Chamber
Plenary, 21 Sep 2005
21 Sep 2005 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Climate Change
We need action from the Executive on things such as transport targets, which it is currently examining without acting on. We need action to be taken on climate change targets much more quickly than it looks as though it will be taken. The world is criticising George W Bush for not signing up to a global target. We need to meet our targets as quickly as possible.
The Executive's response to the committee states:
"Our objective is to deliver emissions reductions in Scotland without damaging economic development."
It is my perception that the Executive has not taken on board the fact that climate change will be responsible for a great deal of damage to economic development, as has been the case in every one of the climatic events in the world in the past two years. Making a quick and thorough response to climate change would be the best thing that we could do for economic development in this country. However, the Executive is not prepared to adjust significantly its short-term, business-as-usual mindset.
Today, the Tyndall centre for climate change research published an independent report showing that, if Government expectations for air transport expansion are realised, all other emissions will have to reduce to zero if we are to honour our commitments. Where is the Executive's action on that? If anything, the Executive's action is going in the other direction and encouraging more air transport emissions.
I strongly urge the Executive to reconsider its response to the committee's recommendations and particularly the committee's call for a national target. I note that, while the Environment and Rural Development Committee calls for national targets on transport, the Labour and Scottish National Party members on the Local Government and Transport Committee have closed their minds to the idea. That is deeply unfortunate. Scotland needs an overall climate change target that will focus minds and provide the impetus for a change from the Executive's business-as-usual attitude. I ask the minister to respond to that challenge in his summing-up speech.
The Executive's response to the committee states:
"Our objective is to deliver emissions reductions in Scotland without damaging economic development."
It is my perception that the Executive has not taken on board the fact that climate change will be responsible for a great deal of damage to economic development, as has been the case in every one of the climatic events in the world in the past two years. Making a quick and thorough response to climate change would be the best thing that we could do for economic development in this country. However, the Executive is not prepared to adjust significantly its short-term, business-as-usual mindset.
Today, the Tyndall centre for climate change research published an independent report showing that, if Government expectations for air transport expansion are realised, all other emissions will have to reduce to zero if we are to honour our commitments. Where is the Executive's action on that? If anything, the Executive's action is going in the other direction and encouraging more air transport emissions.
I strongly urge the Executive to reconsider its response to the committee's recommendations and particularly the committee's call for a national target. I note that, while the Environment and Rural Development Committee calls for national targets on transport, the Labour and Scottish National Party members on the Local Government and Transport Committee have closed their minds to the idea. That is deeply unfortunate. Scotland needs an overall climate change target that will focus minds and provide the impetus for a change from the Executive's business-as-usual attitude. I ask the minister to respond to that challenge in his summing-up speech.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-3293, in the name of Sarah Boyack, on behalf of the Environment and Rural Development Committee, on the c...
Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab):
Lab
First, it will not be possible to do justice to a wide-ranging report and an incredibly complex topic in seven minutes. However, I thank the committee clerks...
That the Parliament notes the recommendations contained in the Environment and Rural Development Committee’s 5th Report, 2005 (Session 2):
Report on Inquiry into Climate Change (SP Paper 342).
The Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Ross Finnie):
LD
I am pleased to participate in an important debate. I acknowledge how much I and all members of the Parliament welcome the excellent report on climate change...
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
My intervention is about the review of the Executive's strategy. I welcome the announcements that the minister made this morning about the Scottish community...
Ross Finnie:
LD
I am conscious of the point that John Swinney raises. We have developed a programme that focuses on driving forward our commitment to renewables across the E...
Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green):
Green
We welcome the data that were released this morning. Can the minister confirm that the Executive will now work towards establishing a national emissions targ...
Ross Finnie:
LD
I acknowledge—as the committee's report acknowledges—that, although we are in possession of new data that will help us hugely in developing targets, creating...
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP):
SNP
We all agree that, from the sad loss of an entire family in South Uist last winter to the massive destruction and loss of life that we have seen in New Orlea...
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab) rose—
Lab
Roseanna Cunningham:
SNP
Rather more than one and a half hours would seem appropriate. That would allow the likes of John Home Robertson to contribute. I look forward to coming back ...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
It was a pleasure to take part in the evidence taking on the inquiry. As a member of the Environment and Rural Development Committee at the time, I found it ...
John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP):
SSCUP
I have a brief intervention on cause and effect. The Parliament can have a limited effect on the causes of global warming. We have already heard about tsunam...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Quickly.
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
We can do something about that, so I am sad to hear that nothing is being said about something that we can do, instead of talking about global warming, the e...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
This is becoming a speech, Mr Swinburne. I think that you have made your point.
Alex Johnstone:
Con
I agree with part of what Mr Swinburne was saying at the beginning of his intervention, but I am not sure that I understood the references later on.I underst...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
The inquiry that led to the Environment and Rural Development Committee's report was, I believe, one of the most important pieces of work that have ever been...
Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green):
Green
I broadly welcome the findings of the Environment and Rural Development Committee's inquiry into climate change and congratulate the committee on producing a...
Ross Finnie:
LD
I appreciate that the committee's work was timed to be coincidental with the review, but I think that it is a little unfair to say that, just because we are ...
Chris Ballance:
Green
We need action from the Executive on things such as transport targets, which it is currently examining without acting on. We need action to be taken on clima...
Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
I thank the members of the Environment and Rural Development Committee for their hard work in the preparation of the report. We all know the facts about clim...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
One of the wake-up calls that I heard on the environment was when I learned many years ago that acid rain effects on the Scandinavian forests can be traced b...
Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I was greatly impressed by the Environment and Rural Development Committee's report and by the speech that Sarah Boyack, the committee's convener, gave. The ...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
I have in my hand the summary document on the climate change inquiry that the committee produced—it has been referred to a great deal. Its first words say it...
Mr Ruskell:
Green
I acknowledge what the member says about the importance of including the air industry in the emissions trading scheme. However, does he acknowledge the evide...
Mr Morrison:
Lab
I hope that the member welcomes the inclusion of the air industry in the scheme. The position that has been taken by the UK Government, supported by the Exec...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con):
Con
I draw members' attention to my entry in the register of interests, which declares that I own land, part of which is under development as part of a wind farm...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Fergusson:
Con
I really do not have time, but if I find that I do, I will let the member come back in.