Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 April 2023
20 Apr 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Climate Change and Just Transition
I welcome this timely debate on the urgency to deliver on tackling climate change and to ensure a just transition. We have to reimagine behavioural and cultural change. Change can be uncomfortable but we have to accept some discomfort, because the alternative is much worse.
Across the SNP and Green seats, we talk about setting high ambitions for Scotland to tackle the causes of climate change—we are the most ambitious nation in the UK. Younger generations and generations yet to come are relying on us to deliver on that vision. We need to act on that ambition.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-08626, in the name of Màiri McAllan, on delivering climate change and the just transition. I invite membe...
The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
I am delighted to open the debate in my new role as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition. Those matters coming together, side by side at Cabine...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I presume that the cabinet secretary will acknowledge that the UK Government’s £16 billion North Sea transition deal is 32 times the size of her Government’s...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I acknowledge and welcome every bit of support that flows into our north-east because of its importance to the future of our economy and to climate targets. ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Liam Kerr to speak to and move amendment S6M-08626.2, for around eight minutes. 15:18
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome the cabinet secretary to her new role. We, too, recognise the scale and urgency of the climate crisis. That is why the UK’s success in nearly halvi...
The Minister for Energy (Gillian Martin)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Liam Kerr
Con
In two seconds, please. We know that natural gas from the North Sea emits less than half as much greenhouse gas as liquefied natural gas imported from count...
Gillian Martin
SNP
I am keen to work with north-east MSPs on all this, and I am hopeful that we will have a constructive relationship. Does Liam Kerr agree that part of the is...
Liam Kerr
Con
I am grateful for the intervention. I very much look forward to working with Gillian Martin, whom I have previously worked with productively. I genuinely loo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Sarah Boyack to speak to and move amendment S6M-08626.1. 15:27
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
First, I welcome the cabinet secretary to her new role. Scottish Labour will be constructive. We will work to hold the Scottish Government to account. When w...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to be winding up.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
We need leadership, investment and new jobs across Scotland. We need to use public procurement and make sure that the just transition works for people across...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I welcome the cabinet secretary to her new role. Had my amendment been accepted, it would have called on the Scottish Government to address the volume of se...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 15:42
Kaukab Stewart (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome this timely debate on the urgency to deliver on tackling climate change and to ensure a just transition. We have to reimagine behavioural and cultu...
Liam Kerr
Con
How does what the member has just said square with Audit Scotland saying that the Government has no clear plan for reaching net zero?
Kaukab Stewart
SNP
I will come on to speak about some of the actions. The cabinet secretary has already mentioned those plans. Last year saw the hottest temperatures that Scot...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to such an important debate. I will start by quoting a commitment by the Scottish Government. It says: ...
Fiona Hyslop (Linlithgow) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the cabinet secretary to her role and want her to succeed, but, to do so, she will have to work very closely with the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbei...
Liam Kerr
Con
I am listening very carefully to what the member is saying. I wonder whether she can explain the logic of splitting out energy from the net zero portfolio, b...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I have given my view on the logic, but I am sure that the Government can explain that itself. The member is also taking part in the inquiry into a just tran...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. The Scottish Government’s just transition commission is a rather measured, moderate grou...
Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
As a member of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, I am pleased to speak in the debate, and I take the opportunity to welcome the Cabinet Secretary...
Liam Kerr
Con
I will not make the same point again about the £16 billion North Sea transition deal, but does Jackie Dunbar welcome the fact that the UK Government has awar...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give Jackie Dunbar the time back.
Jackie Dunbar
SNP
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am just fair forfochen—I am sorry; that is a good old-fashioned Doric word for being exhausted—haein tae explain tae ...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I warmly welcome the cabinet secretary and the minister to their new roles, and I look forward to our joint work ahead, particularly on the forthcoming clima...
Sarah Boyack
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?