Aims need action
Since the first climate change target, set under the world- leading Scottish Climate Change Act, was missed last year, Stop Climate Chaos has been calling for government to match its impressive climate ambitions with the necessary climate action.
Transport is responsible for a quarter of Scotland’s emissions, and emissions from that sector are higher now than they were in 1990. So if Scotland is serious about meeting our climate targets, we can’t ignore it.
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Hide AdBut in the Scottish Government’s draft plans to reduce emissions, which are currently being scrutinised by parliament, there is not a single Scottish policy to reduce emissions from the transport sector.
Furthermore, the proposals put forward place too much emphasis on technical fixes over measures to encourage people out of their cars and into more sustainable forms of transport.
The government needs to revise these plans, accordingly, to give public transport and travel by foot and bike a higher priority. This will ensure a fair approach to reducing emissions from transport, not only benefiting those who drive a car.
Tomorrow, transport minister, Keith Brown MSP, will appear before a parliamentary committee to explain the government’s plans. We hope he will use this opportunity to increase significantly the effort from this important sector in reducing emissions.
Tom Ballantine
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland
Lochside View
Edinburgh