps we are calling for today show how Greens in government will tackle climate change, and how communities across Scotland can be empowered and inspired to start making changes locally.
“We believe that the innovation and desire for change is out there across Scotland, in places like Fintry. Right now these innovative and ambitions communities are at best not receiving the full encouragement they deserve. At worst, they are being held back by local and national government.
“Greens in Government will back action across all of Scotland, and by providing significant additional funds for these lead communities they will demonstrate how dramatic cuts in emissions are possible and practical. This will in turn inspire the next wave of imaginative projects across Scotland and bring green solutions into the mainstream.”
As part of their broader proposals on climate change, Greens called on the other political parties to adopt binding annual climate change targets, set at an average of at least 4.5% per year, and to put it in legislation so Ministers are required to deliver an action plan which meets these reductions.
Mark Ruskell MSP, Green Election Campaign Director, added:
“It’s clear from the desperate efforts of the other parties to appear “green” that they’ve realised how seriously the electorate takes climate change. Some of their recent proposals are baby steps in the right direction, but it is pure spin to suggest that any of the other parties have even begun to put together a realistic and achievable vision for a successful low carbon economy.
“The litmus test for all the other political parties is whether they abandon their climate-wrecking transport policies, such as the expansion of airports, and new trunk road and motorway expansion projects such as the M74 extension and the Aberdeen Bypass.
“Binding annual reduction targets are crucial, and failure to back such a target speaks volumes for the sincerity of the others. Most notable is the Libdems’ failure to back annual targets, while continuing to support their pet road and air projects. It is no surprise they don’t want to set real emissions targets when their own policies ensure those targets would be missed.
“Our vision for a low carbon Scotland is based on 12 practical and effective steps we must take to develop a successful green economy and make real cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The challenge is on for the other parties to come on board and work with us to build a sustainable economic future for Scotland. If they start to climate-proof their policies we will be the first to give them the credit, and where they fail to do so, we will hold them to account.”
ENDS
For further information call 07921 333 617 or 07765 907019. Alternatively email press@scottishgreens.org.uk
Notes to editors
1. The full report is available from Monday morning on the Greens’ website - http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk
2. Funding and other practical support will be offered to help communities rise to the climate challenge. The sorts of actions, big and small, that could be funded include: - providing a free 'carbon audit' for every individual and local organisation who wishes to take part - free low energy light bulbs - the establishment of car sharing schemes using eco-friendly vehicles - intensive support and advice for all local businesses in reducing energy consumption and waste - community owned renewable energy schemes - fitting all public buildings with small scale renewable energy devices - community initiatives to protect and enlarge carbon sinks such as woodlands and wetlands - low cost insulation schemes available to all - green travel plan development for local employers - enhanced footpath and cycle path networks - development of local forestry biomass waste and installation - integrated timetabling for local buses - district heating schemes based on combined heat and power - initiatives to cut food miles by stimulating local demand for, and production of, local food - business enterprise development to stimulate new start-ups and diversification into low carbon activities.
3. The twelve steps the document sets out are: 1 Binding national carbon emission targets for government. 2 Binding local emission targets to be delivered by Councils. 3 Fund public transport, not airport and motorway expansion. 4 ‘Climate proof’ Scotland’s planning system. 5 Work internationally to build climate agreements. 6 A £100m Climate Challenge Fund for communities. 7 Fair personal carbon quotas. 8 Efficient use of fossil fuels. 9 Create a world-leading renewable energy sector. 10 Help industries become efficient and sustainable. 11 Develop a high-skill low-carbon economy to secure jobs. 12 Healthy and warm energy efficient buildings.
Go to www.scottishgreens.org.uk for more information about the Scottish Green Party and the work of the Scottish Green MSPs.
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.