Meeting of the Parliament 01 June 2016
I congratulate the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform on her new role. I recognise the wealth of her experience. I look forward to working with all members in other parties who have responsibilities in the portfolio.
I pay tribute to Sarah Boyack, who worked for 17 years in the Parliament on sustainable development and much more. Her understanding of, and commitment to, renewable energy was ahead of its time. In my view, her towering intellect and grasp of planning and structural issues enabled her to be a fine minister and shadow cabinet secretary. I am sure that we all wish her well. [Applause.]
Climate change and all other environmental issues are an incredible responsibility and bring many opportunities. I was pleased that the cabinet secretary stressed that she will work with those who are responsible for other portfolios, including transport, energy, housing and agriculture, because that is necessary if we are to forge action and legislation that protect future generations while creating new jobs and a better quality of life now. I therefore welcome the promotion of climate change to Cabinet level. The changes that are needed as we shift towards a low-carbon economy are not always easy to make for any political party. Although I will always hold the Scottish Government to account when necessary, I will work with the Government wherever possible.
An example of members working with the Government in the previous session of Parliament was when Alison Johnstone, Jim Eadie and I, as co-conveners of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on cycling, worked with Derek Mackay, then Minister for Transport and Islands, to bring about an award for an on-road segregated cycling scheme, which we had thought up and which was developed as the community links plus scheme. However, SNP plans to slash air passenger duty are fiscally and environmentally irresponsible, taking millions of pounds out of public services.
With our amendment, Scottish Labour asks the Scottish Government to support a ban on fracking and unconventional gas extraction. The science is clear that, to meet our climate change goals and protect our environment, we must say no to fracking. Labour is clear—no ifs, no buts, no fracking. Methane has been upgraded as a greenhouse gas for good reason, as it traps up to 100 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide in a five-year period. The last thing that Scotland needs as we shift towards a low-carbon economy is what some have called a transition fuel. Fracking provides just another fossil fuel and we do not need it.