26
February
2020
Scottish Budget announcement a strong step towards changing transport
Responding to details of the budget agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens, Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Air Pollution Campaigner Gavin Thomson said: “Scotland badly needs a shake-up in our transport system and, from the announcements so far, this budget agreement appears to represent a strong step in the right
26
February
2020
Transport statistics show political capitulation to cars
Official statistics released today demonstrate how cars continue to dominate our transport system, while bus usage continues to decline sharply. Campaigners say that the figures, released just ahead of the Scottish Parliament Budget debate, shows the need for a radical change in transport funding priorities. Friends of the Ea
18
February
2020
Dundee’s anti-pollution zone with car parking spaces is ‘absurd’
Campaigners have poured scorn on Dundee City Council’s plans to create a Low Emission Zone with massive exemptions for 3 car parks in the city centre. These car parks have spaces for over 1800 vehicles. The Council consulted on a series of options - each of which also failed to include one of the country’s most polluted stre
06
February
2020
Scottish Budget: Timid tinkering fails to deliver a Climate Emergency response
The Scottish Government’s climate emergency budget fails to deliver the action needed to bring down emissions, say environmental campaigners. With road transport as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland say the proposed Budget includes next-to-nothing to transform the transport syst
05
February
2020
‘Reckless’ road spending plans must be redirected in climate emergency
Ahead of the Scottish Budget, Friends of the Earth Scotland are calling for a transformation in Scottish Government spending priorities to tackle the climate emergency. Campaigners highlighted the dualling of the A9 and A96, which have cost billions so far and must be stopped and the savings diverted to fund sustainable transpor
24
January
2020
Welsh Assembly to Divest Pension Fund from fossil fuels
The Welsh Assembly Member Pension Scheme have committed to divesting their from fossil fuels. The Pension Board have agreed to move £6 million to a sustainable return fund and reduce the Scheme’s investments in the oil and gas sector to zero over five years. The move increases pressure on MSPs at Holyrood to bring their
23
January
2020
Welcome for Glasgow 20mph safety limits
Reacting to the announcement that Glasgow will adopt 20mph safety limits, Friends of the Earth Scotland air pollution campaigner Gavin Thomson commented, “We welcome Glasgow Council’s decision to introduce 20mph safety limits across the city. There are huge air quality and public health gains to be made from 20mph speed
21
January
2020
Campaigners welcome new public bank to finance action on climate crisis
The Scottish National Investment Bank Bill passed today (21/01/20) formally establishing in law a new public bank for Scotland. MSPs voted for a Government amendment which puts a legal obligation on the Bank to hold a list of minimum ethical standards for its investments, a key demand of environmental campaigners. MSPs als
21
January
2020
Scotland’s new Public Bank must be an ethical lender
MSPs will today (21/1/20) have a final vote on a bill to create a new public bank, the Scottish National Investment Bank. Following revisions by MSPs backed by environmental campaigners, the draft Bill requires the new Bank to invest in projects that promote social wellbeing and tackle the climate emergency. Today’s vote will