Leaders warned: History, not voters, will judge you on climate change
Scotland’s political leaders stand accused of neglecting the most urgent issue facing Scotland – and the planet – during the Holyrood campaign as experts and campaigners warn history, not voters, will judge their actions on climate change.
All the party’s manifestos include promises to curb global warming but the leaders have been criticised for failing to seriously address the issue before polling day on Thursday.
Greenpeace UK’s head of politics, Rebecca Newsom, said: “One of the most important markers of whether Scottish political parties are taking the climate emergency seriously is their policy on North Sea oil and gas.
“Scotland must lead by example to stop new extraction and support workers to transition to well-paid green jobs. But so far, only the Scottish Greens have committed to end new licences for oil and gas.
“The SNP appears to be starting to recognise the problem, without making enough firm commitments. Scottish Labour appear to want to have their cake and eat it while the Scottish Conservatives seem to be in full denial.” Jamie Livingstone, head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “Scotland has relatively strong legal commitments to cut emissions, but we have missed our last two annual targets. While climate action features across the manifestos, history will not judge the next Scottish Parliament on promises made.”
Fabrice Leveque, head of policy at WWF Scotland, said the staging of the pivotal climate change summit, COP26, in Glasgow in November means Scotland has an opportunity to lead by example: “There is an opportunity for the next Scottish Government to walk the talk on climate change by accelerating action, putting in place new investments and policies, and ending activities that work against our climate and nature responsibilities.”
Two retired doctors who were prosecuted for their part in climate protests believe the issue should be top of the political agenda.
Former GPs Cath and Richard Dyer said most parties have failed to properly address the issue in this campaign. Cath, 71, said: “We have less than 10 years to reverse serious climate change and need all parties to speak out louder about this.”