The world is watching
The future of our planet lies in the hands of world leaders at COP26. The outcome will have wide ranging consequences for all life forms on Earth
FOR ALL OUR SAKES...
CHOOSE to uphold the pledge to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. CHOOSE to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CHOOSE to encourage countries to mitigate impacts on climate change.
CHOOSE to honour the Paris Agreement and commit a collective $100 billion per year in climate finance. CHOOSE to provide developing countries with financial resources to minimise the effects of climate change.
It is not too late. But radical action is needed. COP26 leaders – be brave and make the right choices.
With the world looking towards Glasgow during the UN Climate Change Conference COP26, it is clear to many that the time to do something about climate change, no matter how small, is now. All over Scotland there are some fabulous examples of people and communities attacking the climate emergency head on.
The Scottish Government declared a climate emergency in 2019 saying that they agreed with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report warning that by 2030 it will be too late to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Damage to the planet is accelerating and climate change is one of the top three reasons.
In posing the simple question “What are you doing about climate change?” we received some very interesting answers.
THE MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
THE RT HON LORD WALLACE OF TANKERNESS, QC
THERE ARE 362 registered Eco-Congregations in the Church of Scotland, all working towards impressive environmental targets set by Eco-Congregation Scotland.
More than 70% of our congregations use a 100% green electricity tariff sourced from renewables. On the islands of Westray and Papa Westray, two of the most northerly in Orkney there are two good examples. In Westray, the church has used their exposed position between the Atlantic and North Sea to install a wind-turbinepowered heating system, which combined with a ground source pump has transformed their building into a cutting-edge, environmentally friendly place of worship.
The manse is powered by another wind turbine, as is the church building in Papa Westray. Further upgrades are planned. Despite a 7,500 miles distance, they also partnered with churches in Malawi’s Thyolo Highlands Presbytery and are working to highlight the difficulties such as drought, floods, and poor harvests that they are now facing. In 2021 we also disinvested from fossil fuels and have laid out a policy of carefully considering the environmental impact of future investments.
With COP26 in Glasgow we hope and pray for urgent action. The world can’t afford anything less.
LORNA SLATER MSP
MINISTER FOR GREEN SKILLS, CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND BIODIVERSITY
LEADERS from around the world have gathered in Glasgow to discuss the climate crisis and how it can be addressed. A lot of these leaders are talking a good game, but, if the conference is to have the impact it needs to, then their words need to be turned into actions and fast. The UN has said it is “code red for humanity” and averting climate catastrophe must be the single biggest priority for every single government. There are things we can all do, but it’s not individuals who are responsible for climate change, it is polluters and governments. And it is the governments represented at COP who have the power to make the biggest difference.
In Scotland we are setting a strong example. With Greens in government, we are working together to build a greener, fairer and independent Scotland. Over this parliamentary term we will be investing in affordable transport that is safe and accessible for all, with free bus travel for young people, £5 billion for our rail network and £320 million for active travel infrastructure.
Before I was elected to Holyrood, I was an engineer in the renewable energy sector. I have seen first-hand Scotland’s potential to lead the renewables charge. With less than 1% of the population of Europe, Scotland has 25% of Europe’s entire offshore wind power resources and 25% of Europe’s tidal energy resources.
We will double Scotland’s onshore wind capacity and ensure a just transition to renewable energy which protects the planet and the economy. We will support our communities. No home will be left behind, with £1.8 billion to ensure warmer and greener homes.
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH RBGE
ICE CAPS MELTING in the Arctic. Fires in California. Deforestation in Asia. It is easy to think that the climate emergency is someone else’s problem, but the reality is that changes to our environment are as much an issue in Scotland – and Edinburgh - as they are elsewhere.
From rises in temperature pushing vulnerable plants to the margins, to the flooding of our homes and streets caused by less predictable rainfall, the effects of climate change can be witnessed all over the country.
At RBGE expert teams are leading the way in understanding and finding innovative solutions to some of these problems. In an area previously prone to becoming waterlogged, an experimental Rain Garden, developed with Heriot-Watt University, is proving to be a natural and sustainable solution to flooding. By lowering the ground to create a shallow basin, then using gravel
We divested from fossil fuels. We hope and pray for urgent action in Glasgow. The world cannot afford anything less
MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
and grit to change the profile of the soil and improve drainage, it catches and retains rainwater, allowing it to be reabsorbed by the planted vegetation.
EMMA COOPER
SCOTTISH LAND COMMISSION
LAND IS AT THE HEART of Scotland’s action on climate change. To achieve its ambitious climate targets, there will be a land use transformation over the next decade. In making this change, communities need to feel not just engaged in the decisions, but feel the benefits of it in their own places and communities. As well as acting at scale and quickly, this transformation must be done in a socially just and responsible way which reduces inequalities rather than exacerbates them. The Land Commission provides guidance on how this can be done, using the Scottish Government’s Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement to ensure responsible approaches are at the heart of land ownership and use.
Climate action on land is not just about rural communities. The Land Commission has led collaboration to transform the way Scotland reuses vacant and derelict sites in the heart of our towns and cities.
There are many inspiring examples now of sites being brought back into use in ways that help deliver climate action, creating green space, nature networks, renewable energy generation or active travel use. Many of these are led by communities, demonstrating the benefits for climate, economy and quality of place that can be delivered through community-led regeneration.
CLLR NEIL GARDINER
PLANNING CONVENER THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL
THE CITY PLAN 2030 is the next step to ensuring new development in Edinburgh over the next ten years is sustainable and contributes positively to our capital city. This builds on the 2020 consultation where we asked for views about our future direction, which have been incorporated into the proposed plan.
Making best use of land we have available to sustainably accommodate Edinburgh’s growing population, our proposed plan uses ‘brownfield’ land to build new low energy vibrant communities, supporting Scottish Government’s national “20-minute walkable neighbourhood” approach. These new communities will be built on brownfield land around existing transport networks with plenty of active travel options so people can move around easily and live in affordable highquality homes, with great culture and leisure activities and educational and health facilities nearby.
Recalibrating how our city grows is appropriate, rather than forever spreading continually outwards into precious greenfield land. We need to protect Edinburgh’s beautiful green setting from Pentlands Hills to the Forth, increase biodiversity, helping to address physical and mental well-being, reduce flooding and other climate impacts, as well as improving air quality.
A new sustainable neighbourhood in the west will utilise the excellent existing transport infrastructure, with the tram line running through and nearby network rail station. Land for this new quarter was previously designated largely for business development in the 2016 plan, together with the disused airport runway. Going forward, we will work with developers asking them to rise to the challenges of rapid climate change and finite resources. Developers need to think more carefully about location, using the land we have available effectively, through sustainable design.
Going forward we will work with developers asking them to rise to the challenge of rapid climate change and finite resources
CLLR NEIL GARDINER
THE EDINBURGH REMAKERY SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
THE EDINBURGH REMAKERY is based on a Circular Economy model – where as many materials and items as possible are reused, repaired, re-purposed and recycled to ensure as little as possible goes to waste – and says it is an essential part of turning the tide against climate disaster which they fear is a phrase which has lost its meaning.
A spokesperson for Edinburgh Remakery said: “We teach people how to sew, repair and remake their clothing, encouraging them to reuse or pass on garments instead of throwing them away and buying new. This reduces carbon emissions, whilst also saving people money and giving them a brand new creative skill to enjoy. We also take in donations of old electronics, such as laptops, tablets, smart phones, computers, and more, which we repair and refurbish, and sell on or gift to vulnerable groups facing financial hardship. This stops these electronics from ending up in landfill where they can pollute soil and waterways, and also means that valuable materials and precious metals that are found in these devices can be reused, which means less of these finite materials need to be mined for production.
“These very simple actions – donating a laptop for refurbishment or learning to repair your clothes or other belongings – may seem small and insignificant but added up they can have a huge positive impact on our climate.
By repairing, reusing, valuing, and sharing what we already have, we can prevent pollution, reduce carbon emissions, and create a greener Scotland with circular economy at its heart.”
JEREMY BALFOUR MSP CONSERVATIVE MSP FOR LOTHIAN
THERE IS an old Scottish saying “Mony a mickle maks a muckle”. This of course translates to “Many small things make a big thing” which is the approach that I believe we should model our climate strategy on. An accumulation of small decisions that are made by individuals will add up to large scale societal change. If each individual does what they are able to lower their carbon footprint and cut back on waste, that can translate into a huge global effort.
These small-scale actions have been brought to the forefront of our minds in the run up to COP26. Any time a conference like this comes up it should lead us all to search ourselves and consider changes that we can make in our life in order to lessen our carbon footprint.
For me as a disabled person who cannot drive, I have been taking the bus all over Edinburgh my whole life which is a lower carbon mode of transport than cars. However, I have been trying to be more thoughtful about the bus journeys I take.
On shorter journeys I will now often walk which is a small way that I can control my footprint. It is definitely inconvenient at times, but it is an individual choice that when added up across the whole community will make a large difference. Even though a seemingly small sacrifice, if everyone in Edinburgh committed to walking for all small journeys, it would make a giant difference.
BETSY WILLIAMSON
FOUNDER CORE-ASSET CONSULTING
I HAVE SEEN first-hand the cumulative effect of individuals taking a principled stance to force the hand of some of the world’s most powerful organisations.
As a major recruiter for Scotland’s investment sector, we have continually reported that job hunters are seeking out organisations who place Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors at the centre of their processes, with a commitment to climate change, not just to words.
ESG is no longer a box ticking exercise where investors can take the path of least resistance. Clients expect green, renewable and climate-based issues to be addressed throughout the stock selection process.
The days of only questioning the CFO on the company’s financial considerations have passed. ESG is expected to be an integral part of the investment process and business leaders at board level and below are expected to be accountable for their corporate footprint.
Responsibility for the climate lies with all of us, both individually and collectively. Ultimately the power to keep the tide turning at pace lies with the mammoth global investors who have trillions of assets under management. These businesses are too big to let the planet fail. Global asset managers are collectively invested in multiple asset classes, across numerous sectors and regions. A global failure would be catastrophic on investment portfolios, surely this alone instils panic into the heart of the most hardened fund manager.
There is no hedge for the polar icecaps melting overnight, or the temperature in Australia rising to 50 degrees at the coast, while America and Asia are being ravaged by forest fires and hurricanes. We have to hope that, as reality bites, investment giants will be able to achieve what governments, scientists and campaigners have so far failed to do.Turn the tide.
PESTICIDE FREE BALERNO COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP
IN 2015 the World Health Organisation named Glyphosate, the main ingredient of most weed killers, as a ‘probable carcinogen’, linking it to many serious human and animal health issues. Concerned individuals in Balerno began petitioning for Balerno to become pesticide-free for weed control.
In 2020 Balerno became Pesticide Free, we launched our volunteer weeding group to manually remove the weeds on the streets and pavements involving the whole community, keeping the harmful unnecessary chemicals out of Balerno to support health and well-being. We hope that by sparking a passion for protecting biodiversity and the environment in young generations, it will open up conversation and instil confidence in their abilities for proactive change. In 2020 when Balerno became Pesticide Free more than 80% of Balerno residents reported seeing an increase in the number of bees and butterflies and many other kinds of biodiversity. The biodiversity crisis is a crucial component in climate change and ecosystem collapse threatens human existence. The catastrophic decline in insect numbers - an 80% drop in 30 years is almost certainly in a large part due to pesticide use. Biodiversity are fundamental to the planet.
Mammals could disappear and little would change. Without invertebrates, all life is threatened. It’s no exaggeration to say that Glyphosate, if continued to be used in this irresponsible way, is helping to destroy the natural world.
COP26 should lead us all to consider changes we can make to lessen our carbon footprint
JEREMY BALFOUR MSP
EDIBLE ESTATES
COMMUNITY FOOD GROWING PARTNERSHIP
WORKING IN many communities but especially in social housing estates, Edible Estates (EE) is a partnership of organisations which promotes community food growing projects. Food growing is a tool for urban regeneration and EE has established projects at Magdalene Neighbourhood Garden, Lochend Secret Garden, Sunshine on Leith Garden, Clovenstone, Bingham, Murrayburn and Hailesland and Calders. This core activity brings people together in a common place with a common purpose. EE explain the many ways in which their projects tackle climate change, and that Nature-based Solutions such as theirs will be a key focus for COP26. EE say that their projects enable effective management and development of green spaces, focus on disadvantaged communities reducing health inequalities caused by inadequate access to the outdoors, facilitate active
travel and outdoor recreation in communities, deliver outdoor learning, and connect local people with nature.
JANET MCARTHUR
FRIENDS OF STARBANK PARK CHAIR
AS INDIVIDUALS, as members of our communities and as a small part of our complex and clearly changing Earth system, we all need to do something.
The good news is that we are all environmentalists as we need to breathe and live on a beautiful planet and we can all make a change even if it’s only a small change. Whether it’s buying less or recycling more.
We are lucky to have a group of individuals who are all committed to greener living and we all love our walled garden. As gardeners we are naturally Wombles - making use of the things that we find, things that everyday folks leave behind - repairing our tools, making new plants and trees by collecting our own seeds, taking cuttings and splitting herbaceous plants.
We recycle plant pots, filling them with young plants and donated house plants in exchange for donations from our local community.
Our summers are definitely warmer and drier and for the last few years in early spring it has hardly rained as all. This has made us consider, sometimes not knowingly, planting more draught tolerant plants in the park such as lavenders, calendula, sedums, eryngiums and the late season flowering rudbeckias. We have fig trees (variety Brown Turkey) in the park that are growing extremely well in these changing climate conditions.
EWEN MACLEAN
OUR local community group concentrates on addressing local transport choices of young people, hoping to enable changes allowing them to travel more actively and sustainably. Government figures indicate that domestic transport accounts for 42% of CO2 emissions. The bi-weekly bike buses enable children from James Gillespie’s Primary School to ride together on the roads in a group with parents and ride leaders to get to school safely. It is beneficial, not least for the mental and physical well-being of the children, but also in demonstrating to many parents that active travel to school is possible. Many parents find the roads too scary to cycle or walk to school, finding that they feel that their only safe option is to drive their children to school. To break this cycle what we desperately need is infrastructure to facilitate the modal shift from driving to travelling more actively.