Rishi Sunak may have gone backwards on the environment, but the SNP have been too quick to roll over on the ban on petrol and diesel vans. Despite delaying or scrapping a number of key commitments, Sunak claims that the …
Wales forges ahead on the environment
On Sunday a default speed limit of 20 miles an hour in urban areas came into force in Wales. A public health study estimates that this will result in 40% fewer collisions every year, saving 6 to 10 lives and avoiding 1,200 …
Environmental principles under threat
The argument raging down south over pollution from new housing developments is the first big test of the UK Government’s post-Brexit commitment to the environment. We have already seen proposals to scrap thousands of European regulations. Fortunately this exercise has …
Time to join alliance to end oil production
In an unprecedented referendum this month, the people of Ecuador voted to stop oil drilling in the Yasuní National Park in the Amazon. Despite dire warning about economic collapse, 59% backed the ban and the state oil company now has a year …
Councils and climate action
Your local council has a vital role in helping deliver reductions in climate change emissions, not only from their own operations but in how they shape the lives of all their citizens. The public sector should be leading by example. Scotland’s …
Greenwashing LNG
Threatened by action to reduce climate emissions the gas industry has a long history of claiming to be green. Leaked documents show how they are now trying to convince the world that liquified natural gas (LNG) is the best thing …
A climate information campaign for Scotland
Fortunately the days of giving air time to climate sceptics are gone, but the backlash over the extension of the London Ultra-Low Emission Zone and the nonsense talked about Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme show that the public and some politicians …
More climate ambition, not less
The world is heading for its hottest year ever, with some parts of the world reaching dangerous new temperature highs last month. According to UN Secretary General António Guterres we have gone beyond global warming, beyond even global heating and …
Politicians retreat as climate impacts advance
In the Greek islands people are running away from the results of climate change, meanwhile the UK Government is running scared of taking action to reduce emissions. Some commentators put the Conservative Party win in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip …
Green progress under threat
As June broke all-time temperature records, action on climate and the environment was stalling with both the UK and Scottish Governments. Last week the UK Government’s official advisors, the Committee on Climate Change, issued their annual progress report on UK climate targets. They …
Labour’s green plan – not good enough
Last week Labour promised to make Britain a clean energy superpower, but they will need to do a lot more if they are to be credible on climate. Their much-trailed proposals have been backwards and forwards on the details for …
Communities and offshore wind
The Belgian government have just agreed to encourage citizens’ co-operatives to have a stake in major offshore windfarm projects. In Scotland, communities are already losing out. Having lots of sea and lots of wind, Scotland has massive plans for the development of offshore …