Climate Change: The Need To Lead

Scottish politicians have a chance to lead the way in the global bid to tackle climate change – SCIAF is urging them not to waste it.

Scotland’s leading international aid and development organisation SCIAF has joined forces with Oxfam, Christian Aid and the World Development movement to host an exhibition in the Scottish parliament, calling on MSPs to back a strong Scottish Climate Change Bill.

The week-long, Need to Lead exhibition featured images of people in developing countries holding photographs of leading Scottish politicians.

The show – which included images of the leaders of each of Scotland’s main political parties – demonstrated the impact decisions made by Scottish MSPs will have on people in some of the world’s poorest countries.

While rich nations continue to pollute the planet, developing countries suffer the consequences. By putting in place legislation to reduce Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, MSPs can start to turn this situation around and provide a positive example to other governments around the world.

In December a new global climate deal to replace the Koyoto Protocol will be negotiated in Copenhagen, Denmark. The outcome is hanging in the balance.

SCIAF’s Campaigns Officer, Lexi Barnet said:

“It is vitally important that world leaders face up to the realities of climate change when they meet to hammer out a deal in Copenhagen later this year. The Scottish Climate Change Bill comes at a crucial moment. It will be the last piece of climate change legislation passed by any country before world leaders gather in Copenhagen. This is Scotland’s chance to lead the world on combating climate change.”

The Scottish bill must ensure significant action is taken at home and close the door to easy escapes from the need to change. The bill must include the following five key issues:

• Establish a framework to achieve at least an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
• Establish in statute annual emission reductions of at least 3% year-on-year from the start, not just from 2020;
• Include all emissions in the targets including those from international aviation and shipping;
• Ensure that at least 80% of the effort to reach the targets is achieved through reductions in domestic emissions, (rather than the purchase of carbon credits);
• Be explicit that sustainable development is key to the intention and delivery of the statute.

The developing world is looking to Scotland to show the leadership that is required to address the huge problem of climate change. The leaders of Scotland’s political parties need to face this challenge head on. Each and every MSP has a role to play in this vitally important bill.