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 …
Energy trends give hope on climate
Green energy is progressing in leaps and bounds around the world but the UK Government is still backing the wrong horses. New figures from the International Energy Agency show that almost all the global electricity installed in the next three years …
Critical materials and the energy transition
Nothing in life is free and the transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles comes with human and environmental costs. A new report from Friends of the Earth Scotland called ‘Unearthing injustice’ looks at the human rights abuses and environmental destruction currently caused …
Diplomacy and duplicity at the seaside
The baffling, frustrating and occasionally inspiring circus that is the UN climate talks is in full swing in the Red Sea tourist resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Impenetrable as they are these talks are the only place countries can negotiate to act …
The global energy crisis and the climate
When the deadline for revised climate pledges passed last month only 23 countries out of nearly 200 had submitted something new. This deadline was agreed at the Glasgow climate talks last November and counties where supposed to propose stronger action between …
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 …
UK and Scottish energy strategies on collision course
The UK Government’s new energy strategy makes no sense at all and puts Westminster on collision course with Holyrood. In early March Boris Johnson said he would produce, as a matter of urgency, a plan to respond to the twin …
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 …
Going Green in Africa
Despite its huge renewable energy potential most African countries are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. It’s time to turn that around.
Clean energy’s dirty side
Mining for materials used in renewables should not threaten human rights.
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.