Climate humilitation is complete for Scottish Government
Climate campaigners have said that the Scottish Government’s ‘climate humiliation is complete’ after MSPs today voted for legislation that will scrap critical 2030 targets to reduce climate emissions.
Despite announcing plans to ditch targets six months ago, Ministers have failed to bring forward any ramp up of the climate action that will improve lives and cut pollution.
In recent months, the leadership of John Swinney and Kate Forbes has rolled back on multiple climate policies, weakening its stance on new fossil fuels, bringing back peak train fares, slashing funding for safer cycling and environmental restoration schemes.
The controversial choice by the Scottish Government to scrap the climate targets was described as the “worst environmental decision in the history of the Scottish Parliament” when it was announced in April 2024.
The Scottish Government missed 9 out of 13 annual targets since 2009 and, in 2019, all the parties backed stronger targets for 2030.
Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns Imogen Dow commented,
“The climate humiliation for the Scottish Government is complete.
“Removing annual climate targets is a deeply cynical attempt to move the goalposts after 15 years of climate failure by a succession of Scottish Government Ministers.
“The deadly floods in Spain have shown once again that we should be cutting emissions as fast as possible, yet the Scottish Government is slamming on the brakes.
“The record of cuts and backsliding on climate action we’ve witnessed in recent months under John Swinney and Kate Forbes show that this Government is not interested in getting its climate action back on track.
“Scotland’s climate targets were challenging but achievable. Ministers missed so many opportunities to deliver popular changes that would have improved public transport, cut fuel poverty by insulating homes and created decent green jobs.”
Notes to Editors
Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill Stage 3 debate finished today.
FoES reaction to the announcement that 2030 targets would be scrapped (April 2024) https://foe.scot/press-release/climate-targets-scrapped-worst-decision-in-the-history-of-the-scottish-parliament/
Photos from climate targets protest outside the First Minister’s Bute House residence in May 2024
https://flickr.com/photos/friendsoftheearthscotland/albums/72177720316451064
All the parties in the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of the 75% emission reduction target by 2030 when the Climate Act was strengthened in 2019 – at the time the Greens were calling for 80% by the same date. Climate scientists are clear that there must be urgent action to bring down emissions within this decade
UK Government opinion surveys regularly show at least 80% of the public are concerned about climate change
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/desnz-public-attitudes-tracker-winter-2023
The Scottish Government are still considering an application from energy giants SSE and Equinor to build a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, in addition to the existing gas plant.
https://foe.scot/peterhead-power-station-explained/
Friends of the Earth Scotland is:
* Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation
* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland
* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 73 national member groups, and 5,000 local activist groups.