Councillor says climate change plan falls short

GL A S G O W ’ S 52- point plan to c o n f r o n t t h e climate emergency will be the subject of a s e r i e s o f p u b l i c conversations.

The council has put together the programme to push the city towards net- zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Bold leadership, substantial investment and a green recovery from Covid- 19 will be needed to meet the target, the Climate Emergency Implementation Plan states.

It follows the work of the city’s climate emergency working group, which made 61 recommendations in August last year,

But Councillor Martha Wardrop, who led the emergency working group, believes the plan does not go far enough.

She said: “We know the situation requires a radical rethink because of Covid- 19.

“We are facing a very difficult future. I know there are a lot of ideas there that need to be looked at again, particularly around green jobs.”

She said Bristol was “talking about £ 3 billion” investment and Glasgow needs “to be talking about that kind of figure as well”.

The 52 actions cover key issues such as transport, energy and heating for homes and industry as well as initiatives to reduce waste and improve recycling.

They also include building resilience against future weather events and developing the city’s green economy.

Councillor Anna Richardson, city convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, said the council must lead but collaboration is needed across the public and private sectors.

She said: “Glasgow has begun to deliver the kind of change that’s needed, whether that’s transforming the energy efficiency of multi- storey homes, extending the availability of electricvehicle charging points or increasing the city’s tree coverage.

“But it is also clear there needs to be a sharp increase in the scope, scale and intensity of action to set Glasgow on course for achieving the 2030 target.”

She added: “Covid- 19 has been a major shock to the system, but as we hopefully emerge from the current crisis we cannot lose sight of the fact the climate emergency has not gone away.

“A green recovery from the pandemic is therefore essential as we have limited time to get to grips with climate change.”

Councillor Allan Gow is concerned the council isn’t hearing a balanced view during discussions on whether pension funds should divest from fossil fuel companies.

He said the working group had only heard “one side of the argument”, adding not asking Strathclyde Pension Fund to contribute was a “fairly glaring omission”.

“Therefore, we have powerful voices, perfectly legitimate voices, voices with which I may personally agree, but it does seem to me somewhat imbalanced,” Mr Gow added.

Councillor Chris Cunningham said fossil fuels are “likely to play a diminishing part in our overall economy” in the long- term.

He said: “I would want to encourage trustees to look in the wider sense to their responsibilities to their members.”

“There is no point in doing well in the next five years in terms of an economic return if, quite frankly, the planet burns in the subsequent 10.”

Councillor Jim Kavanagh also questioned whether the council had the “financial clout” to achieve its plans.

A council officer said investment would need to come from a national level and beyond.