Meeting of the Parliament 12 March 2014
I am sorry, but I do not have time.
The national low emissions strategy is a positive step forward, but we need more than a vision. We also need a clear timetable for action and concrete measures to ensure that air quality standards are met to ensure that everyone breathes clean air. As Patrick Harvie said, we need to ensure that we not only have cleaner private vehicles on the road, but fewer private vehicles on the road and to make active travel a more realistic option.
We all have a responsibility to act to ensure that people get a better quality of life and that our children, grandchildren and future generations have a better quality of life, too.
The Friends of the Earth briefing for MSPs said:
“Air pollution remains Scotland’s greatest environmental health threat.”
It is right. The Scottish Government and local authorities can and must do more; individually, we all can and must do more. I look forward to hearing from the minister about how he plans to ensure that the air that we breathe is safe. It is simply unacceptable that 1,500 people are dying every year because of air pollution. We need urgent action to tackle the hidden danger all around us. It is putting thousands of lives at risk. We need action, not words.
15:18