The long-awaited Scottish Energy Strategy is due to come out this autumn but new energy scenarios published this week contain some things to welcome but also some worrying ideas. The current Energy Strategy was published in 2017. It contains two scenarios, …
Sizewell C decision surely a joke
Approving another nuclear power station when we should be doing everything to reduce energy prices is surely a joke. Reports at the weekend said that Boris Johnson had approved government funding of £6bn towards the £20-30bn estimated cost for the …
Truss’ Brexit fundamentalism threatens environmental gains
Liz Truss’ pledge this week to scrap all EU-derived laws by 2023 is a big threat to environmental and consumer protection, even where those measures have been put into Scots’ Law. What did the EU ever do for us, as …
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 …
Local action for the environment
As Scotland goes to the polls today we should remember the huge power that our councils have to deliver on climate and environment ambitions. Our 32 councils control a huge range of things that shape our daily lives. How far you …
30 years of progress, but still not enough
Today is my last day at Friends of the Earth Scotland, after 30 years in the Scottish environment movement. There has been good progress in those three decades and the environment and climate change have moved from fringe concerns to mainstream …
Power in the EU
There is no doubt that being part of the UK has been a problem for Scotland’s ambitions on climate change and energy. From artificially high costs to deliver green electricity into the grid to the UK Government cutting support for wind …
The next 5 years for Scotland’s environment
What did the SNP manifesto promise on climate change and the environment?
Celebrating progress for the environment in the past 5 years
It is worth pausing to remember that the last five years have seen some remarkable progress.
Climate plans get a grilling
Pressure is on politicians to deliver Climate Plans that take the action necessary.
Brexit’s threat to the environment
Key safeguards are subject to fierce disagreement and standards are under threat from Trade Deals.
Brexit Chemical Soup
We are heading for a major clash on European environmental standards, particularly on the use and regulation of chemicals.