Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-07093, in the name of Màiri McAllan, on outcomes from the 27th United Nations climate change conference o...

The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport (Michael Matheson) SNP

Today’s debate addresses one of the most important challenges facing not only Scotland but the international community. The latest report from the Intergover...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

When I speak to businesses, they say that the public support from Governments—both Scotland’s Governments—is difficult to access. What can the Scottish Gover...

Michael Matheson SNP

That depends on the type of technology and the area in which those companies are working. For example, support with inward investment opportunities could com...

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Michael Matheson SNP

I ask the member to allow me to make a little more progress first. What did COP27 achieve? It has seen the clearest acknowledgement to date that the people ...

Monica Lennon Lab

I am grateful to the cabinet secretary, because he is making some very important points. I want to bring the debate back to the topic of the just transition...

Michael Matheson SNP

Monica Lennon has raised an important point. We have set out clearly our position that the continued and unabated extraction of fossil fuels is not compatibl...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Michael Matheson SNP

I will give way to Liam Kerr, although I am keen to finish within the timescale.

Liam Kerr Con

I am genuinely grateful to the cabinet secretary. At the weekend, I read that the possible future Scottish National Party leader in Westminster, Stephen Flyn...

Michael Matheson SNP

I have not seen such a quote from Stephen Flynn. If he said that, he is entitled to his view. However, I am sure that Liam Kerr is wise enough to recognise t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I invite Liam Kerr to speak to and move amendment S6M-07093.2. 14:40

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

To pick up from where the cabinet secretary left off, there is no doubt that COP27 did not have the groundbreaking commitments of COP26, but that is not to s...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

On the member’s point about the production of renewable energy, by the same token, it would be very difficult and would take us considerable time to increase...

Liam Kerr Con

The member’s intervention rather contradicts the quotes that I gave earlier. However, the point is that we all went to see a just transition, because the cos...

Monica Lennon Lab

I know that Liam Kerr takes the climate emergency very seriously, but we must make real the aspiration for a just transition. If the Rosebank oilfield goes a...

Liam Kerr Con

The member is right—I do take the climate emergency very seriously indeed, as I know does she, which is why she will be interested to know that we must set R...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Liam Kerr Con

Will I have time at the end, Presiding Officer?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

You will have a wee bit of time.

Liam Kerr Con

In that case, I will take the intervention if the member is very quick.

Gillian Martin SNP

One of the issues that I have with the debate about oil and gas is that we talk about how we can lower the emissions that are involved in producing and extra...

Liam Kerr Con

That is a fair and well-made point, and it relates to how we present data and put information into the public realm, which is key. The First Minister needs t...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Despite COP27 having taken some modest steps forward on loss and damage support for countries that are vulnerable to climate change, we did not see the trans...

Brian Whittle Con

Does Mr Smyth agree with me that the drag on producing electric vehicle charging points is preventing us from moving to the use of such vehicles?

Colin Smyth Lab

I absolutely agree with that. Recently, the BBC’s “Dispatches” programme showed that a quarter of our existing charging points do not work. There is no incen...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

I am pleased to speak for the Scottish Liberal Democrats in this important debate, and I thank Màiri McAllan and the Scottish Government for securing time fo...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

We move to the open debate.

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Can you clarify whether we are able to intervene on remote speakers and how we do so?