Scottish Government Budget and Carbon Assessment – FoES Comment

Commenting ahead of Thursday’s Draft Budget announcement, Juliet Swann, Head of Projects and Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“Friends of the Earth Scotland welcome the first stage of the promised action for carbon assessment of the Scottish budget. The acid test will be what impact the carbon assessment actually has on spending plans.

“Given the current financial and environmental constraints, if we are to enter a truly sustainable future, both economically and environmentally, we must consider the viability of new large developments, such as roads and bridges. It is no use tinkering around the edges; the carbon assessment of the draft budget must influence spending, and not remain purely an interesting analytical tool.

“It is also of concern that, as yet, this assessment does not take into account the ongoing carbon costs of the impacts of these major developments. It must be made clear what this assessment does and doesn’t measure, and decisions must be made openly and with full acceptance of the impacts of increased, or decreased, emissions.”

For further information please contact:

Davina Shiell, Friends of the Earth Scotland 0131 243 2719
To be re-directed to the mobile call 0131 243 2715

Notes to Editors:

Friends of the Earth Scotland exists to help people in Scotland look after the planet for everyone’s future. We think globally and act locally in Scotland, delivering solutions to climate change by enabling and empowering people to take both individual and collective action. We offer help to people with the big things in life – helping to sustain a healthy society and environment. We believe that all of our children’s futures will be better because of what we do.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk