Parliament fails declares a climate emergency
Scottish Greens Environment and Climate Spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has expressed his disappointment after the Scottish Parliament failed to declare a climate emergency this evening.
The Greens brought forward a motion noting the need to act in the face of the climate emergency, but every other party in parliament voted it down.
Mark Ruskell MSP said:
“It is hugely disappointing that the Scottish Parliament has failed to face up to the climate emergency.
“The IPCC tell us we have just over ten years to act, but the SNP, Tories, Labour and Lib Dems are more concerned about propping up the unsustainable fossil fuel industry than taking the bold, urgent action that is required.
“The evidence is clear; we need to take ambitious action to cut emissions, we need a just transition to realise the green jobs bonanza that can be delivered with our renewables potential, and we need to accept that using every last bit of fossil fuel reserves is simply incompatible with dealing with the climate emergency. The obvious starting point is a watertight ban on fracking. It would be profoundly irresponsible to open up new fossil fuel frontiers, yet the Scottish Government continues to refuse to take the action that is required.”
“Today’s debate shows that only the Scottish Greens are willing to take the necessary steps to tackle the climate emergency.”