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 …
Materials targets essential to reduce global footprint
Figures released this week showed that 80% of our coastal waters are contaminated with fragments of plastic, a threat to wildlife and, via the food chain, to us. The promised Circular Economy Bill must take action to eliminate this problem and …
Peterhead’s climate-busting power plan
Scotland is supposed to be at the forefront of tackling climate change and we have renewable energy resources that are the envy of the world, yet energy company SSE is proposing to build a new fossil-fuel power station at Peterhead. …
The Ferret – Ministers urged to reject new Peterhead gas plant
A story in the Ferret and Sunday National covers plans to build a new gas fired power station at Peterhead. In a country which is supposed to be leading on climate change. This is the full quotes I gave to …
COVID helps climate ambitions
The climate change emissions results for 2020 are out and they show that we met our target for the first time in four years. Hurrah! But only because COVID lockdowns kept emissions from cars and planes unusually low. The new figures published …