As we approach the end of 2020 we can certainly say it has been a year like no other. I would like to be able to say it will all be back to normality in the new year but it won’t and I do hope that we can all reflect on what the new norm moving forward might look like and indeed what we would want it to look like.
I have been campaigning for action to address wildlife crime in Scotland and had tabled a motion at the beginning of the year that pointed out that Scotland is reportedly the only place in the world where satellite tagged birds of prey seem to suffer catastrophic tag “malfunctions” at 25 times the rate of other countries and overwhelmingly over areas used for driven grouse shooting. So I was delighted when the government announced a new licensing scheme for the management of grouse moors. We have to say it is wrong that iconic birds like the golden eagle are being murdered and we must protect the diversity we have in Scotland and have more control over the land.
In recent weeks I have been highlighting what can only be described as the failure of the SNP Government to create skills and jobs in the renewables sector. The reason this is so important is that time is running out for fossil fuels and we must shift our economy to green jobs if we are to hit the climate targets set by both the UK and Scottish Governments.
Climate change is the greatest threat for the future and that is why we cannot allow politicians to deflect from the challenge of building a green economy. I spoke in a debate in parliament a few weeks ago and I made the point that SNP politicians have made careers out of blaming anyone and everyone for their failures but with transforming the economy that cannot be allowed to happen. But we all have a responsibility to make the case for change and demand the action that is needed. As Friends of the Earth have said: “We have a rare opportunity to rebuild society in a way which benefits the planet and everyone in it.”
This is the greatest challenge facing Scotland and the world, and the youth of tomorrow will not understand if we fail for they will suffer the consequences of that failure.
