Stop Climate Chaos delivers election demands to Parliament

Stop Climate Chaos campaigners have cycled around Holyrood delivering environmental demands to each of the main political parties in an attempt to urge them to prioritise emission reduction in their election manifestos.

The environmental umbrella body is calling on politicians from across the chamber to make home energy efficiency a National Infrastructure Project and deliver a Warm Homes Act.

Capital investment to boost low carbon infrastructure and shift from private cars towards public transport and active travel also features among their demands.

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SCC wants parties to use newly devolved Air Passenger Duty powers to cut climate emissions and commit to a land use strategy action plan.

The Scottish Government has faced criticism over its environmental policy after it was revealed the 2016-17 draft budget reduces spending on climate change mitigation by nearly ten per cent.

SCC Scotland campaigner Jim Densham said: “People in this country want change. Communities across Scotland are coming together to create their own clean energy, to build green transport systems, and to adopt low carbon lifestyles. Before the UN climate talks in Paris, thousands of us marched in Edinburgh as part of a global movement for real climate action. Now is the time for the political parties to match that commitment and enthusiasm.

“During the last Scottish Parliament, we repeatedly failed to meet our climate targets. That simply can't continue.

“The policies set out in our manifesto are reasonable and achievable, and will take us towards a new clean, green economy with benefits for all of us.”

The group had to reschedule the stunt from last week because of storms.

Gail Wilson, SCC campaigns manager, said: “We weren’t immune to the exceptionally bad weather many Scots have been experiencing recently and last week it wasn’t safe for us to be out in the strong winds. Climate scientists have linked the changing weather patterns to climate change, and these links are becoming clearer.

“People are also making the connections and with more flooding and increasing storms predicted for Scotland and the UK we want to see urgent action from political parties of all stripes.”