SCIAF joins Scotland's biggest ever climate lobby

SCIAF staff and supporters proudly joined in Scotland’s biggest ever pro-climate event today in Edinburgh. 

They were joined by hundreds of people from across the country who gathered in Edinburgh to talk climate with political leaders. Residents gathered in the capital to meet MSPs face-to-face and discuss actions that should be taken to tackle climate change and build a fairer, safer future. 

The meetings come ahead of the publication of Scotland’s new Climate Change Plan, which will set out how the country will meet its target to reach zero emissions by 2045, and just months before Scots head to the polls for the next Scottish Parliament election. 

The lobby was organised by Scotland’s climate coalition, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS), which has more than 70-member groups from across society, all united in the mission to tackle climate change. 

First Minister John Swinney was at Holyrood to meet with residents from his own constituency. 

First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, said:

“I warmly welcome the work of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and everyone involved in campaigning for climate action. Raising awareness of this issue has never been so important - particularly at a time when we are witnessing a concerning rise in anti-climate rhetoric from opposition parties, despite the majority of people in Scotland recognising that climate change is an immediate and urgent problem. 

“The Scottish Government’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2045 is unwavering, and the new carbon budget framework will put us on course to achieve this. Scotland is now more than halfway to net zero and continues to be ahead of the UK as a whole in delivering long-term emissions reductions.” 

Ben Wilson, SCIAF’s director of public engagement said:

“While the effects of climate change are beginning to show here in Scotland, it’s the countries of the Global South that are bearing the brunt of its impacts. The harsh reality is that the world's poorest communities are suffering first and worst. 

“We must take every step possible here at home to meet our Paris Agreement commitments as quickly as possible, while also doing all we can to support vulnerable nations in adapting to and recovering from the impacts of climate change. 

“Today, people across the country are calling on political leaders to ensure that global justice and climate action remain at the heart of the Scottish elections next year.”