Hundreds Spring into Action Against Climate Change

Campaigners from across the country gathered outside the Scottish parliament (22nd April) calling on MSPs to put in place a strong Scottish Climate Change Bill.

SCIAF staff and supporters were among the crowds appealing for Scotland’s politicians to lead the way in the global bid to tackle climate change. Around 600 people, including 30 MSPs, attended the event organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) coalition – of which SCIAF is a member.

Thousands of brightly decorated stick people were planted on the grass banks outside parliament to symbolise public support for a water-tight climate change bill.

SCIAF’s Chief Executive, Paul Chitnis joined the heads of other SCCS member organisations, politicians and Scottish faith leaders, including Cardinal Keith O’Brien, for the family friendly rally. Speaking after the event he said:

“To see so many hundreds of people gathered outside the Scottish Parliament in support of a strong Scottish Climate Change Bill was fantastic. It is my hope that Scotland’s politicians will listen to our collective voices when they come to decide upon this vitally important piece of legislation.

“Climate change is already happening and the world’s poorest people are being hit the hardest, even though they have done the least to cause the problem. People in developing countries are looking to Scotland to show the leadership that is required to address the huge problem of climate change. We must not let them down.

“The Scottish Climate Change Bill offers MSPs a chance to put in place a strong and binding piece of legislation and set a clear example for the rest of the world.

Each and every MSP has a role to play in ensuring the implementation of a water-tight climate change bill.”

World leaders will meet in Copenhagen later this year to hammer out a new global climate change agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Many see this as our last chance to get greenhouse gas emissions under control or face the devastating consequences.

Scotland is one of the first countries to implement climate change legislation and the timing of the Scottish Climate Change Bill – due to be finalised in the run-up to the Copenhagen summit – means that we really could set a vital example for the global talks.

In order to be effective, the Scottish bill must ensure sufficient action is taken at home and shut the door on alternatives to change, like carbon offsetting.

SCCS is calling for the bill to include the following key points:

• · 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.

It’s not too late for you to take action. Why not write to your local MSP calling on them to back a strong Scottish Climate Change Bill? Click here to find out more.