What's the point of a principle like climate justice, when surrendered so easily?
At First Minister's Questions today (27 Oct), Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, condemned Scottish Ministers for surrendering their principles by championing the expansion of Heathrow airport, which will result in hugely increased climate emissions, noise and air pollution, and the destruction of hundreds of homes.
Patrick said:
"The Scottish Government talks a good game on climate justice - an approach which shares the benefits of development and the burdens of climate change fairly. But this week we have seen Scottish Ministers spectacularly fail that agenda.
"By siding with the anti-Green Westminster Government in backing the expansion of Heathrow they are damaging the UK and Scotland's credibility on the global stage where the urgency of reducing climate emissions is crystal clear. The Scottish Government's faith in spurious jobs figures is breath-taking. What is the point of a principle like climate justice, when it is surrendered so easily?
"Tens of thousands of people living near Heathrow now face additional air and noise pollution, and 750 households face being bulldozed. We have to ask if the Scottish Government would be happy sanctioning such a catastrophe on our own doorstep. It has echoes of Trump persuading Ministers to approve the bulldozing of an irreplaceable landscape and the bullying of local residents in Aberdeenshire.
"The next test for this Government will be its equally irrational proposal to scrap Air Passenger Duty. It's time to focus on the affordable, sustainable, low carbon transport people actually need in their daily lives."