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 …
The real price of carbon emissions
If we valued climate-changing carbon emissions correctly we would make lots of decisions differently, including not giving the go ahead for more than 100 new oil developments or revisiting fracking. There are a number of ways to put a price …
Sailing into disaster
Despite producing as much climate pollution as the country of Germany, international shipping has largely escaped much attention in the climate debate. Most countries don’t even include these emissions in their official carbon accounts. Sending things by ship is efficient. If we …
Liz Truss can just Frack Off
Liz Truss, thinks fracking can be supplying gas to the grid in just six months. This is as ridiculous as the rest of her energy plans. Of course, the UK Government were elected in 2019 on a manifesto which said they …
Energy scenarios almost point the way
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, …
Swimming in sewage
Water quality at most of our beaches is improving overall but heavy rain can still dump sewage into rivers and create a health hazard. The European Bathing Waters Directive was agree in 1976 and required countries to monitor the quality …
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 …
Water scarcity and climate change
Despite the recent downpours much of Scotland is still in a state of water scarcity. As well as protecting river flows, reservoir levels and drinking water supplies, there are good climate change reasons for saving water. Last week the Scottish Borders …
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 …
Toxic chemicals escape scrutiny
A bit of Brexit ideology means we are falling behind Europe on protecting the public and the environment from toxic chemicals. And it can only get worse. From perfume to smart phones and food to washing up liquid there are thousands …
Courts take on climate change
Last week a landmark ruling by the UK High Court told the UK Government to go back to the drawing board on its climate plan. Could the same happen here? I’ve written before about some of the many legal challenges that …
Overhyped hydrogen put in its place
A recent report from Friends of the Earth busts the myth that hydrogen is a wonder fuel that is going to do everything from powering cars to heating homes. Instead it is an expensive, energy-intensive fuel which should only be used …