Climate Action
We are facing a climate crisis, with people around the world feeling the deadly effects of climate breakdown. It is only by tackling the root causes of the climate crisis can we help build a better future.
A rapidly warming climate is putting our ability to grow enough food at risk, increasing political instability and wiping out tens of thousands of plant and animal species. We are working for the necessary transformation of our economy and energy systems to secure a liveable future for all.
Another world is possible. Tackling the root causes of climate change gives us a chance to stop its worst impacts and create a fairer and more equal society.
Climate justice for all
Our climate is being dramatically changed by the burning of fossil fuels and destruction of nature. For too long, Governments and big business have been putting profits for a small group of people above our collective rights to a safe planet.
The impacts of extreme weather are being felt first and the hardest by those who have done least to cause the problem. But people across the world are organising together to stand up to big polluters and demand climate justice.
For a fairer, greener society
Transformative action is needed across all parts of our economy if we are to meet our commitments to cut climate pollution. In Scotland, we are working to reduce our use of fossil fuels, make transport greener and cut the impact of the things we buy.
We must also recognise that multiple crises and injustices of past and present – hunger, poverty, racism, sexism, classism, nature collapse – share the same drivers and the same solutions as the climate emergency.
What are we doing
- We are supporting communities and groups to campaign on the issues that matter to them
- We are pressing the Scottish Government to live up to their climate targets and to end their spending on polluting projects
- By exposing the over-reliance on dangerous distraction technologies like Carbon Capture and Hydrogen, we are demanding urgent action to cut pollution at source
- We participate in UN climate conferences, both inside and outside, with international allies to campaign for international climate justice and fair, people-led solutions to this crisis.
UN Climate Conference COP27 in Egypt
Looking at the key climate issues to be discussed at COP27 - including cutting emissions, loss and damage and finance for climate action.
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COP27 Climate March: This Crisis Demands Action
Check out what happened in Edinburgh at the march for Climate Justice as part of the COP27 Global Day of Action
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Where hope lies after COP26
A deep dive into the outcomes of the talks and an exploration of where it leaves Scotland's climate movement
Why climate change is an LGBTQ issue
The climate crisis is the biggest social issue of our time. For many young environmental activists, their activism is intertwined with their queer identities.
Climate change impacts in Scotland
We look at the evidence on how the climate emergency will further impact on Scottish people, wildlife and society.
How we are making climate progress
- People Power helped improve the recent Scottish Climate Act to set higher targets for action
- Scores of organisations came together to demand that our recovery from the pandemic to help set us on a course to a greener, fairer society
- COP26 was a powerful moment that showed the breadth of the climate movement as 150,000 people marched through Glasgow.
The climate crisis is being driven by over-consumption by the rich, particularly in the global north. But hope remains because the science also shows that another world, with decent standards of living for all, is possible.
Mary Church, Head of Campaigns
Latest Blogs
Shoring up Nicola Sturgeon’s climate legacy
After eight years, Scotland has a new First Minister. Under Nicola Sturgeon the Scottish Government made a lot of progress, but now it must go further and faster.
COP27: Outcomes from the climate talks and what it means for action in Scotland
What happened at the talks in Egypt and how it will impact our work at home.
Edinburgh joins Global Day of Action for Climate Justice
The route took the crowd past different stops highlighting the banks, polluters and governments who are driving climate breakdown.
Latest Press Releases
‘Underwhelming’ Programme for Government – warm words won’t stop a warming planet
This is an underwhelming programme for more of the same when what is needed a radical change that can speed Scotland away from fossil fuels.
IPCC climate report shows urgent need to end fossil fuels
Environmental campaigners have said that the latest UN climate report makes clear that governments must say no to new fossil fuels and tackle an economic system that is speeding us…
‘Scathing judgement’ on Scottish climate plans from advisors
Environmental campaigners have said the the UK Committee on Climate Change has delivered a ‘scathing judgement’ of the Scottish Government’s climate efforts in their latest progress report published today (7/12/22)…
Resources
National Planning Framework 4 Briefing
The Role of the Scottish Government in the Phase Out of Oil & Gas
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified this decade as our last chance to make the “rapid and deep emissions reductions” required to limit warming to 1.5ºC. At the same time, our current energy system, which is delivering billions in profits to oil and gas companies every year, is pushing millions of people in Scotland into fuel poverty. This means that a rapid, yet just, transition away from fossil fuels to clean, affordable, renewable energy is an urgent necessity.
Onshore conventional oil & gas call for evidence – FoES response
A position of no support for onshore conventional oil and gas extraction must therefore be adopted, and enforced through the licensing regime and the new National Planning Framework 4.
FoES response to Scottish Government coal consultation
National Planning Framework 4 Consultation Response
A manifesto for local authorities – 2022 Council Elections
This manifesto sets out some of the priorities for action that parties should champion in their manifestos, and the policies that should be taken to deliver them.
Related work
Almost all of our work is guided by the need for urgent climate action. Across a range of campaigns we are pushing decision-makers to go further and faster in cutting climate pollution whilst improving lives.
No new oil & gas
We must urgently stop the fossil fuels that are destroying our climate.
Making transport greener
Tackling the root causes of climate change gives us a chance to stop its worst impacts and create a fairer and more equal world.
Changing our economy
Our wasteful approach is using up huge amounts of natural resources and helps drive climate breakdown.
UN Climate Summit Glasgow COP26
The UN Climate Summit (COP26) will be held in Glasgow in November 2021.
We answer your key questions about the event, the key issues that will be discussed and how to get involved in action around it.
Help Stop Cambo
The UK Government is considering a huge new oil field off Shetland.
The climate impact of it will be devastating. We must stop it.
Sign the open letter to Boris Johnson
Why Carbon Capture and Storage is not the answer
Tackling the climate crisis requires urgent action to cut emissions and transform society, not years more delay in the hope that technology and the markets will provide the answer.
We explain why speculative technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage, Hydrogen and BioEnergy are not real climate solutions.
An end to North Sea Oil & Gas
Our major ‘Sea Change’ report has revealed UK’s oil and gas drilling plans, and Scottish Government’s support for them, are incompatible with responding to the climate emergency.
The research also shows that, with the right policies and support, clean industries could create more than three jobs for every oil and gas job at risk.
Putting climate at the heart of recovery plans
Climate action and green jobs can help deliver a Just & Green Recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic unfolded against a backdrop of climate breakdown, and has already cost tens of thousands of people their jobs in Scotland.
A programme of green job creation and climate action can create thousands of good jobs across the country while setting us on the right path to meet our climate targets and deliver a Just Transition away from fossil fuels.
Read our plan
Scotland's Response to the Climate Emergency
Expert speakers from across our economy and society came together to discuss how emissions could be reduced in key sectors at a pace to meet our climate commitments while building a fairer Scotland.
Presentations were recorded and you can catch up on the discussions in buildings, energy, circular economy, transport, agriculture, land use and marine and industry.
Demand Climate Justice!
Find out more about international climate action from the Paris Agreement to the IPCC, and how we work with our Friends of the Earth International network and other key allies to fight for climate justice.
Scotland's Climate Act
MSPs passed a Climate Change Bill for Scotland in September 2019
People power helped improve the Bill but it still falls short of what the Climate Emergency requires.
Find out what this new law does
Impacts of climate change
We look at the evidence on how the climate emergency will impact on Scottish people, wildlife and society.
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We can only make positive changes happens because people like you care enough to take action. Consider backing our work with a donation