A new report I researched and wrote for Stop Climate Chaos Scotland on fiscal measure for climate action is covered in today’s Sunday Post. It looks at how we fund climate action at home and how we make our fair …
Voluntary climate action isn’t enough
Last week I wrote about the Rio Earth Summit, which happened 30 years ago. I concluded that few of the aims of the agreements developed there have been delivered. A crucial issue is the voluntary nature of modern climate agreements. The Rio …
Africa feels the force of climate change
As the death toll from floods in South Africa continues to rise, people in the Sahel face drought-driven food shortages, and climate change will only make things worse. This week’s floods in KwaZulu-Natal province in eastern South Africa have killed …
Climate pathway off track
This week saw the publication of a major report which lays out how we might save the world from runaway climate change. It urges very rapid emissions reductions, with global emissions having to peak by 2025, but relies heavily on techno-fixes …
Out of time on oil
A new report on the gap between the climate change goals and oil and gas ambitions shows that the current double-think can't go on.
Car obsessed transport policy has to change
Scottish Government’s draft climate change plan is supposed to show how each sector of the economy is going to help cut overall emissions by 66% by 2030. Traffic predictions suggest transport isn't planning on doing its fair share.
Transport needs to go back to the drawing board on climate change
Transport is the largest sector of climate emissions for Scotland. Unfortunately, the Government department responsible don't seem to have any innovative thinking on how to head off demand or encourage walking, cycling or public transport.
Let’s be climate leaders in 2017
Many people would rather forget 2016 and its catalogue of mistakes, disasters and deaths. The election of Trump poses a real threat to environmental progress and climate action. Richard looks ahead to a busy 2017 for climate campaigning and getting Scotland on the path to a fossil free future.
Marrakech blog – still waiting for action on climate change
For a while this meeting looked like it might be that rarest of things, a UN climate conference that actually finished on time rather than running into Saturday or even Sunday. But, true to UN form, talks broke down last night.
Marrakech blog – Paris Agreement gets going but much to resolve
Ministers and heads of state came to the COP today. Finance has been a big issue with rich nations shirking responsibilities and scepticism that more money or action will emerge.
Marrakech blog – urgent action needed and still possible despite Trump
Yesterday at the UN Climate Conference in Marrakech a broad coalition of development, union, faith and environment groups laid out their analysis of where the world is heading and the urgent action that is needed to meet the targets agreed …
Fight Fracking for a Fossil Free Future
As I write this I’m about to head for the UN climate conference in Marrakech, where countries are supposed to be agreeing on the actions that will deliver on the ambition of the Paris Agreement, signed last December. A key …