Tag: Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

First Minister comments on COP28

Recognition of climate crisis is historic, he reckons – but environmental campaigning groups disagree

Commenting on the conclusion of the COP28 summit in Dubai, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “I welcome the news that an agreement has been reached at COP28, notably, the $700 million committed to address loss and damage and the pledge to transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner.

“This recognition that the climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis is historic. It is disappointing that there was not a stronger resolution committing to the phase-out of all unabated fossil fuels, however we must all now work together to turn these words into action and to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.  

“The agreement on loss and damage represents a significant step forward in the fight for global climate justice. We must, however, recognise that this sum is only a fraction of what will be needed to address the irreversible economic and non-economic losses which are being suffered by developing countries every year.

“We are at a pivotal moment in the fight to tackle the climate emergency and address the devastating effects of climate change – and Scotland will continue to play our part. 

“It is absolutely crucial that we have political consensus on climate change – both at home and abroad – and that we work together to make a constructive contribution to addressing this monumental challenge.”

COP28: Weak climate deal slammed

Self-interest, weak leadership and a lack of urgency

Responding to the conclusion of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, Friends of the Earth’s international climate campaigner, Rachel Kennerley – who has been attending the talks – said: “Self-interest, weak leadership and a lack of urgency by wealthy countries like the UK, Japan and US and the EU bloc, has resulted in a desperately inadequate COP28 resolution that leaves the world on a collision course with the worst of climate breakdown.  

“These talks will never achieve the breakthrough we need until the rich countries that have contributed most to the climate crisis, including the UK, face up to their responsibilities by phasing out the use of fossil fuels fairly and fast and by providing adequate funding for poorer nations.

“Rishi Sunak may like to claim that the UK is showing global leadership on this issue, but under his premiership key climate policies have been watered down, his international promise to cut UK emissions by a third has veered dangerously off course and he has declared an ambition to ‘max out’ North Sea gas and oil.

“We urgently need our leaders to seize the huge opportunities growing a green economy would bring, from new, long-term jobs and lower energy bills, to improving our health and wellbeing, as well as protecting the planet for future generations.”

Greenpeace: COP28 sends the signal the fossil fuel industry has been afraid of

The final outcome of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai is not the historical deal the world needs, but it does send the signal the fossil fuel industry has been afraid of: the fossil fuel era is ending.

In response to the final COP28 outcome, Kaisa Kosonen, Senior Political Advisor at Greenpeace International said: “The signal that the fossil industry has been afraid of is there: ending the fossil fuel era, along with a call to massively scale up renewables and efficiency this decade, but it’s buried under many dangerous distractions and without sufficient means to achieve it in a fair and fast manner.

“You won’t find the words ‘phase out’ in the text, but that’s what the equitable transition away from fossil fuels in line with 1.5°C and science will necessitate, when implemented sustainably. And that’s what we’re determined to make happen, now more than ever.

“The outcome leaves poorer countries well short of the resources they will need for renewable energy transition and other needs. For the many goals of the agreement to be realised, rich countries will need to significantly step up financial support and make fossil fuel polluters pay. Only last year the fossil fuel industry made $4 trillion in profits, and they need to start paying for the harm and destruction they have caused.

“This is not the historical deal that the world needed: It  has many loopholes and shortcomings. But history will be made if all those nearly 130 countries, businesses, local leaders and civil society voices, who came together to form an unprecedented force for change, now take this determination and make the fossil fuel phase out happen. Most urgently that means stopping all those expansion plans that are pushing us over the 1.5°C limit right now.”

Ghiwa Nakat, Executive Director, Greenpeace Middle East & North Africa, said: “COP28 has sent an unprecedented signal to the world that the starting gun has been fired for the end of the fossil fuel era.

“We commend the efforts of the COP presidency to conclude with a final acknowledgement of the need to transition away from fossil fuels and to mobilise climate finance with more than $700million pledged to the operationalised Loss and Damage Fund.

“But communities on the frontline of the climate catastrophe need more than this. They need to see an unwavering and resolute commitment to a rapid, equitable, and well-funded phaseout of all fossil fuels – together with a comprehensive finance package for developing countries to transition to renewables and cope with escalating climate impacts.

“We leave Dubai knowing that hope is still alive but our mission is far from over!”

Mike Robinson, chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said: “It is hard to feel any excitement about this outcome, and given these talks were hosted by the head of an oil company, many people will be completely unsurprised that the final outcome fails to give any sense of urgency and ignores what the science has been telling us for decades – ‘cop-ping out’ of delivering a long overdue agreement to urgently phase out from the coal, oil and gas that is fuelling the crisis. 

“This failure means the world remains on track for catastrophic levels of heating and the debt owed to countries who did least to cause the crisis to help them to cope and recover from extreme climate impacts will only increase. 

“The onus is now on individual countries to do what is so urgently needed, and channel their efforts into delivering progress, rather than impeding the necessary change. The UK Government must cancel the new oil and gas licensing round. At the same time, the Scottish Government must clearly and strongly oppose new oil development, and say no to new gas at Peterhead, while swiftly delivering a robust new climate plan that gets us on track to meeting and exceeding our climate targets through a just transition that is fairly funded by making the biggest polluters pay for their damage.”

“This failure means the world remains on track for catastrophic levels of heating and the debt owed to countries who did least to cause the crisis to help them to cope and recover from extreme climate impacts will only increase. 

“The onus is now on individual countries to do what is so urgently needed, and channel their efforts into delivering progress, rather than impeding the necessary change. The UK Government must cancel the new oil and gas licensing round. At the same time, the Scottish Government must clearly and strongly oppose new oil development, and say no to new gas at Peterhead, while swiftly delivering a robust new climate plan that gets us on track to meeting and exceeding our climate targets through a just transition that is fairly funded by making the biggest polluters pay for their damage.”

Fr Leonard Chiti, Jesuit Provincial for Southern Africa and part of the SCIAF delegation at COP28 said: “COP28 has sent a clear signal that the fossil fuel era is coming to an end and that every nation must now redouble their efforts to reduce emissions in line with the 1.5C temperature goal.

“However, it simply has not gone far enough; not urgent enough, not ambitious enough. At the start of COP28, Pope Francis and many others called for the elimination of fossil fuels. This final text does not secure that, and we must now re-double our efforts towards a fossil fuel free future.”

‘Scathing judgement’ on Scottish Government’s climate plans

The Scottish Government lacks a clear delivery plan and has not offered a coherent explanation for how its policies will achieve Scotland’s bold emissions reduction targets – that’s the conclusion of the latest assessment of Scotland’s progress by the Climate Change Committee.

In recent years, the Scottish Parliament has committed to extraordinary ambition to decarbonise its economy, with a welcome focus on a fair and just transition. That ambition should be applauded, but only if targets are achieved. The integrity of the Scottish climate framework is now at risk.

Lord Deben, Chairman of the Climate Change Committee said: “In 2019, the Scottish Parliament committed the country to some of the most stretching climate goals in the world, but they are increasingly at risk without real progress towards the milestones that Scottish Ministers have previously laid out. One year ago, I called for more clarity and transparency on Scottish climate policy and delivery. That plea remains unanswered.”

The Climate Change Committee has conducted a methodological review of the Scottish Climate Targets and assessed progress in cutting Scottish greenhouse gas emissions.

Between 2019 and 2020 emissions fell by 12% – half of 1990 levels for the first time. But the fall in 2020 is only a temporary effect, largely due to travel restrictions in the pandemic. Evidence from across the UK is that Scottish emissions will rebound in 2021. Underlying progress in reducing emissions in Scotland has largely stalled in recent years. Since the Scottish Climate Change Act became law in 2009, the Scottish Government has failed to achieve 7 of the 11 legal targets.

Scotland’s lead in decarbonising over the rest of the UK has now been lost. Progress is now broadly the same as the UK as a whole. Two years after the publication of the Climate Change Plan update, we do not see evidence of sufficient action to meet the Scottish Parliament’s ambition.

There are now glaring gaps in the Scottish Government’s climate plan and particular concerns about the achievement of the 2030 goal to cut emissions by 75%:

  • Plans to decarbonise transport in Scotland are falling behind other parts of the UK. Sales of electric cars are now behind those of England, despite Scotland’s greater ambition to decarbonise transport. The Scottish Government has so far been unwilling to consider measures to recover the shortfall, such as restrictions on aviation growth.
  • Scotland’s 2030 goal rests on rapid action to decarbonise buildings. Despite new public funding in this area, policies are still wholly inadequate to deliver the scale of low-carbon heat and energy efficiency improvements required.
  • Agriculture and land. Detail on low-carbon agriculture policy following Scotland’s exit from the EU Common Agricultural Policy is needed urgently. It is not clear how the emissions targets set by Scottish Ministers in this area can be delivered in the absence of new policies. On the key issue of restoring Scotland’s peatland carbon stores, restoration rates are less than half of Scotland’s own target of 20,000 hectares per year, which is in turn much less ambitious than the CCC’s recommendation of 45,000 hectares per year by 2022.

For sectors in which policy is significantly devolved to Scotland (e.g. transport, land use and waste), indicators show that progress towards meeting the Scottish Government’s milestones is too slow. Policies and plans are not yet sufficient to speed things up to the required rate.

Closer cooperation with the UK Government is required in other areas, particularly to guide the decarbonisation of Scottish industry and develop new industries to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. There is little evidence of cooperative policy planning, which is now undermining the achievement of Scotland’s more ambitious short-term goals.

Within Scotland, better collaboration is also required between Scottish Government and local authorities. Many local authorities have declared climate emergencies and named ambitious Net Zero goals, but they need better support from Scottish Government, not least in securing the funding to drive policy. Collaboration in all these areas is key for realising both Scotland’s ambitions and the full potential of Scotland’s contribution to the UK’s Net Zero target.

Scotland must build on the positive areas of progress, including planning reform. The draft fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) was an important step towards embedding Net Zero in the planning process and setting the direction of movement for major projects in Scotland, but its success will be determined by its implementation and enforcement, which remains unclear for now.

Environmental campaigners have said the the UK Committee on Climate Change has delivered a ‘scathing judgement’ of the Scottish Government’s climate efforts in their latest progress report published today (7/12/22).

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s head of campaigns Mary Church said: “The Climate Change Committee’s report is a scathing judgement on Scottish Government progress towards meeting our legally binding targets.

“With the impacts of climate breakdown wreaking havoc the world over at only 1°C warming this is literally a matter of life or death. The Scottish Government must urgently scale up its plans to cut climate pollution within the next decade.

“Fossil fuels are the key driver of the climate crisis so we urgently need to phase out oil and gas this decade through a just transition to a renewable-powered economy with decent green jobs and affordable energy for all.

“The Scottish Government must abandon the dangerous fantasy that techno-fixes like carbon capture and storage are going to save the day and start focusing on the real solutions to the climate crisis.

“That means investing in public transport and improving our public spaces to take cars off the road, rolling out mass energy efficiency schemes and renewable heat, all of which will have the added benefit of tackling the cost of living crisis as well as cutting emissions.

“As we move towards a more circular economy, the Scottish Government must also urgently address rising offshored emissions from the products we consume by setting robust consumption targets in law.”

The Committee on Climate Change report highlights:

* Continued lack of a clear delivery plan and quantification of how policies add up to meeting emissions reduction targets, despite Committee requests for this information;

* Seven of the last 11 years of emissions reduction targets have been missed, and the 2020 target was only met due to restrictions responding to the covid-19 pandemic;

* Scotland’s consumption emissions continue to grow, and are 50% higher than domestic production emissions, meaning we are offshoring more of our emissions;

* The welcome goal of reducing car-kilometres by 20% on 2019 levels by 2030 does not have an adequate strategy with sufficient levers to deliver;

* The Scottish Government has committed to grow aviation demand despite this running counter to climate ambitions and despite having powers, such as airport expansion control and Air Departure Tax, to curb aviation growth;

* Policies are not sufficient to deliver the aim of 70% reduction in emissions from buildings by 2030, in particular in making the transition to low-carbon heat and energy efficiency in homes;

* Emissions from electricity supply have fallen significantly, but more detail is needed on how full decarbonise the system while increasing generation capacity will be achieved;

* The moratorium on incineration and energy from waste is a welcome step, but Scotland is significantly off track with recycling rates;

* The Scottish Government has chosen heavy reliance on engineered removals (such as carbon capture and storage) to meet the 2030 target despite there being no projects in place, and detailed delivery plans have not been set out.

Reacting to the report, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) – a diverse coalition of over 60 organisations in Scotland campaigning together on climate change – is deeply concerned that ‘the integrity of the Scottish climate framework is now at risk’ due to inadequate action taken by the Scottish Government to meet targets. 

Mike Robinson, Chair of SCCS said: “We welcome this expert and comprehensive report from the UK Committee on Climate Change, which provides the Scottish Government with a loud and clear wake up call.

“Scotland needs bold, decisive and immediate action to reduce emissions. Without this, the trend of missed targets, and failure to tackle the climate crisis will only continue.

“Having previously made more progress on decarbonising than the UK, this report shows that Scotland is now falling behind on a number of key areas, undermining credibility on the international stage just a month after COP27 and highlighting the need for more cooperation on reserved matters. 

“The time for positive rhetoric is over – the Scottish Government must urgently redouble efforts to meet targets. Action is needed now to achieve the crucial 2030 target, while the forthcoming Climate Change Plan will be important for further actions, after 2030, to achieve longer term ambitions.”

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Thousands march for Climate Justice

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.

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PICTURES: Neil Hanna, Colin Hattersley and Ric Lander

Climate March: Scotland to join Global Day of Action on 12th November

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.

Glenfiddich releases an exclusive 26 Year Old whisky to mark COP26

  • The limited-edition single cask whisky was laid down 26 years ago in 1995, when the first COP climate summit took place in Berlin
  • 100 bottles will be available from 22nd November for a charity auction with Royal Mile Whiskies, raising funds to tackle climate change
  • This follows Glenfiddich’s sustainable transport initiative, launched earlier this year

Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt whisky, has created a limited-edition 26 Year Old whisky – in partnership with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland – to commemorate the climate change summit, COP26, in Glasgow.. 

The partnership enables Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and Glenfiddich to raise awareness of the active steps Scotland is taking to tackle climate change.

These include the brand’s recently launched, pioneering ‘closed loop’ sustainable transport initiative, ‘Fuelled By Glenfiddich’. This involves converting production wastes and residues into Ultra-Clean Low Carbon fuel that is starting to be introduced to some of its transport fleet.

World leaders and COP26 conference attendees will have already had a chance to taste the one-off Glenfiddich 26 Year Old whisky at a series of COP26 events during the summit with Mark Thomson, the Glenfiddich Ambassador to Scotland, leading guests through exclusive tastings.

Whisky enthusiasts and sustainability supporters alike will have the chance to bid on a true collector’s item, one of 100 bottles, via a charity auction through Royal Mile Whiskies.

The auction is raising money for Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and will be live from Monday 22nd November, concluding on Monday 29th November 2021.

Claudia Falcone, Glenfiddich’s global brand director, commented: “Glenfiddich is a brand that encourages us to individually and collectively push boundaries and always consider the next step.

“It has taken more than a decade for Glenfiddich to become the first global spirits brand to process its production wastes and residues into biogas fuel to power some of its trucks. We’re honoured to support the wider sustainability agenda.

“By releasing the 26 Year Old in partnership with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, we hope to bring attention and inspiration to continued climate change progress through our one-off auction of the limited-edition commemoration bottle.”

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is a diverse coalition of over 60 civil society organisations in Scotland campaigning together on climate change. 

Alistair Dutton, Board member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland added: “We’re pleased to be working with Glenfiddich and hope this incredible whisky will raise funds to tackle the climate emergency.

“The proceeds from the Royal Mile Whiskies auction will help Stop Climate Chaos Scotland members in their work to create a greener future for Scotland.”

Scotland has set an ambitious target to cut emissions by 75% by 2030, and to become Net Zero by 2045. With whisky forming such a large part of Scotland’s identity, the Scotch Whisky Association has outlined its ambitious and impressive vision for the future with a focus on four main areas for industry action:

·     Tackling climate change by having net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040;

·     Moving to a circular economy by making all packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025;

·     Hitting responsible water use targets by 2025; and

·     Caring for the land through the active conservation and restoration of Scotland’s peatland by 2035.

The Glenfiddich 26 Year Old whisky will be available to bid on from Monday 22nd to Monday 29th November via Royal Mile Whiskies at: 

https://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/glenfiddich-auction/