Scottish Government Climate Action - WWF Scotland Comment

19 Apr 2024 01:35 PM

Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland responded to the Scottish Government’s announcement on future climate action [1] 

“It’s bitterly disappointing that Scottish Government’s delays in delivering its own policies, over many years, has led to this announcement. By failing to treat the climate crisis as the emergency that it is, and deliver the actions needed, Scotland’s 2030 target has been put out of reach.

“We now need to see the emergency response from government that is required to put our climate ambitions back on track. It's welcome to hear Ministers reiterate their commitment to tackling climate change and the policies that have been proposed. However, the real test is how quickly these, and existing commitments, are turned into reality to start delivering real benefits for people like warmer homes, healthier air, and supporting more farmers to adopt climate and nature-friendly practices.

“The recent farm floods show that the climate crisis has not gone away, and polling shows that public support in Scotland for action remains high. We urgently need a repeat of the success we’ve already seen on renewables, in sectors such as agriculture, homes, and transport. We therefore need the Scottish and UK governments, politicians from all parties, businesses, and the public to all play their part in delivering a climate and nature-friendly future.”

Notes to Editors

[1] Scottish Government climate action: policy package

https://www.gov.scot/publications/climate-change-action-policy-package/

[2] Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit Scottish recent polling found 73% of Scots support Scottish Government target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2024/new-poll-scottish-voters-support-net-zero-and-policies-to-get-there