Friends of the Earth say climate change is an emergency

Activists from Friends of the Earth Scotland inflated a huge two metre in diameter globe outside The Scottish Government headquarters at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh today, to highlight the emergency of climate change, and to urge greater action from The Scottish Government.

The globe was created using NASA heat maps that show average temperature rises across the planet.

The campaigners were taking part in an International Day of Action featuring activities from over 30 grassroots across six continents.

Friends of the Earth Scotland Director Dr Richard Dixon said

“We’re here to raise the alarm on the climate emergency. 2017 has seen a succession of devastating hurricanes and cyclones, floods in South Asia, wildfires raging around the world and ice shelf collapses. With temperature records repeatedly broken the planet is sending is a very clear message that we are in a climate emergency.  These record-breaking disasters come at only one degree of warming so far.

“Without greater ambition from advanced nations including Scotland, we will see devastating impacts on hundreds of millions of people around the world, put our ability to grow enough food at risk, increase political instability and wipe out many thousands of plant and animal species.  To put it simply, the lives and livelihoods of millions depend upon rich nations cutting emissions as soon as possible.”

The Scottish Government has just finished consulting on new climate targets and is now aiming to introduce a Climate Change Bill to Parliament early next year. It has proposed a 90% emissions cut on 1990 levels by 2050 but this does not go far enough. Friends of the Earth Scotland wants the Scottish Government to commit to becoming a zero emissions nation by 2040, with a cut of 77% by 2030.

Dr Dixon continued,
“The First Minister has committed Scotland to ‘playing our full part in the Paris Agreement.’ But her government’s proposals so far fail to deliver what is needed to address this climate emergency. Nearly 20,000 people responded to their consultation this summer calling for increased action and stronger targets.

“The Programme for Government announcements of the phase out of fossil-fuelled cars by 2032 and the creation of a Just Transition Commission to ensure the shift to low carbon economy is fair to workers and communities were both demonstrations of climate leadership. These measures and the subsequent decision to ban fracking should embolden them to go further and set us on the path to a zero emissions Scotland. Positive action on climate change will deliver warmer homes, healthier citizens and help tackle poverty at home and abroad.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is visiting the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik today where she will discuss climate action and meet with the UN climate chief. When attending the same event last year she said “it was essential that the world… makes serious efforts to keep them [temperature rises] below 1.5C.”

 Photography for Friends of the Earth Scotland from: Colin Hattersley Photography – www.colinhattersley.com – cphattersley@gmail.com – 07974 957 388.