SNP is selling out future generations with climate climbdown
The climate budget cuts being made by the Scottish Government are selling out future generations, says Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater.
Ms Slater’s comments followed the publication of the Programme For Government, the first since the end of the cooperation agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government.
Ms Slater said:
“This is the first Programme for Government in four years that the Scottish Greens did not co-design. And quite frankly, it shows.
“The First Minister said he would prioritise future generations, but the decisions that have been announced this week do exactly the opposite.
"By slashing public spending, particularly on our journey to net zero, the SNP are selling out our future. It is a betrayal of the green change that we need and an abdication of our responsibility to tackle the climate emergency.
“Words are not enough. They are taking us backwards. The Scottish Greens created the nature restoration fund which the SNP has taken millions away from. We removed unfair peak rail fares which the First Minister is bringing back, discouraging people from leaving their cars at home, and we delivered record funding for active travel, which the SNP has raided.
“We need a bold new approach to climate policy. We need to finally stop building new roads and new fossil fuel power stations, significantly ramp up the decarbonisation of our homes and public buildings, and put our environment at the top of our agenda. Today’s Programme for Government falls far short of where we need to be.
“The SNP has chosen to continue handing out tax breaks to big business whilst scrapping free bus travel for people seeking asylum and raising rail costs for workers and students.
“They have chosen to shelve vital legislation on equalities and human rights, dropping moves for a Scottish ban on conversion practice and outsourcing it to Westminster. That cannot be blamed on budget cuts, and is down to cowardice from the SNP government.
“We have 18 months left of this session of parliament to build a fairer, greener Scotland, which leaves society and our planet in a better shape for future generations. The SNP may have given up on that mission, but the Scottish Greens never will.”