The First Minister’s former school teacher sought to give a climate lesson to her famous ex-pupil today as the SNP conference got underway in Edinburgh.
The teacher was part of a group of activists from the Edinburgh Climate Coalition urging the SNP to stop rolling back on climate change action following the decision earlier this year to scrap its critical 2030 climate targets.
The teacher wore a black gown and cap whilst standing in front of a large blackboard with repeated lines written on reminding the First Minister “I must try harder to protect the climate. I must try harder to protect the climate. I must try harder to protect the climate…”
Environmentalists have been angered by the regressive approach taken under Swinney’s leadership including removing its opposition to drilling new oil and gas fields, announcing it will increase train fares and slashing millions of pounds from environmental restoration schemes.
Activists spoke to SNP conference delegates and politicians as they went inside the conference urging them to put pressure on decision makers to get back on track.
Caro Wilkinson, who was John Swinney’s German teacher at Forrester High School in Edinburgh commented, “When I taught John Swinney, he was both intelligent and caring. His kindness was clear when he organised a class whip round when I was pregnant to buy me a teddy bear for my new baby.
“He is clever enough to know how urgent the threat of climate change is and so I hope he cares enough for the planet to take the action that’s needed.
“If he does, he’ll speak out against the huge Rosebank oil field, reject the proposed Peterhead gas fired power station and do what he can to put the Scottish Government back on course to fight climate change.”
Luke Henderson, Edinburgh Climate Coalition spokesperson added: “People around the world are already suffering from the impacts of changed climate in fires, floods and landslides but the Scottish Government is going backwards and slowing down the action that will improve lives and cut climate pollution.
“Renewable energy is already far cheaper than new fossil fuels whilst solutions like making public transport more affordable and accessible will help more people get to where they need to be.”
Climate campaigners have announced that Edinburgh will join a global day of action against fossil fuels with a march through the capital on Saturday 16 September.
The march will demand a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels, calling for the workers and the communities most affected to be at the heart of planning this transition to ensure it meets their needs.
This wave of global protests and mobilisations will include the ‘March to End Fossil Fuels: fast, fair, forever’ in New York City on Sunday 17 September, as world leaders attend the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Ambition Summit.
Scientists, energy experts and climate campaigners agree that there must be no new investment in oil, gas or coal anywhere if the world is to limit further climate breakdown. Despite this the UK Government wants to “max out” new North Sea oil and gas and grant over 100 new licences for further oil and gas exploration.
The Edinburgh March is organised by a coalition of groups including Edinburgh Climate Coalition, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Fridays for Future, Climate Justice Coalition, War on Want, Extinction Rebellion Edinburgh, Scot.E3, Greenpeace Edinburgh and Youth in Resistance.
Marchers will highlight the threat posed by new oil fields such as Rosebank and the proposal for an extra gas-fired power station at Peterhead currently being considered by the Scottish Government.
Evelyn McGregor from the Edinburgh Climate Coalition said: “The protest is part of the biggest ever global day of action against fossil fuels.
“We’re getting organised and protesting because of Rishi Sunak’s promise to give out hundreds of new oil licences despite the record-breaking temperatures, extreme weather and terrifying wildfires this summer.
“By choosing to max out fossil fuels, politicians are lighting the climate’s touch paper and signing a death sentence for millions of people.”
Dylan Hamilton, an activist with Fridays For Future, said: “The threat posed by the climate crisis cannot be overstated, we have already seen destruction on a global scale at just 1.1C of global warming. Continuing to burn fossil fuels will lock in several more degrees of warming, and destroy billions of lives.
“The solution is simple: we must stop burning fossil fuels.
“Activists, from school pupils to pensioners, have been demanding that governments tackle this crisis and move away from fossil fuels for years. We hope that today’s politicians will finally listen.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s just transition campaigner Rosie Hampton said: “Politicians are failing to deliver the fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels that is desperately needed by workers, communities and the climate.
“Both the Scottish and UK Governments are listening to oil and gas lobbyists instead of what climate scientists are telling them and the devastating evidence of extreme weather around the world.
“The Scottish Government is considering approving a huge new gas-fired power station at Peterhead despite the fact it will lock us into fossil fuels for decades to come. The developers have admitted the plant will worsen climate pollution, so Scottish Ministers must use their power and responsibility to reject this new fossil fuel infrastructure.”
“By putting in place a credible plan to transition to renewable energy people in Scotland can have warm homes, excellent public transport and good green jobs. We hope that as many people as possible can join us in the streets to bring this message to both the Scottish and the UK Government.”
Several thousand people marched through Edinburgh yesterday as part of Global Day of Action for climate justice during the UN Climate Conference COP27 in Egypt.
The March was demanding action on warmer homes, better public transport and a speedy transition away from oil and gas which organisers say will help address the cost of living crisis as well as cut climate pollution.
The route through the capital took protestors past different stops highlighting the banks, polluters and governments who are driving climate breakdown.
The event also drew attention to the importance of upholding human rights in responding to the climate crisis, here in the UK and world-wide, as the issue of brutal repression of civil society in Egypt comes under the spotlight.
The march was one of over 40 events across the UK and Ireland on a Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.
Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns Mary Church commented: “As world leaders gather once again to negotiate the future of humanity, thousands of people are marching to demand solutions to the climate crisis that put people and the planet first.
“The solutions to climate change are within grasp and only require the political will to deliver them urgently. Governments need to stop prioritising the demands of big polluters and start listening to the people instead.
“Putting an end date on oil and gas well within the decade, with a just transition to reliable, affordable renewables will help tackle the cost of living crisis as well as slashing emissions.
“There can be no climate justice without human rights, yet governments around the world including here in the UK are clamping down on civic space.
“We stand in solidarity with those already experiencing the impacts of climate breakdown and with the people of Egypt who are being denied their human rights by a brutal regime.
“We support the call of the Egyptian human rights movement for the release of all those who are being unjustly detained including British citizen and human rights defender Alaa Abd El Fattah who is on hunger strike in prison.”
November 12 March was organised by the Edinburgh Climate Coalition, Climate Justice Coalition, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Global Justice Now, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Tipping Point, BankTrack, Jubilee Scotland, Scot.E3.
More Images:
PICTURES: Neil Hanna, Colin Hattersley and Ric Lander
Edinburgh will host a Climate Justice March on Saturday 12 November as part of a Global Day of Action, campaigners have announced.
It will take place during the UN Climate Conference COP27 that runs from 6 – 18th November in Egypt. The family friendly march is being organised by a range of climate and environmental groups and will coincide with over 20 UK events and scores more around the world.
Civil society activists in Egypt face persecution from one of the most repressive regimes in the world so there will be no mass mobilisation in Egypt around the climate talks. Egyptian activists along with allies across African countries and the Arab world, are calling for this global day of action to draw attention to demands for climate justice and human rights.
Since COP26 ended in Glasgow last year, people have felt the devastating impact of extreme climate change including the floods in Pakistan that displaced tens of millions, deadly heat waves across Europe and famine in East Africa.
This global crisis is being driven by the burning of fossil fuels. At the same time we are facing a cost of living crisis fuelled by rising energy prices. But in the last 12 months the UK Government has opened new oil and gas fields, tried to lift its ban on fracking in England, as well as offering licences for companies to explore for even more fossil fuels.
Campaigners will highlight how solutions to the climate crisis such as insulating our homes and investing in affordable renewable energy are essential to tackling the cost of living crisis.
The March will gather at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh at 12 noon on Saturday 12 November.
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s head of campaigns Mary Church said: “The climate crisis demands action on a global scale. Governments and corporations are adding fuel to the fire by going after more fossil fuels and fantasy techno-fixes that will only serve to delay action and line the pockets of the rich.
“We are marching to demand real solutions that will halt climate breakdown and improve ordinary peoples’ lives – an end to fossil fuels and a just transition to safe, affordable renewables.
“We see the suffering of climate impacted people around the world and we stand in solidarity with them and in particular with the people of Egypt who are being denied their human rights by a brutal regime.”
Extinction Rebellion Scotland are joining the march and highlighted the key issue from the UN climate talks of Loss and Damage. This is when the destruction from climate change is so great that it cannot be avoided or adapted to, and the people affected need compensation for their loss.
Joan Forehand, from Extinction Rebellion Scotland, commented: “None of us are going to be insulated from the climate crisis but there is terrible injustice and unfairness to this catastrophe.
“The wealthy have caused the most emissions, yet it is the poorest of humanity who are going to suffer disproportionately. Their natural resources have been extracted to create wealth for others. They are losing their homes, their futures and their lands and they don’t have the resources to protect themselves or rebuild their lives.
“It’s only fair that loss and damage payments are given to those who will suffer the most from this crisis, through no fault of their own. Without the justice of loss and damage, efforts to avoid ever worsening climate breakdown will stall and everyone will suffer.”
Luke Henderson, Coordinator of the Edinburgh Climate Coalition, explained why their grassroots group are involved in organising and promoting the march: “It is clear that our government won’t act urgently enough to reduce climate changing emissions and so it is up to us, the people, to push them into action.
“We have seen the huge impact that ordinary people can have through movements like Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo campaign. We need everyone who cares about the environment to show it to the world by joining this mass mobilisation.”
“It is fantastic that so many significant environment campaigns in Scotland are working together to promote the Edinburgh march and the energy and vibrancy of activists is going to create some fantastic art, music and excitement for the public to engage with and enjoy along the march route.
“Getting on the streets to save our planet could not be a more important issue, and this time having your say will be fun!”
Organised by the Edinburgh Climate Coalition, Climate Justice Coalition, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Global Justice Now, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Tipping Point, BankTrack, Jubilee Scotland, Scot.E3 and others.
