Burning Issue

Published on Thursday 5 June 2008 22:25

Is the SNP administration keeping promise of being a green government?

Yes

SHIRLEY-ANNE SOMERVILLE

SNP MSP

THE SNP's commitment to sustainable economic growth has put green issues at the heart of government policies. The forthcoming Climate Change Bill will put Scotland at the forefront of moves to reduce carbon emissions, with a target of an 80 per cent reduction by 2050.

Alongside addressing the problems of climate change, the SNP also recognise the opportunity green concerns present for Scotland to develop leading-edge technology and to lead the way in renewable energy technology, clean coal and carbon capture.

That is why the Scottish Government has introduced the Saltire prize, bringing global expertise to play in capturing Scotland's immense natural resources – resources that offer Scotland an energy-rich future.

At the same time as Scotland pushes ahead with our commitment to green energy, the UK Labour government is engaged in the folly of new nuclear power stations. The SNP has committed itself to building Scotland a genuinely clean and green future, we will not replace carbon pollution with the pollution of additional nuclear waste by building new nuclear power stations.

In other areas, the SNP government is working on a national food strategy, with a commitment to supporting local Scottish food and reducing food miles and environmental impact.

For the SNP the "green agenda" is not one strand of policy, it is an essential part of our commitment to a sustainable economic future for Scotland that is not only greener, but wealthier, healthier and fairer too.

No

PATRICK HARVIE

Green MSP

ALL of life is compromise, especially politics, and nobody's perfect. In the SNP's case, the green angel over Alex Salmond's left shoulder got its way over nuclear power, a dead-end technology. Projects like the Climate Challenge Fund, launched jointly by the Greens and Scottish ministers, show where they're doing better than their predecessors.

But the oil-loving devil over Mr Salmond's right shoulder gets its way rather more often. The SNP has committed to match Labour's road-building excesses inch for inch – and gone further. Extraordinarily, they're thinking of spending 4.2 billion on a second Forth road bridge; the existing one can be fixed 35 times over for that money.

If rich businessmen ask nicely enough, they respond with indecent haste to waive almost any environmental commitment.

In the longer term, the SNP's addiction to oil rhetoric makes them ill-suited to help Scotland prepare for the end of the oil age. Their priority remains independence. Beyond that, there isn't much agreement in the party. While many are very green-minded, others couldn't care less.

What the SNP needs to do to pass the climate test is very clear. It must put its manifesto pledge to set annual carbon reduction targets of at least 3 per cent into law, ideally slightly more.

Ministers need to tell us what practical measures they will bring in to achieve that, across areas like transport, electricity generation, energy efficiency and planning. Then they need to come back to parliament each year and allow an open review of progress. Parliament must insist on this and help the SNP move on from business-as-usual politics on the environment and economy.