Climate activists occupy Scottish Parliament

Climate change campaigners staged a peaceful occupation of the Scottish Parliament chamber today to call on MSPs to adopt tougher action on emissions.

Around 40 activists from Extinction Rebellion refused to leave the chamber for approximately an hour, after arriving as part of a guided tour of the building.

Parliament was not sitting and there were no arrests.

Extinction Rebellion is calling on the Scottish Government to adopt policies aimed at cutting net emissions to zero by 2025.

The Scottish Government has aimed for a 90 per cent emission reduction by 2050, alongside assurances that the net-zero target will be achieved as soon as possible.

Ministers will be required to keep the net-zero target date under review by seeking expert advice on the issue every five years.

A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “Around 40 individuals on a free public tour refused to leave the chamber for approximately 60 minutes before leaving peacefully at 1.30pm.  The public tour route takes in the debating chamber when Parliament is not sitting. There was no impact on parliamentary business.”