Mid Scotland & Fife MSP Alex Rowley is urging both the Scottish and UK Governments to be bolder when it comes to climate change. He also wants to promote more discussion and action at the community level stating that ‘people power is needed to achieve a sustainable future for the generations to come’.
In Scotland the SNP Government has brought forward a draft bill on Climate Change proposing to reduce emissions by 90% by 2050. However, the Mid Scotland and Fife MSP says it is not ambitious enough and is supporting the calls by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland; a diverse coalition of organisations in Scotland campaigning together on climate change, for setting a target for Scotland to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the latest.
Some of the main human sources of greenhouse gas emissions are: using fossil fuels, intensive livestock farming, the use of synthetic fertilizers, the effects of deforestation, and industrial processes. Greenhouse gas emissions trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, just as the glass of a greenhouse keeps warm air inside. Human activity increases the amount of greenhouse gas emissions entering in the atmosphere, contributing to a warming of the Earth’s surface.
The Labour politician said:
“Scottish Labour is proposing a pathway to zero emissions with interim targets of a 56% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, and 77% by 2030, supported by a Just Transition Commission.
“Climate change is one of the biggest threats we face in this world. Without action, it has the potential to radically transform our planet and way of life, and it is the poorest all around the world that will suffer the most.
“Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to climate change, so we must act now to stop irreversible climate change from happening.”
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP says that more must be done to engage everyone in this discussion given that the failure to address this issue will impact on everyone. He said:
“I worry that climate change is often discussed like it is someone else’s problem, it is not and future generations will never understand why, if we fail to do anything.
“This is the biggest environmental challenge humanity has possibly ever faced. If we don’t want to see our rivers and lochs dry up, if we don’t want to see trees and animals becoming extinct, if we don’t want to see our cities flood and food becoming scarce – then we need to do something now.
“Local people can demand action by their politicians and support a target of zero emissions by 2050 but we can also take direct action as individuals and as collectives as we all contribute to the pollution of our planet.
“Scotland can lead the way in this, and that is why we need ambitious targets. We can show the world that an entire country can run with net zero carbon emissions. And hopefully this will inspire others to make the same change, for it is our children’s future that we are gambling if we don’t.”
