We need to get out of the 1980s to meet Scottish climate targets

Singing and dancing activists in 80s gear today (3 December 2011) performed outside the Scottish Parliament to highlight politicians and business leaders who are “stuck in the 80s” and stand in the way of Scotland meeting its ambitious climate targets.

Dancers dressed as 80s versions of a Scottish minister and industry and banking leaders to call upon them to change their environmentally damaging ways.

Hannah Kitchen, Friends of the Earth Scotland campaigner, said:

“The 1980s was a time when the reality of climate change was yet to be realised and it seems that some politicians and businesses are still stuck there. They need to leave the era of corporate greed and polluting projects behind them.

“World leaders are meeting in Durban to try to find a global deal on climate change this week. Meanwhile, Scotland has a world leading, ambitious climate law, but damaging projects and policies threaten to undermine it.

“We’re hoping Scotland’s politicians and leaders will see our stunt and wake up to the 21st century. The ecological limits of our world are now apparent, and we need need to act accordingly.”

Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Transport and Housing, was targeted because of the SNP government’s failure to fund their own plans for low-carbon transport, while pouring millions into road building.

Muir Miller, Head of Ayrshire Power, plans to build the first coal-fired power station in the UK since the 80s, in North Ayrshire.

Stephen Hester, RBS Chairman, continues to invest in coal and the Canadian tar sands, which has been called the world’s most destructive project.

Calum Wilson’s Forth Energy is bent on building four huge biomass plants that will contribute to deforestation across the world.

ENDS

For media enquiries and hi-res photographs from the stunt, please contact: Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland t: 0131 243 2719

Notes to Editors

1. 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, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent. www.foe-scotland.org.uk