The row over the proposed go-ahead for the Cambo oil and gas field off Shetland has gathered pace this week as Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has come under pressure from the environmental sector to take a stand against it, while pressured by business leaders and the right to put the economy first. Continue reading The climate emergency demands definite answers
Scotland’s voting age is lower than the rest of the UK. They are terrified by climate change and the Earth they shall inherit. Old wise heads and all may do well to remember that. Continue reading Forget IndyRef … Holyrood campaign is really becoming the climate election for all
Today’s headlines. What harm are we doing to our children, is it the end of Australia as we know it, words of wisdom from environmental champions and all the food and drink you could wave a reusable glass at. Child’s Play? Top of our reading list today is this article in The Guardian headlined ‘The world is failing to ensure our children have a … Continue reading Could climate bankrupt a nation?, Sir Tom’s charity dinner, plus G&Ps
Alok Sharma MP has been appointed the new UK Government minister for Cop26.
It follows a wide reshuffle of Boris Johnson’s Cabinet today.
Mr Sharma said he was “delighted” at the role and was looking forward to an “exciting year ahead”. Continue reading “Alok Sharma named New Cop26 Minister”
SCOTLAND’S First Minister Nicola Sturgeon us expected to deliver the main address to more than 7000 delegates attending what is being billed as the UK’s largest renewables and low carbon energy conference.
Her May 2 address to the All-Energy event is potentially significant, coming just eight months after she told the SNP party conference in Glasgow, that her government would will establish a publicly-owned, not-for-profit energy company to deliver renewable energy to Scottish customers “as close to cost price as possible”.
She said at the time: “The idea, at its heart, is simple. Energy would be bought wholesale or generated here in Scotland – renewable, of course – and sold to customers as close to cost price as possible.” Continue reading “First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to deliver keynote speech at All-Energy conference”
THE Scottish Greens have challenged the SNP Government to ditch fossil fuels to prove it is serious about fighting climate change.
Co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP said the First Minister had to ‘think bigger than cotton buds’ when it comes to tackling pollution caused by the petrochemicals industry.
It came on a day when the government announced it would look to ban plastic held cotton buds to help tackle marine and other pollution. Continue reading “Harvie accuses SNP on fossil fuel support as Sturgeon hails ScotGov as eco leaders”
TWO Scots primary school shave been hailed by the Scottish Government for setting out an example of how the nation can fight against waste plastic.
Sunnyside Primary in Glasgow and Ullapool Primary school in the Highlands worked to persuade businesses to ditch using plastic straws.
Now their impressive ‘Nae Straw At Aw’ has seen them recognised at Holyrood after MSP Kate Forbes cited the campaign in the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading “Schools ‘Nae Straw At Aw’ campaign is hailed by First Minister at Holyrood”
HIGHLAND MSP Kate Forbes will take calls for Scotland to ban plastic drinking straws to the heart of Holyrood later today.
Forbes, who sits on the Scottish Parliament’s Environment Committee, will raise the issue during First Minister’s Questions in the chamber.
She will ask Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to reveal what action the Scottish Government is prepared to take to tackle the scourge of plastic straws. Continue reading “Nicola Sturgeon urged to tackle ‘scourge’ of plastic drinking straws in FMQs call”
FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled ambitious plans for a Scottish National Investment Bank in September as a key plank of her programme for government.
With it, she turned to trusted industry heads and promised a Just Transition Commission, identifying the potential it has to create real change.
But today – as consultation on the bank’s make-up ends at Midnight – five organisations covering a cross section of society have their say too. Continue reading “Scottish National Investment Bank: How can it make for a fairer Scotland?”
A MAJOR conference in Edinburgh will hear from two leading economists today on how investing in large scale green projects could transform Scotland’s economy and create thousands of green jobs.
Lord Adair Turner and Professor Mariana Mazzucato will welcome the Holyrood government’s recently unveiled move to create a Scottish National Investment Bank.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opened a public consultation on Friday saying the move could help the Scottish Government ‘seize the economic opportunities of tackling climate change’.
A NEW energy revolution is born in the North Sea today with the official opening of the world’s first floating windfarm.
Five, giant mega-structures with blades as wide as a jet-plane, some 15 miles off the Peterhead coast have been anchored as part of a major pilot project.
In theory, Hywind Scotland’s turbines will generate energy equivalent for at least 20,000 homes.
CAMPAIGNERS claim the Scottish Government proposals for a new climate change bill ‘fails to deliver’ on what is needed to tackle what they say has become a ‘global emergency’.
Friends of the Earth Scotland say worst affected regions are looking to countries like Scotland to throw them a lifeline by being acting more boldly.
They took their argument to the government’s St Andrew’s House HQ in Edinburgh today where a giant globe highlighting worldwide warming was unveiled.
IN the throes of a conference speech, her section about the environment registered barely 3000 characters. Fewer than 700 words.
They were weighted to the business end of the address, knowing the audience would be warmed up enough to still pay attention but greet them warmly.
But in those carefully scripted words, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon set her government up to deliver on big, bold promises.
Here are the key passges in full.
MAKING a Scotland-wide moratorium on fracking permanent through planning powers was the quickest way to stop the gas extraction process from happening, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted today.
That ensured the practice was “banned” across the country, she insisted, despite calls from campaigners who say it needs to be enshrined into law instead.
But she warned that legislative powers over licensing were not yet with the Scottish Parliament, which is why they found a way round it.
SCOTLAND must set up an environmental court if it is to have any real power to tackle related crime after Brexit, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was told today.
Highlands and Islands MSP John Swinney said the country faced seeing legislation “torn apart” as a result of Brexit unless ministers act.
His intervention comes after calls for the court were rejected last week by the Scottish Government.
THE SCOTTISH Government’s proposed Climate Change Bill lacks credibility, a leading independent body claims today.
The influential UK Committee on Climate Change warns that unless strengthened, the new Bill will fail to do enough to meet its strategic obligations towards tackling climate change.
Scottish Government ministers currently plan a 90 per cent cut in emissions by 2050. Campaigners say this should be higher and earlier.
PLANET SCOTLAND 