Following a special meeting of Council Leaders yesterday to discuss Local Government Pay, COSLA has made a ‘significantly improved’ formal offer to the trade unions.
Scotland’s council leaders welcomed that Scottish Government had provided funding to take a pay offer beyond the 3.2% previously offered by COSLA, recognising the financial position facing councils while also providing firm assurances around any recurring additional funding.
This additional funding means that the revised offer is better than the offer made to Local Government workers in the rest of the UK.
If the offer is accepted everyone will receive at least 3.6% and for the first pay point on our pay scales, there will be an increase of £1292 (or 5.63%), The overall offer value is 4.27%.
In making this improved offer, COSLA is requesting that strike action is suspended while it is considered by the unions, who have been made aware of Leaders’ concerns that the additional funding may be at risk if strikes go ahead.
COSLA’s Resources Spokespeople Cllr Katie Hagmann said:“Having worked hard over the last week with Scottish Government to increase and guarantee additional funding, Leaders are now in a position to make this improved offer to our trade unions.
“This offer reflects what trade unions have asked for and we hope that they will now be prepared to call off the strikes while they put that offer to their members.”
Climate justice campaigners have condemned the Lothian Pension Fund for increasing its investments in fossil fuels despite the worsening climate emergency.
The latest investment holdings list from the Lothian Pension Fund reveals that the fund’s investments in oil and gas companies have risen in value to £208m in 2024 from £166m in 2022. This increase is driven by the purchase of additional shares rather than changes in the market value of existing holdings and has arisen despite Edinburgh and East Lothian councils passing motions in 2022 calling on the fund to divest from fossil fuels in order to tackle the climate crisis.
The Lothian Pension Fund is the second biggest fossil fuel investor of all the council pension funds in Scotland. It invests in some of the world’s biggest climate polluters, including TotalEnergies, Exxon Mobil, Eni, Equinor, Shell and BP.
TotalEnergies, now Lothian Pension Fund’s largest fossil fuel investment following a recent significant purchase of additional shares, is currently developing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. If completed, the pipeline will stretch 1,444km across Uganda and Tanzania, to pump oil out of new oil fields in Uganda to be exported on the international market. It would produce 379m tonnes of carbon emissions if it goes ahead.
Joan Forehand from campaign group Divest Lothian said:“It is appalling that the Lothian Pension Fund is choosing to invest even more of its members’ pensions in companies that, despite responsible investors’ efforts over many years to get them to change course, are doubling down on oil and gas expansion plans.
“The science is clear: we need to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown, and the economic collapse that would bring. Increasing investment in the fossil fuel industry highlights the failure of the Lothian Pension Fund to adequately assess climate change risk in its financial modelling.”
Sally Clark, divestment campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:“It’s unbelievable that despite the worsening climate crisis and clear support for ending fossil fuel investments from councillors in Edinburgh and East Lothian, Lothian Pension Fund has actually increased investments in fossil fuels.
“These fossil fuel companies are driving climate breakdown and the pension fund’s managers have a responsibility to act in the best interests of their members and future generations.
“The money moved away from fossil fuels could instead be invested in ways that support local communities and protect the planet for everyone, like renewable energy. As skyrocketing energy bills are plunging millions of people into fuel poverty across the UK, this transition is more important than ever.”
Jane Herbstritt, climate campaigner at Global Justice Now added: “Despite the certainty of the climate emergency, TotalEnergies is pressing ahead with its climate-wrecking development of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline – displacing local communities and destroying the environment in order to profit from pumping out more new oil than can be safely burned.
“It is wholly irresponsible for the Lothian Pension Fund to give its backing to this by increasing its investment in TotalEnergies, particularly when councillors in Edinburgh and East Lothian have voted for the pension fund to divest from oil and gas.”
Divest Lothian is calling on the pension fund’s managers to stop investing in fossil fuels and to instead invest in renewable energy and social housing in order to prioritise the long-term health and well-being of its members and of communities around the world.
NHS Lothian recently led a project to reduce waste and carbon emissions caused by incorrectly disposed inhalers.
Across Scotland, respiratory disease is common, however the treatment for this is a major carbon hotspot. Emissions caused by incorrectly disposed inhalers contribute to air pollution, potentially exacerbating respiratory conditions and affecting the overall health of our communities.
Jane Hopton, NHS Lothian Environmental Sustainability Lead said: “The carbon footprint of respiratory disease is largely due to the current propellant gases found in some inhalers. These gases have 1,430 or 3,220 times the global warming potential of CO2, depending on the brand of inhaler.
“By disposing of used, unwanted, or expired inhalers properly, we can ensure the safe destruction of the residual propellant gases and in doing so, help to reduce their carbon footprint.”
This project, which was funded by NHS Lothian Charity as part of their Climate Challenge Grant initiative, asked participating community pharmacies to add stickers to dispensing bags containing inhalers. The stickers stated, “please return unwanted or expired inhalers to your pharmacy for environmentally safe disposal.”
In total, five community pharmacies took part in the pilot project. After 10 weeks of adding the stickers to bags, the number of inhalers returned was four times more than prior, representing a 300% increase.
Jane added: “This has been an important project, and one which demonstrates how small changes can make a valuable contribution to supporting our sustainability goals.
“Our thanks go to staff within the Community Pharmacies that were involved for their support in making this pilot such a success. I look forward to seeing this work develop, as collectively we explore all opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint.”
While dry powder inhalers do not contain propellants, they are currently not recyclable due to the multiple types of plastic and components in them. Patients, however, are encouraged to dispose of these items safely and can return them to a pharmacy to do this.
The second phase of this project aims to increase effective prescribing for respiratory conditions by improving access to information that supports clinical decision making and promotes good inhaler techniques.
This is in recognition of the new Scottish Government quality prescribing strategy for respiratory conditions which recognises that the most environmentally friendly inhaler is one that patients can, will and do use correctly.
Resources have been developed to support this, including posters for healthcare staff and educational posters to support patients with their inhaler technique. These have been distributed to staff in primary and secondary care by the Respiratory Managed Clinical Network.
Katie Johnston, Respiratory Lead, Primary Care Pharmacist, NHS Lothian said: “Lots of people use inhalers and often do not think about the environmental impact these can have.
“Community pharmacies are ideally positioned and essential to support improved respiratory care and to help reduce the environmental impact of all medicines.
“Feedback regarding the resources has been very positive and the Managed Clinical Network plans to continue to develop and share information to ensure inhaler waste continues to be reduced, the carbon footprint from inhalers is minimised and every patient is prescribed an inhaler device that is suitable for them.”
KEEP Scotland Beautiful yesterday joined a cohort of organisations, led by Keep Britain Tidy, calling for the new UK government to urgently commit to a Deposit Return Scheme.
Alongside environmental organisations, manufacturers and retailers, we have signed a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to work with the devolved nations to urgently bring in a Deposit Return Scheme to protect the environment from littered drinks packaging and dramatically increase recycling rates.
The signatories include major soft drinks producers Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Suntory, the British Soft Drinks Association, a raft of environmental organisations including WWF, Surfers Against Sewage and the Marine Conservation Society and trade body the Federation of Independent Retailers – and collectively reiterates unwavering support for the UK Government’s implementation of a Deposit Return Scheme, which has undergone extensive development.
Research from circular economy non-profit Reloop shows that currently more than 20 million drinks containers are incinerated, sent to landfill or littered each day across the UK.
KSB Chief Executive Barry Fisher, who signed the letter, said: “Our research shows 65% of people report seeing littered drinks cans regularly, and 66% report seeing plastic bottles littered regularly.
“Additionally, we know from our detailed ground litter surveys that 27% of sites record a presence of litter which would be recoverable under a Deposit Return Scheme.
“The delay of a Deposit Return Scheme from 2025 to 2027 announced by the UK Government earlier this year was a major setback for us in Scotland. We know a sufficient and well-designed Deposit Return Scheme is vital to tackle a significant contributor to Scotland’s litter emergency, and it should have been implemented long before now.”
More than 40 countries have already successfully implemented a Deposit Return Scheme with the best designed seeing return rates of up to 98% as a result.
Wet weather and low temperatures causinghavoc for butterflies during Big Butterfly Count
Leading wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has revealed very low numbers of butterflies have been spotted so far in its annual Big Butterfly Count. On average participants are seeing just over half the number of butterflies they were spotting this time last year.
The unusually wet and windy spring, coupled with the colder than usual temperatures so far this summer could be contributing to the lack of butterflies. While there is a chance of a later emergence of the insects if there is a prolonged sunny spell, numbers are currently the lowest recorded in the 14-year history of Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.
With just one week remaining of the Big Butterfly Count, scientists are calling on the public to get outside for 15 minutes and record the number and type of butterflies they see – and to enter their results even if they see very few or no butterflies – as this will help them to understand more about how butterflies in the UK are faring.
Dr Dan Hoare, Director of Conservation at Butterfly Conservation, explains: “Butterflies need some warm and dry conditions to be able to fly around and mate. If the weather doesn’t allow for this there will be fewer opportunities to breed, and the lack of butterflies now is likely the knock-on effect of our very dreary spring and early summer.”
However, the charity is also warning that it is not only this year’s weather that is contributing to the lack of butterflies being seen. 80% of butterflies in the UK have declined since the 1970s, with habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use the main drivers of this decline.
With populations of butterflies already depleted, they are less resilient to the impact of poor weather.
Dr Dan Hoare continues: “The lack of butterflies this year is a warning sign to us all. Nature is sounding the alarm and we must listen. Butterflies are a key indicator species. When they are in trouble we know the wider environment is in trouble too.
“People are telling us that they aren’t seeing butterflies, but simply telling us is not enough, we need everyone to record what they are or aren’t seeing by doing a Big Butterfly Count as this will give us the evidence we need to take vital action to conserve our butterfly species.”
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is the largest citizen-science project of its kind and is a positive action everyone can take to help collect important scientific data which informs policy decision making and conservation effort.
The public are asked to spend just 15 minutes outside when in a sunny spot and record the number and type of butterflies they see.
Whether done with friends and family, or in a moment of quiet and calm solitude, the Big Butterfly Count is free, fun and quick to do. It is open to anyone, of any age, in any part of the UK – towns, cities or the countryside. No green space is too small – a back garden, a small terrace or balcony with some pot plants, a public park, allotment, or country lane are all important spaces to explore, track and report.
Last year more than 135,000 Big Butterfly Counts took place up and down the country, with participants spending a combined total of almost four years counting butterflies. The information gathered helps scientists to understand how butterflies and moths and faring, informs conservation projects, government policies, and supports other experts with their research and vital work to protect our planet.
This year’s Big Butterfly Count ends on Sunday 4 August. For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.
Fungi’s role in aiding plant life, conservation and much more revealed in new book
Fungi have long been the subject of stark misconceptions. At times they are labelled as dangerous killers to be avoided at all costs when, without fungi, almost all plant life would perish.
While much of our planet has been explored, it is believed that only 10% of Earth’s fungal species have been discovered. Perhaps the most misunderstood and misrepresented of all groups of organisms, fungi are essentially nature’s unsung heroes, silently shaping our ecosystems for the better.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will publish TheFascinating World of Fungi on 1st August 2024, providing an accessible introduction to these often-hidden life forms.
A revised edition of the 2010 title From Another Kingdom: The Amazing World of Fungi, this updated book features a new foreword, additional imagery and insightful explanations about fungi.
Fungi are constantly decomposing organic matter and forming symbiotic relationships with plant roots. They are the ultimate recyclers and soil enrichers. With their remarkable ability to break down pollutants and support plant growth, fungi are a crucial component of a thriving and balanced environment.
This new edition, The Fascinating World of Fungi, explores the incredibly diverse impact fungi have on life on Earth.
In the realm of modern medicine, fungi emerge as astonishing allies. From ancient traditions to cutting-edge research, fungi have been harnessed for their medicinal power, offering innovative solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing health challenges.
With compounds like penicillin leading the charge against bacterial infections, and recent breakthroughs uncovering the anticancer properties of compounds derived from mushrooms, fungi stand as beacons of hope in the quest for novel therapies.
As scientists delve deeper into the intricate world of fungal biology, the future holds promise for even more ground-breaking discoveries, paving the way for a new era of healing inspired by the wonders of the fungal kingdom.
As well as its insights into science and medicine, the book provides links to popular culture, and updated sections on foraging and conservation.
Commenting on the publication of The Fascinating World of Fungi, editor Max Coleman explained: “Fungi are massively misunderstood. While it’s true that some fungi can cause us problems, for the most part fungi play an integral role in the functioning of life on Earth.
“As root partners, they release the essential nutrients needed for plants to flourish. Gaining and recycling nutrients from dead plants and animals, fungi are essential for our survival and prosperity.”
With contributions from the diverse perspectives of 14 authors, the new release from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a fantastic gateway into all things fungi.
The Fascinating World of Fungi is published by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on 1st August 2024 and is available to pre-order now.
A huge life-sized whale is set to beach at Fort Kinnaird tomorrow (Thursday 25th July), with visitors welcomed to venture inside the stomach of the giant sea creature for a free, captivating storytelling session all about the environment and ocean.
The interactive adventure will be led by a group of engaging storytellers and actors and will educate children and their families on plastic pollution and recycling, all while surrounded by a mesmerizing seascape.
Six shows – suitable for children over three – will take place throughout the day, with 30 spaces available on a first come, first served basis. Booking isn’t required but families are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
The 25 minute sessions will run at 11am, 11.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, and 2.30pm, with the whale located next to Smyths Toys and Wagamama.
The event will be supported by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful who work to combat climate change, tackle litter and waste, restore nature and biodiversity and improve places.
Its ambassadors will be at the event, providing free activity sheets to take home to keep the conversation going, including a scavenger hunt that educates little ones on the rubbish and wildlife found in rivers across Scotland. These activities form part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Upstream Battle initiative, an award-winning campaign to tackle marine litter at its source.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “Sustainability is a key focus for us at Fort Kinnaird. We champion biodiversity by planting wildflowers and installing beehives to encourage pollination and have committed to sending zero waste to landfill since 2018 – recycling more than 260 tonnes in the process.
“Educating others on the importance of sustainability is part of the pathway to a net zero future, and we’re pleased that we can play a small role in that with this event. Not only is it eye catching, but it provides families with a free activity during the summer holidays – that’s also educational. A win, win!”
Heather McLaughlin, Campaigns and Social Innovation Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We’re so pleased to be able to support this great initiative at Fort Kinnaird. We know that 80% of marine litter comes from land and the damage it causes.
“It is crucial that young people know the impact the litter emergency is having on our waterways and the importance of protecting them. Fun and engaging activities like this are a great way to get children involved and we can’t wait to see everyone.”
CARBON CAPTURE FUNDING + VISIT ‘MAKE A MOCKERY’ OF PLANNING PROCESS
First Minister John Swinney will visit the site of an innovative carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in Aberdeenshire today where he will unveil new Scottish Government funding for the project.
The Acorn project, based in St Fergus, would take captured CO2 emissions from industrial processes across the country and store it safely under the North Sea.
The First Minister will meet representatives of the project and undertake a short tour of the site, before meeting staff and apprentices.
While in Aberdeenshire the First Minister will also meet business leaders and members of the Scottish seafood sector at a roundtable discussion in Peterhead.
Speaking ahead of his visit to the North East, the First Minister said: “Carbon capture and storage will play a huge role in Scotland’s net zero future.
“The Scottish Government is wholly committed to supporting the Acorn Project, which will take advantage of our access to vast CO2 storage potential and our opportunities to repurpose existing oil and gas infrastructure.
“Scotland’s energy transition presents one of the greatest economic and social opportunities of our time. This landmark project will help to support a just transition for oil and gas workers in the North East and across the country, by drawing upon their world-leading skills and expertise to create many good, green jobs in the coming years.
“The North East is also a powerhouse of Scotland’s word-class seafood processing sector, which contributes massively to our economy. According to recent figures the region alone is home to more than 3,379 full time equivalent jobs.
“The Scottish Government will continue to engage and work closely with the sector, and communities, to ensure that Scotland’s fishing industry, the wider seafood sector, and our marine environment can thrive sustainably.”
Climate campaigners have responded to the First Minister’s plans to visit to the Aberdeenshire CCS project saying it ‘makes a mockery’ of the planning process and questioning why there was more public funding being pledged for fossil fuel infrastructure.
The visit was announced as news broke of an official complaint into the Scottish Government’s handling of the planning application for the Peterhead gas power station with carbon capture.
The FM’s visit raises a number of concerns including that the explicit endorsement of this project may undermine any future assessment of a planning application to build the Acorn Project.
Environmentalists are also alarmed that public money is being handed to a pet project of fossil fuel companies. Shell, who are a key partner in Acorn, have made £50 BILLION profit in the past two years.
The Acorn Project is not yet in the planning system, and no application has been made yet it appears the FM is gambling our energy future on this technology working. The Scottish Government’s over-reliance on faltering Negative Emissions Technologies created a huge gap in its calculations around emissions reductions for the 2030 climate targets.
CCS has never delivered the capture rates that its proponents claim and there is a growing body of evidence that all it is doing is capturing public money and providing greenwash for continued fossil fuel expansion.
Friends of the Earth Scotland climate and energy campaigner Caroline Rance said: “The Acorn carbon capture terminal does not exist and there hasn’t even been a planning application submitted to build it.
“However, with these fawning statements of support, the First Minister is in danger of making a mockery of the Scottish Government conducting a fair assessment of future planning applications.
“Vital public services are crying out for funding yet John Swinney has decided to give millions of pounds to a pet project of Shell, who made £50 billion profit in the last two years. The public must be starting to think the Scottish Government has been captured by the fossil fuel industry with hundreds of cosy meetings, huge handouts and the rolling back of positions on ending oil and gas.
“The Acorn Project is a pipe dream of polluters that will never live up to its hype.The purpose of CCS is to greenwash plans to keep burning oil and gas. Carbon capture has already had billions of pounds and decades of work to prove itself and it has failed on its promises everywhere it has been tried.
“Both the Scottish and UK Governments need to realise that public money would be far better invested in climate solutions that work today and can create decent green jobs such as home insulation, public transport and affordable renewable energy.”
Key questions for the First Minister:
• How can Ministers making future planning decisions be expected to judge the Acorn project on its merits when the First Minister is fawning over it and is funnelling public money towards it?
• Why is public money required to deliver this project when the oil companies who will benefit are making obscene profits?
• How will this project avoid the failures that have been seen in every other carbon capture project around the world?
THE Scottish Government has been formally accused of 28 breaches of the ministerial code in connection with its handling of a planning application for a new fossil fuel power station at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.
Friends of the Earth Scotland lodged the official complaint with civil servants on Friday (19th July) and said there was a “deeply concerning pattern of behaviour right across the Scottish Government”.
The breaches include ministers discussing the planning application with developers, ministers publicly supporting the project and the former First Minister Humza Yousaf appearing in a promotional video for power station developer SSE.
Energy companies SSE and Equinor submitted the planning application for a new gas-burning power station with carbon capture in February 2022 and it is still under consideration by the Scottish Government. Environmental groups have strongly criticised the plan because of the climate pollution it will create and the fact that it will lock households into higher electricity bills linked to fossil fuels for decades to come.
The ministerial code is a collection of standards that must be adhered to to ensure integrity, accountability and transparency. It sets out how ministers should act in the handling of planning applications and states that, to make sure the planning system is fair, ministers “must do nothing which might be seen as prejudicial to that process”, including by meeting developers to discuss a proposal but not meeting all interested parties.
Research including analysing the lobbying register and FOIs by Friends of the Earth Scotland has uncovered:
• Several incidents in which Scottish Government ministers were briefed by civil servants to welcome and offer their support for the controversial Peterhead gas-burning power station application in meetings with the developers SSE and Equinor, including one minister being briefed ahead of a meeting with Equinor to “offer your support in any challenges faced” by the company.
• Ministers undermining the planning process by publicly speaking in favour of the project, including then Cabinet Secretary for Energy Michael Matheson providing a supportive press quote about the fossil fuel plant for an SSE press release.
• Former First Minister Humza Yousaf breached the code with his visit to the existing Peterhead power station in July 2023. The First Minister wore an SSE branded jacket as he posed for press photos and appeared in an SSE promotional video praising the company’s “plans for the future”. The Scottish Government tweeted about the event and issued a press release.
• Repeatedly meeting with developers while refusing to meet objectors. Scottish Government met 61 times with SSE and Equinor between February 2022, when the planning application was submitted, and December 2023 (equivalent to more than once a fortnight) but refused to meet with objectors saying it would be inappropriate to discuss “a live planning application”.
• The Scottish Government has no records, or couldn’t locate records, of another 16 meetings with SSE and Equinor: the public only know about them because of records kept by the developers themselves.
Friends of the Earth Scotland climate campaigner Alex Lee said: “These 28 breaches of the ministerial code show a deeply troubling pattern of behaviour right across the Scottish Government. Public concerns have been deliberately ignored to try and push through a climate damaging planning application in the interests of greedy energy companies.
“Ministers and civil servants have been caught out playing fast and loose with the rules, in favour of a polluting project that risks locking households into higher energy bills for decades to come.
“Our investigations show that the Scottish Government has treated the outcome of this planning application as a foregone conclusion right from the beginning and has failed to follow the planning process and assess the evidence objectively.
“First Minister John Swinney must get his government in order and stop listening to fossil fuel companies. Once this project is assessed fairly on its merits, the huge climate pollution and impact on home energy bills will mean the only rational conclusion will be a rejection.
“Workers and communities in the North East of Scotland need a credible transition plan that can move us to good green jobs in renewables, not a dodgy project built on the rotten foundations of carbon capture and backroom lobbying.”
Energy giant SSE faced protests outside its AGM in Perth today from people concerned about the company’s role in driving climate breakdown and fuel poverty.
The protests were prompted by SSE’s plans to build a new gas burning power station at Peterhead, despite the existing plant at that site already being Scotland’s biggest climate polluter. Friends of the Earth Scotland highlighted the fact that, despite the company’s marketing and green image, it owns 14 fossil fuel power stations and 60% of SSE’s energy generation capacity comes from burning fossil fuels.
Protesters spoke to shareholders attending the AGM urging them to challenge the company’s plans to build new fossil fuel power stations and force prepayment meters into homes.
Fuel Poverty Action, who also organised the demonstration, focused on the energy giant’s £2.4billion in profits last year whilst a third of households were forced into fuel poverty in Scotland. SSE continues to force-fit pre-payment meters on people in energy debt which ultimately causes people who use the least amount of energy to pay the most for it.
Other activists disrupted the AGM from the inside, interrupting the Board’s address and imploring SSE to drop their plans for more gas burning developments.
Over 40 climate groups recently wrote to the Scottish Government urging them to reject SSE’s planning application to build a new gas power station at Peterhead.
Friends of the Earth Scotland Oil and Gas Activism Organiser Freya Aitchison commented: “SSE are getting rich from burning gas to make electricity, and the company is plotting even more climate damage with its plans for a new gas power station at Peterhead. We’re at their AGM to tell the company’s shareholders that there is no future in fossil fuels.
“The Peterhead proposals would guarantee demand for gas, meaning that Scottish homes will spend the next 25 years paying sky high energy bills which are set by the international price of fossil fuels. Building new gas infrastructure would be a terrible deal for the Scottish public, lock in climate pollution and undermine the transition to renewable energy.
“SSE cannot continue to try and greenwash the fact that the majority of its energy generation capacity comes from fossil fuels. The climate movement has stopped big polluters in their tracks before – from the fracking industry, to the Cambo oil field and the Hunterston power station.”
Lucia Harrington, Organising Lead at Fuel Poverty Action, said: “SSE is a company that continues to profit from people’s poverty and continues to force-fit prepayment meters onto people in energy debt.
“This behaviour is what has led to hundreds of preventable deaths in Scotland and we are here to hold them to account.”
