Environmental campaigners have said that the latest UN climate report makes clear that governments must say no to new fossil fuels and tackle an economic system that is speeding us towards climate breakdown.
Friends of the Earth Scotland Head of Campaigns Mary Church said: “Today’s UN report is another stark warning that the chances of avoiding 1.5°C are shrinking fast.
“Deep emissions cuts are needed now, and the message at the heart of this latest assessment is that we must say no to all new oil and gas projects, put an end to fossil fuel subsidies and urgently start delivering a just transition for impacted communities.
“The science is unequivocal in warning that the impacts of climate breakdown are happening sooner and are more devastating than previously thought, and of the irreversible impacts of going beyond 1.5°C.
“However, in assuming varying degrees of overshooting the critical 1.5°C threshold, many of the pathways set out in this report are simply untenable and show the political battles that are being fought around how to act on the science.
“What’s crystal clear is that this crisis is being driven by corporations who are profiting from climate catastrophe and over-consumption by the rich, particularly in the global north.
“Despite the bleak findings of today’s report, hope remains because the science also shows that another world, with decent standards of living for all, is still possible within the remaining carbon budget. But only if we rapidly phase out fossil fuels, and wealthy countries responsible for driving the climate to the brink start doing their fair share of action.
“The Scottish Government must heed the science, live up to its own rhetoric on justice and end its fixation with the dodgy technologies like carbon capture that are being pushed by industry that would gamble with life on earth for the sake of squeezing out every last drop of oil, and urgently get on with delivering a just transition to a renewable energy economy.”
Hemantha Withanage, Chair of Friends of the Earth International, added: “In my country, Sri Lanka, the impacts of climate change are being felt now. We have no time to chase fairy tales like carbon removal technologies to suck carbon out of the air.
“The IPCC evidence is clear: climate change is killing people, nature and planet. The answers are obvious: a fair and fast phaseout of fossil fuels, and finance for a just transition. The fantasy of overshooting safe limits and betting on risky technofixes is certainly not a cure for the problem.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – the UN body responsible for climate science – published its Synthesis report today, capturing the latest findings from its 6th round of Assessment Reports on the Physical Science Basis, Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability and Mitigation of Climate Change, and the three preceding Special Reports including 2018’s Global Warming of 1.5C.
These reports help inform climate campaigners and shape government climate action around the world. The IPCC carries out its Assessment Report in cycles spanning several years meaning the next time they will issue such reports could be towards the end of this decade when the world hopes to be in a very different place.
The IPCC’s AR6 Synthesis Report and Summary for Policy Makers is available at:
Eight-metre installation with vital message to launch this Saturday
LOCALS are encouraged to attend North Berwick Harbour for the official launch of a highly anticipated mural which is made up of 13,000 pieces of plastic collected from East Lothian beaches.
The event will be taking place on Saturday 25 March between 1pm and 4pm and will involve educational workshops from the Scottish Coastal Clean Up.
Attendees will also be able to speak to the artist behind the mural – award-winning local artist, Julie Barnes – who created the installation to illustrate the concerning levels of marine waste along Scotland’s coastline.
Julie, said: “As a local artist who loves living in East Lothian, I care passionately about our beautiful environment. Each piece of plastic tells the story of today’s culture and its obsession with convenience, despite the shocking consequences.
“It feels amazing to have been chosen to create this educational artwork and I hope, like all my work, it will inspire viewers to stop, think and make a conscious effort to help preserve our planet.”
The mural has been made from approximately 13,000 bits of a 27,000-piece plastic collection that was gathered by East Lothian local, Elizabeth Vischer, from a 200m stretch of Longniddry Bents.
Over lockdown, Elizabeth set herself the task of completing 100 beach cleans and decided to document the process along the way – the images she took will be on display in the nearby Seabird Centre for a 3-month period.
Simon Poole, co-founder of Jerba Campervans said: “It’s fantastic to see the local community supporting this inspirational initiative.
“Not only does it send out a vital message about plastic waste in our seas but also brings a new and vibrant piece of wonderful art to North Berwick Harbour.
“To see the project grow from an initial idea into a large-scale physical depiction of such an important issue in today’s society has just been incredible.”
The intricate artwork – which will illustrate a beach scene and image of Bass Rock – will span North Berwick’s harbour wall and will be accompanied by an interpretation board explaining the meaning behind the mural, urging people to act now.
Kate Miller, Head of Communications and Environmental Projects at Caledonian Horticulture said: “When Simon from Jerba got in touch after being inspired by another educational marine plastic mural and reading about our beach cleans, it was suggested we create something similar in East Lothian – it was an opportunity we couldn’t turn down!
“Caledonian Horticulture started The Scottish Coastal Clean Up initiative in 2021 and through our beach cleaning work, we became aware of Elizabeth and the monumental task she had taken on.
“The mural seemed like the ideal use of the astonishing 27,000 pieces of plastic gathered off the East Lothian coast line and really drives home the issue of marine plastic.
“From a distance, the mural appears to depict a colourful beach scene, but as you get closer and the details become clearer, you can make out the sheer scale of everyday items that have sadly ended up in our seas.
“We want the illustration to make people question how these items ended up in our seas and on our beaches and think about what they can do to help stop that happening.”
The artwork will last for many years in the sea spray environment and its impact is hoped to be maximised as tourists flock to the hotspot.
The North Berwick Harbour Trust, a small local charity that aims to maintain, conserve and improve North Berwick Harbour commissioned the co-operative project across the supporting companies, Jerba Campervans and Caledonia Horticulture and the artist, Julie Barnes.
The charity believes that all participants in the project are enhancing the Harbour and enlightening the massive numbers of visitors and locals at the community asset.
The eight panels making up the mural have each been sponsored by a local business; Steampunk, Turnbulls Home Hardware, The Lobster Shack & Rocketeer, Meg Maitland, Peppermint Beach, Fidra Charity and North Berwick Trust.
Wester Hailes Library has been selected as one of the first in Scotland to host a ‘Lend and Mend Hub’, as part of a trailblazing pilot project helping to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
Managed by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), Wester Hailes Library will build on its current offering to introduce a ‘Lend and Mend Hub’, giving the community free access to repair, reuse, rent and upcycle everyday items, to help keep items in use for longer, rather than them being thrown away.
Funded by The John Lewis Partnership’s £1m Circular Future Fund, the Edinburgh library will join eight other services across Scotland in developing the country’s first circular community hubs, forming a ‘network’ of sustainable ‘Lend and Mend Hubs’ across Scotland:
Aberdeen Central Library, Aberdeen
Wester Hailes Library, Edinburgh
Forfar Library, Forfar
South West Library, Inverclyde
Kilbirnie Library, Kilbirnie
Gorebridge Library, Midlothian
Orkney Library & Archive, Orkney
A K Bell Library, Perth
Girvan Library, South Ayrshire
Five of the services selected to take part in the pilot scheme were announced late last year, and work to source equipment, upgrade the space and train staff to deliver this promising project in these areas is well underway.
It is expected these public libraries – in Aberdeen, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Perth and South Ayrshire – will open their ‘Lend and Mend Hubs’ for public use early this year, with the other four services expected to open later in 2023.
Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of SLIC, said: “The ‘Lend and Mend Hub’ library project has the potential to create a real impact – especially at a time when all of Scotland’s communities are experiencing economic and environmental challenges.
“The introduction of this network will build on the important role our public libraries play, giving people access to resources they might not otherwise have to support responsible consumption and learning – with the added benefit of it being local and free.
“With all nine public library partners now selected, we can’t wait to see these local library services transform and thrive for the long-term benefit of the communities around them. And with such wide geographical spread and diverse community reach, we believe this pilot project will provide valuable learnings in promoting the urgent need to adopt a more circular way of living and help develop a long-term model for libraries to be a hub of circular economy activities.”
The projects, led by SLIC, follow a co-design approach with all service teams bringing local knowledge and expertise to the delivery to ensure each hub is tailored to community needs.
Upon completion, each hub will also introduce an education programme to support new skills development, helping to reduce inequality through equitable access to resources.
Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said: “I am delighted that Wester Hailes Library will be leading the way on the ‘Lend and Mend Hub’ pilot scheme. I am confident that this scheme will bring great benefits to the local community as we continue to grapple with an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.
“This scheme also does excellent work on reinforcing the circular economy and sustainability in our communities by emphasising the importance of repairing, reusing and upcycling. One of our strategic approaches and principles within our 2030 Climate Strategy is supporting a circular economy across the city.
“I look forward to seeing how this scheme progresses here in Edinburgh and across Scotland.”
Back by popular demand, Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, has launched its 2023 Helping Your Community Grow campaign across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Designed to enhance communities local to its stores, this initiative will see community groups receive gardening product, support and expertise from the Dobbies’ team.
Helping Your Community Grow has sustainability at its core and encourages people across the country to care for, nurture and protect their green spaces and urban communities.
Both the Stockbridge little dobbies and Edinburgh Dobbies store are calling on local groups across Edinburgh and the Lothians that want to help their community space thrive in a sustainable way to get in touch.
Whether it’s a school allotment project that allows kids to learn about the health and environmental benefits of growing fruit and vegetables; a community garden or space, looking to bring the outside in; or a charity looking to create a sensory garden to encourage everyone outdoors, Dobbies wants to positively impact communities through its love of gardening.
This year, Dobbies will offer advice, gardening products and tools to a community group to help them transform their space.
Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies said: “Community is at the heart of what we do and we’re proud of our Helping Your Community Grow campaign. Entries are now open for this year and we’re especially interested in hearing from projects across Edinburgh and the Lothians with sustainability at their core.
“Riding for the Disabled Association in Glasgow is just one of the many projects we supported in 2022 and highlights the diversity of the projects we aim to collaborate with.”
Lynda McKeeman, Yard Manager at Riding for the Disabled Association Glasgow, was thankful for the support. She said: “Dobbies’ support and funding allowed us to create a bright and fragrant sensory trail through the woodland area and out into the pond circuit which has been great for stimulating the senses of the riders and horses.
“We support over 80 people with disabilities and give them the opportunity to learn to ride or spend time with a horse. Our youngest participant is just 2 years old, and our most senior is in their 70s. Many of our attendees have physical disabilities, psychological problems or just need a confidence boost, and horsemanship is a great way to help rehabilitate them.”
Taking part couldn’t be easier and applications are now open.
Eligible groups must be located within 20 miles of Dobbies’ Edinburgh or Livingston stores or five miles of little dobbies Stockbridge. A shortlist of community groups for each store will be made and Dobbies will call on members of the public to vote for their favourite project.
Based on the public vote, there will be one winner per store, with the project receiving the most votes securing the national winner title. They will receive additional funding and support.
In addition to Helping Your Community Grow, there will be further opportunities for community groups looking for support, with small grants available from their nearest Dobbies or little dobbies.
++ Timeline shows two decades of failures on carbon capture technology
++ Instead of subsidising the Acorn project, campaigners argue public money would be better spent on public transport, home insulation and climate solutions that work today.
++ Technology labelled a ‘dangerous distraction’ that risks prolonging life of fossil fuel companies
Climate campaigners have highlighted a ‘legacy of failure’ on controversial carbon capture technology as the UK Government prepares to make a decision on investing more public money in the Acorn project in the North East of Scotland.
It has been almost 20 years since the Scottish Carbon Capture Society was formed but the industry has captured and stored zero tonnes of carbon in that time. In the intervening two decades, there have been failed proposals for carbon capture projects at Peterhead and Longannet fossil fuel power stations and at the Grangemouth industrial site.
The UK Government said they will make an announcement on support for further carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Spring 2023. Acorn failed to get ‘Track 1’ status and a share in £1 billion funding from the UK Government in October 2021.
Politicians and companies have been pleading for more public money for the Acorn project, despite Acorn partners Shell making $40 billion in profit in 2022, and Harbour Energy making $2 billion in profit before tax in the first half of 2022. The Acorn project appears to be totally reliant on further public subsidy to progress.
Carbon capture technology has been identified as a ‘dangerous distraction’ from the real, working climate solutions of rapidly reducing our use of fossil fuels through increased home insulation and the expansion of affordable and accessible public transport.
Campaigners say that both Governments should be investing in these measures that can improve people’s lives and cut emissions now rather than subsidising carbon capture which will only benefit hugely profitable fossil fuel companies.
The Scottish Government’s plan to meet their climate targets is dangerously over-reliant on carbon capture and storage. Ministers were warned by Holyrood committees, the UK Climate Change Committee and climate campaigners that they need a ‘plan B’ for when carbon capture fails to deliver. The Government has already admitted that carbon capture will not deliver in time to help meet 2030 targets but has neglected to act to address the shortfall in climate action.
Friends of the Earth Scotland climate campaigner Alex Lee said: “The story of carbon capture is a long and inglorious legacy of failure. The UK Government must not continue to throw public money at fossil fuel companies to try and prolong their climate-wrecking industry through the pipe dreams at Acorn or anywhere else.
“The only successful capture by this industry is public money, because it is certainly not capturing carbon. It’s long past time to stop subsidising some of the most profitable polluters on the planet.
“After nearly 20 years of industry promises and a complete failure to deliver, it is time to redirect that investment and energy to climate solutions that we know can deliver emissions cuts and improve peoples’ lives today, rather than falling for eternal promises of it just being around the corner.
“Scottish Ministers need to wake up and realise that carbon capture and these other so-called negative emissions technologies are a dangerous distraction from the urgent and necessary working of cutting emissions at source and delivering a just transition away from fossil fuels.”
Timeline of CCS failure
2005 – Scottish Carbon Capture Society founded 2007 – UK Government launch CCS industry demonstration project competition aiming to be operational by 2014. 2007 – BP pull out of Peterhead CCS project 2010 – Scottish Government CCS Road Map published. Existing coal stations would have to fit CCS no later than 2025 with a 100% capture rate required on new stations. 2010 – UK Government makes £1 billion available in capital investment for a CCS project. 2011 – UK Government pulls out of negotiations with Scottish Power & Shell because CCS project would cost over £1 billion. 2012 – UK Government launches second CCS development competition. 2015 – Peterhead CCS failure round 2. UK Government announced the £1 billion capital funding for the second competition was no longer available. 2017 – National Audit Office reveals £168million spent on failed CCS competitions including Peterhead. 2020 – Scottish Government Climate Change Plan update pledges approx 19% of efforts to meet 2030 climate targets will be achieved by Negative Emissions Technologies (e.g.CCS) and approx 25% of reductions by 2032. 2021 – Scottish Government’s Monitoring Report admits that NETs “ will not deliver at the pace assumed in the Climate Change Plan update” 2022 – Acorn cluster fails to meet its previously predicted timeline saying it would have drilled its first well in the North Sea by 2022. Feb 2023 – One year since SSE & Equinor application to Scottish Government for new gas power station at Peterhead, with the claim CCS will be added to plant. Application has not progressed. 2023 – Acorn cluster fails to meet its previously predicted injection of 200 kilotonnes of carbon into sea beds. Currently this project has limited funding and no planning permission.
We need your help to make The Edinburgh Climate Festival a reality, so please vote for our project today!
You have 5 votes to support not only our project but other outstanding ones as well.
Here’s a guide on how to vote for The Edinburgh Climate Festival:
Step one: If you’re an adult, register on myaccount https://www.mygov.scot/myaccount to cast your vote. This is a secure online portal that provides access to various public services using a single login ID and password. You can find a registration guide on the Edinburgh Council website. Young people under 18 can vote through Young Scot https://getyournec.scot/ using their Young Scot NEC number.
Step two: Once your account is active, visit Your Voice website : https://yourvoice.edinburgh.gov.uk/ and sign in using your myaccount details.
Help us create a sustainable future for Edinburgh!
Community wellbeing for climate impact (Ferryhill Parent Council)
We are a parent council groups that’s passionate able helping the children learn and thrive in the community.
This project will enable us to create a forest school within the school grounds, giving the whole school the ability to learn more about climate through hands on learning.
We will also be looking to add to the schools existing orchard with some raised beds for the children to grow food and learn about sustainable practice. We also plan on linking up with the local community centre to support the garden project.
Starter Packs Project (Fresh Start)
Since 1999 Fresh Start has been supporting people moving on from homelessness to ‘make a home for themselves’ across Edinburgh. Responding to people with lived experience of homelessness we provide practical support as people move on from temporary accommodation into new unfurnished tenancies.
Our service-users typically are allocated unfurnished properties and do not have the means to purchase the goods that make a home. Fresh Start provides Starter Packs of essential household goods – crockery, pots/pans, bedding, towels – to homeless households within the first 3 days of them moving in to their new tenancies, relieving financial burden and ensuring they have the essentials they need to settle in their new home.
We supply 13 different Starter Packs of quality used-household goods which are donated by the public and local businesses. Teams of volunteers gather in these donations and sort them in our warehouse for distribution.
In 2022 we distribute 14,430 packs and helped over 2,000 people moving out of temporary Housing. We diverted 75,500 kg (75.5 t.) of goods from landfill.
Community Shed (North Edinburgh Arts)
Vote for the North Edinburgh Arts Community Shed and support our ambitions for a more sustainable future!
Our Community Shed has been nominated for The City of Edinburgh Council‘s Edinburgh Community Climate Fund, and you can vote for it as part of the public participatory budgeting process until 12th March.
The primary focus of the Community Shed is to reuse wood and wooden furniture to enable our members to make and mend things for their homes, gardens and communities. Each year in Scotland we throw away tons of stuff into landfill, including wood and furniture, that should be recycled, reused, mended or made into something completely different and the Community Shed does its bit to convert this waste into useful and beautiful things.
Since its launch four years ago, the Shed has become a key community project in North Edinburgh with over 150 members. Being part of the Community Shed has a significantly positive impact on our members’ lives by improving their self-confidence, giving them meaning and purpose, making new friends and social connections, as well as providing them with an informal support network.
The Edinburgh Community Climate funding will enable us to purchase new much-needed technical equipment to cut and process wood, which will help speed up our processes while also significantly improving the quality of our output.
Please support our work and help create a greener community by casting your vote today!
This is a chance for you to decide how the Edinburgh Council money is spent on things that matter to you and your community.
For those under 18 wishing to vote this can be done through Young Scot using your Young Scot NEC number. School libraries will be offering supported voting too.
If you would like to vote in person, please visit your local library.
For information for our local residents, Muirhouse Library is currently located in the foyer of Edinburgh College Granton campus near Morrisons (350 West Granton Road), and its opening times are as follows:
Monday – Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Make sure you vote before 12 March.
Thank you for your support, and please share with your friends and families as every vote counts!
All Aboard for Climate Action (People Know How)
The All Aboard canal boat run by People Know How and Polwarth Parish Church has been shortlisted in the Edinburgh Climate Community Fund to receive funding to run climate change sessions with children and young people on the Union Canal.
These organisations are now looking for votes from the public, which will decide the final projects that will receive the funding.
The climate change sessions will focus on engaging children and young people with nature and the local environment and exploring the impact of climate change. Using fun and engaging activities, we will introduce them to small everyday actions that they can take at home and in their community to help tackle climate change.
The sessions will be open to pupils from local primary schools that People Know How work with as part of their Positive Transitions service, supporting children, young people and families in the transition to secondary school.
They will draw on the charity’s established experience of running groups across Edinburgh and East Lothian, including previous sessions on All Aboard that have introduced young people to a green space in the heart of their community, seeing plants and wildlife up close.
All Aboard was launched in 2021 and aims to nurture community cohesion and wellbeing in an innovative space on the Union Canal. It is open to the community, serving as a safe space in which to explore the canal, find new experiences and socialise, while surrounded by nature.
To vote, visit the webpage below and select All Aboard for Climate Action as one of your five projects. Voting is open to all Edinburgh residents over the age of 8 and can be done online or at your local public library. Please note, you must use all 5 votes for your selections to be valid.
Further instructions can be found via the link below.
The Environment Secretary calls for countries to join together to halt and reverse the loss of nature and protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030
Countries around the globe must join together, raise ambition and act faster to protect and restore nature on both land and sea, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey has said on World Wildlife Day (3 March).
Following the historic agreement reached at the UN Biodiversity summit last year, the Environment Secretary is attending the Our Ocean conference where she will work with other countries to make this the decade we halt and reverse the loss of nature and protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030. She will also acknowledge the effectiveness of established tools such as CITES convention that celebrates 50 years of protecting endangered species today.
Building on commitments outlined in the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan launched last month and progress to protect nature on land, the UK is this week announcing vital funding to boost marine conservation efforts worldwide, fight climate change, and support vulnerable coastal communities.
The UK has renewed support through its ambitious £500 million Blue Planet Fund to protect and restore important marine habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses that play a key role in the fight against climate change. This includes an additional £24 million to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, and the UK becoming the first donor to the Blue Carbon Action Partnership, committing £4 million to support countries unlock and mobilise finance to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems.
The Environment Secretary has also announced £45 million to the new ‘Blue Tech Superhighway’ project. From community-led fisheries management enabling local communities to set and monitor their own catches; new seawater farming systems working with species more resilient to warmer waters; through to pioneering approaches to reduce food waste, this investment will support small-scale fishers and aquaculture farmers improve their climate resilience, sustainability and incomes. The project will also encourage collaboration between countries across Asia and Africa to scale action.
This comes as the UK announced it will provide £1.5 million to the Asian Development Bank’s new Blue Pacific Finance Hub to support climate resilient, sustainable blue economies for Pacific Small Island Developing States including developing circular economies to reduce plastic waste and improved fisheries management.
The Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey said: “It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of stepping up our efforts to bolster the resilience of the marine environment and, in turn, the economies and communities that depend on it.
“At the UN nature summit in Montreal, we made a commitment to manage our whole ocean sustainably and set a target to protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. The UK is leading, co-leading, and supporting global coalitions of ambition to drive forward this mission, and I urge countries to come together to deliver coordinated, impactful action on the ground.”
She also urged more countries to join forces to tackle the scourge of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, one of the most serious threats to the world’s ocean which equates to approximately 11-19% of reported global fisheries production and leads to losses of roughly $10-23.5 billion in value. IUU fishing undermines efforts to conserve fish stocks, damages marine ecosystems, impacts global food supply chains and threatens coastal communities whose livelihoods rely on sustainable fishing.
The UK, US and Canada launched the world’s first global alliance to tackle IUU fishing last year, with members sharing data and tools to monitor and crack down on this pervasive issue. This builds on progress under the UK-led Blue Belt Ocean Shield programme which uses innovative surveillance techniques to tackle illegal practices in over 4.3 million square kilometres of waters around the UK Overseas Territories.
Since its launch, the Alliance has grown to 16 members, with Norway, Iceland and Korea recently coming onboard. More members will sign up at the Our Ocean conference today, including the EU, Panama and New Zealand.
Thérèse Coffey said: “For too many communities, the threat of IUU fishing looms year after year, as they bear the brunt of the instability and violence that accompanies this serious, organised, transboundary crime.
“For marine species, the impact can be devastating and this has a catastrophic effect on the lives of the hundreds of millions of people who depend on fisheries for their livelihoods.
“So, we need to accelerate our efforts and scale up. That is a priority for us in the UK – something we are addressing by improving import controls, sharing more data on vessels, identifying those who profit from IUU fishing, and holding them to account.”
Scottish members of a grassroots ‘community rail’ movement are joining forces to support a shift to greener, healthier, fairer transport, and encouraging people to ditch the car for one in five journeys when they can.
The country’s network of community rail partnerships, supported by Community Rail Network and Paths for All, used the 2023 Rail Scotland Conference to launch their ‘Let’s go for 1 in 5’ campaign, in support of Transport Scotland’s commitment to cutting car use by 20% by 2030. They used the conference to explore how the rail industry can play a key role, working with communities, to support more sustainable journeys that work for everyone and protect our climate.
From the Borders to the Highlands, Scotland’s community rail partnerships engage communities with their local railways and stations, enabling and encouraging more people to get around sustainably by train. Since the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, they have been raising awareness of how green rail is compared to driving (see statistics below), and working with communities and rail partners to make it easier to use the train combined with walking, wheeling and cycling, buses and community transport.
Transport is the largest contributor to climate emissions in Scotland. In response to the climate emergency, Transport Scotland has committed to reducing emissions by 75% by 2030, and net-zero by 2045. Rail accounted for just 1% of UK domestic transport emissions in 2019, despite representing 7% of the total distance travelled, and for a 30-mile journey, travelling by train instead of by car can reduce emissions by up to 86%.
Community Rail Network chief executive Jools Townsend told the conference how community rail, and the new campaign, contributes to Scotland’s vision of a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system. This allied to some of the major themes of the event – which also featured an address from Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth MSP – such as modal shift from road to rail and the rail network’s net-zero targets.
Ms Townsend said: “Cutting car use by 20% is crucial to tackling the climate emergency, and it can unleash great benefits for communities and families too, by improving health and wellbeing, addressing the cost of living, and making our streets and communities safer, nicer places.
“But we know it’s not so simple as ‘persuading’ people to ditch the car: as well as raising awareness we need to break down barriers and widen access to public and community transport, combined with walking, wheeling and cycling.
“Community rail and other locally-led initiatives have a vital part to play. We’re all about helping communities to feel confident and positive about rail and sustainable travel, addressing issues and worries people might have, and helping communities to have a voice and shape a green and inclusive transport future.
“We’re encouraging communities across Scotland to get involved, and for drivers to consider how they can help Scotland make the ‘1 in 5’ switch, to more climate-safe and community-friendly journeys.”
Community rail works across Britain to develop the place of railways and stations at the heart of local communities, and help communities get maximum benefit from rail. This growing, thriving grassroots movement, brought together under Community Rail Network, is made up of 76 community rail partnerships and 1,200+ station friends’ groups and other local groups.
The partnerships are supported by Community Rail Network and the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, funded by Transport Scotland and administered by Paths for All. This support helps to develop projects and deliver work promoting sustainable journeys with rail at their heart.
Graham McQueen, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places manager, said:“Paths for All’s Smarter Choices Smarter Places Open Fund is about supporting local and community-based transport solutions to the climate crisis.
“We want to see more people walking, cycling and using more sustainable forms of transport for their everyday journeys. Projects like this that encourage people to get out of their cars and travel more sustainably are fantastic examples of how grassroots community organisations can lead on the changes we need to make happen”.
Fridays For Future have announced a global climate strike tomorrow, Friday 3 March, which will see protestors march from Middle Meadow Walk to the Scottish Parliament, departing at 11 am.
The organisers will emphasise the catastrophic effects that fossil fuels have on our planet and its people; the lives being sacrificed for new oil and gas.
Adam Ballard, a 17-year-old activist with Fridays For Future, said: “The climate crisis and the cost of living crisis have the same root cause: the refusal to move away from fossil fuels.
“There is no energy shortage; there is a corrupt system that prioritises profit over people. While ordinary people are forced to choose between heating and eating, the people in power and fossil fuel CEOs continue to make unimaginable profits.”
After the march, there will be a rally in front of the Scottish Parliament where speakers from supportive groups including Stop Rosebank, Youth in Resistance, the Edinburgh High School Students Union and Palestine Action will share words with the activists and lend their experiences.
Niamh Gill, 16, said, “The science clearly states there can be no more oil, gas or coal developments if we want a liveable future.
“The UK government is keeping Rosebank, Jackdaw and the newly proposed Whitehaven coal mine on the table, instead of securing and investing in a just transition to renewables for the workers and wider society, and climate justice for all.”
Harris, an 18-year-old activist added: “The Global North has already used up 90% of the carbon budget to have a chance of staying below 1.5 or 2 degrees of warming. Millions in the Global South are far more vulnerable to this crisis, despite having the least responsibility in causing it.
“Yet our countries, governments and corporations continue to exploit them and destroy their lives and communities in search of more profit. The facts are clear, fossil fuels are fatal.”
Fridays for Future Edinburgh are calling on everyone to join them on March 3rd to protest against fossil fuels and the UK Government’s continued expansion of fossil fuel projects.
The First Minister has encouraged drinks producers to register for Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which will go live on 16 August 2023.
Drinks producers are asked to register with the scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland, in order to participate in the recycling scheme and to help ensure that they meet their regulatory requirements.
The scheme is expected to cut littering by a third, reducing the amount spent by local authorities on litter clean up, and will increase recycling rates of single-use drinks containers from the current rate of approximately 50% towards 90%.
The First Minister has also written today to the UK Prime Minister, reiterating that the UK Government must exclude the deposit return scheme regulations from the Internal Market Act. The Scottish Government first requested an exclusion in July 2021.
The First Minister said: “Scotland’s deposit return scheme will be a major part of our efforts to reduce litter, cut emissions and build a greener, more circular economy. Good progress is being made by industry ahead of the scheme’s introduction on 16 August, and I am aware of the significant private investment that has already been made by many businesses to be ready for the scheme, and the many jobs that are being created to operate it.
“I would strongly encourage drinks producers to register with the scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland. This is a vital step to ensuring everyone who needs to be is compliant with the regulations and is the best way to make sure that their products can be sold without issue in Scotland.
“I also want to reassure drinks producers with concerns about the impact of the scheme. SEPA has made clear that they will take a proportionate approach to compliance. They will work with businesses to help them get ready – advice and guidance, not fines, will be the first step for any business that is clearly taking action but struggling to meet their obligations.
“The Scottish Government will continue to listen to the concerns of small producers and will consider if there is any further action we can take to support them ahead of the scheme going live.”
