MSPs say tackling climate crisis must be in founding legislation of Scotland’s new public bank

In a debate in the Scottish Parliament today MSPs from all five parties said they want the Scottish National Investment Bank to focus on the climate emergency.

Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens went further, specifically stating that the Bill to create a Scottish National Investment Bank must be amended to incorporate an objective of tackling the climate crisis.

Environmental campaigners are now urging all MSPs to work to amend the Bill to ensure the Bank supports a Just Transition to a zero-carbon economy after their first debate in the Scottish Parliament. MSPs will be able to propose amendments over the coming months, as the Bill passes through Stage 2.

Friends of the Earth Scotland Head of Campaigns Mary Church commented,

“With the right changes to the legislation, there is significant potential for the Scottish National Investment Bank to play a critical leadership role as we move to a zero-carbon economy.
“It was great to hear Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrat MSPs speaking in support of changes to the SNIB Bill that would put tackling the climate crisis in the Bank’s founding legislation.

“Attention must turn now to getting these amendments written into the new law, with the support of all MSPs. The warm words from the Finance Secretary today that responding to the climate emergency will be central to the Bank must now be put into action.

“The breakdown of our climate threatens millions of peoples lives, and this won’t change until countries like ours prioritise finance for climate action and green jobs over dirty fossil fuels.”
Elsewhere in the Scottish Parliament, youth strikers followed their historic day of protest on Friday by holding a meeting to demand, as part of a broad agenda, that the Scottish National Investment Bank must have an ethical investment policy to ensure it can “only invest in sustainable and renewable industries.” (1)
ENDS