If you have been watching the leaders’ debates and the announcements from the political parties, you may be wondering what’s happened to climate change. A recent poll showed that two thirds of people in Scotland think that climate change should be a …
The Supreme Court ruling and political commitments on oil
Last week the UK Supreme Court ruled that the process to approve an oil and gas field in Surrey should have taken into account the impact of burning oil and gas produced. This is a huge victory for the local campaigners who …
Climate change and human rights
The judgement last week by the European Court of Human Rights that Switzerland’s lack of action on tackling climate change breached the human rights of a group of older women will open the door for many similar challenges and boost the chances …
Agriculture and energy sectors need to reduce methane emissions
Action in agriculture and the oil and gas industry could produce rapid reductions in the powerful greenhouse gas methane. 25% of Scotland’s contribution to climate change in 2021 was due to our emissions of methane. Because methane is around 80 …
Granting new oil and gas licences is insane
Despite the International Energy Agency saying in 2021 that no country should be granting new oil and gas licences, despite the UN Secretary-General saying that investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure is “moral and economic madness” and despite December’s climate …
COP28 aftermath
Things are getting back to normal in Expo City Dubai, now that the 85,000 delegates for COP28 have headed back home after nearly two weeks of difficult negotiations. The talks ran over by about 24 hours and reactions to the …
COP28 and oil
As I write this COP28, this year’s UN climate talks in Dubai, are looking likely to fail, for the first time since COP6 in 2000. Tuesday morning’s deadline has passed, an improved draft agreement is due and there will clearly …
Tobacco style attacks on heat pumps
Transforming the heating of our homes and other buildings is essential to reduce climate emissions and protect people from the volatile costs of fossil fuels. But anti-climate forces and vested interests are using tactics straight out of the tobacco industry …
Grangemouth closure should have been no surprise
The announcement last week that Grangemouth refinery is to close should not have been a surprise to anyone, it is the inevitable consequence of taking climate change seriously. This makes the apparent lack of preparation for this event doubly surprising. The refinery …
Oil industry wins again
The news that the UK government proposes to accept annual applications for new oil and gas projects rather than on the current multi-year cycle, shows the power of the oil industry. The Labour Party, expecting to be the next government, has said …
Good ideas on climate change needed more than ever
The world is in a climate crisis. Never has there been a greater need for good ideas to reduce emissions here and at home. I was lucky enough to be involved in the creation of a Climate Manifesto for Stop Climate Chaos …
Climate change accelerates, Tories retreat
The heavy flooding over the weekend graphically reminds us that Scotland is already feeling the extreme impacts of climate change. Farmers say millions of pounds worth of damage has been done to crops and the insurance bill for flooded homes and businesses …