Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 June 2021
09 Jun 2021 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Climate Emergency
The cabinet secretary will be aware that Glasgow plans to deliver electric buses but that it has been suggested that those buses will use as much energy as would be required to heat 10,000 homes. Will the cabinet secretary outline the Scottish Government’s plans to develop a network that can deliver that level of energy resourcing?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-00278, in the name of Michael Matheson, on addressing the climate emergency. I invite members who wish to...
The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport (Michael Matheson)
SNP
In Scotland, we are already seeing the impact of the global climate crisis in warmer temperatures, more extreme weather events, rising sea levels and the sub...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
The cabinet secretary will be aware that Glasgow plans to deliver electric buses but that it has been suggested that those buses will use as much energy as w...
Michael Matheson
SNP
That is a good point. I visited the Caledonian depot just last week for the launch of the installation of the bus charging points. Three parties have taken f...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Liam Kerr to speak to and move amendment S6M-00278.2. 15:35
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Few things are as urgent as tackling the climate emergency and preventing its disastrous consequences for people all over the world. The motion, which the Co...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
Ofgem is about to carry out a review. Does Liam Kerr agree that, in relation to transmission charges, its mission should include net zero, which is currently...
Liam Kerr
Con
That is an important point. The more that agencies come forward and say, “Yes, we need to be talking net zero, and we need to be driving net zero”, the bette...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
Will the member give away?
Liam Kerr
Con
I am in my last minute, Mr Ruskell. The Green Party’s policy of absolute zero emissions is neither realistic nor practical, and nor is it in line with eithe...
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Climate change and nature loss are undeniably the greatest global threats that we face, so we welcome the debate, which is my first as Scottish Labour’s net ...
Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member give way?
Monica Lennon
Lab
I was just coming on to mention Maurice Golden, but I will give way.
Maurice Golden
Con
Does Monica Lennon agree that it is an absolute disgrace that 30,000 tonnes of recyclable waste were sent to be burned last year in Scotland?
Monica Lennon
Lab
I agree—that figure is horrifying. Although we can all do more to tackle our throwaway culture, we also need big system change, which is why regulation is im...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Could you bring your remarks to a close, please?
Monica Lennon
Lab
Of course. There will be lots that we agree on today, so I hope that Parliament will support our amendment. I move amendment S6M-00278.1, to insert at end:...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
Like so many people across Scotland and around the world, I have been deeply inspired and moved by the school climate strikes, and I feel ashamed—in particul...
Liam Kerr
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Mark Ruskell
Green
I am pushed for time as I have only four minutes for my opening speech. I will come back to Mr Kerr later. Such a target will not be met without transformat...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am grateful for the chance to speak in what I hope will be a genuinely constructive debate. As the Government’s motion sets out, tackling the climate emer...
Fiona Hyslop (Linlithgow) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the cabinet secretary to his new role. Climate emergency issues need to run through every portfolio as a central backbone. I agree that a green rec...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Sharon Dowey, who will be making her first speech in the Parliament. 16:09
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank each and every person who voted for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party in the south of Scotland, and I thank everyone who helped me in my c...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
We all know what the targets are, and now we need the action and system change to deliver on them. There is a lot in the motion to cover, but I want to conce...
Liam Kerr
Con
I am grateful to the member for taking an intervention, and I must say that I am enjoying her comments today. Eleven years ago, the SNP predicted that there...
Gillian Martin
SNP
I am glad that Liam Kerr mentioned that. One of the reasons why there is not the number of jobs that we predicted is that there is a regulatory issue. The nu...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
I call Mercedes Villalba. This is Ms Villalba’s first speech in the chamber. 16:22
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer, and congratulations on your role. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in today’s debate on the climate emergency, becau...
Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green)
Green
As I am keen on co-operative and consensus-building politics, I was very pleased to read a copy of the cross-party committee recommendations on tackling the ...