Heathrow fringe undermines SNP credibility on climate
The fact the SNP are allowing Heathrow airport to influence policy undermines the party’s credibility on climate, the Scottish Greens have said.
Heathrow, a longstanding sponsor of SNP conference, is running a fringe event this weekend on “sustainable travel”.
The Scottish Government signed a memorandum of understanding with Heathrow in 2016 backing a third runway and remain committed to expanding air travel, a move that would increase flight numbers and emissions in Scotland.
Responding, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “Once again we see the SNP looking to the industries that cause the most damage for answers. Pinning our hopes on hydrogen and electric passenger planes – technology that isn’t even developed yet – is pure fantasy when we have less than a decade to rapidly decarbonise our economy.
“Instead of asking the aviation and fossil fuel industries for answers the SNP needs to wake up to the urgency of the climate emergency and commit to investing in the alternatives. Otherwise they risk going into the COP26 conference next year with egg on their face.”