27 October 2008
Welcome for Government's climate bill announcement
Transform Scotland [1] today welcomed the Scottish Government's announcement that the Scottish Climate Change Bill will include international aviation and shipping emissions. [2]
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland said:
"This is a very welcome announcement. Failing to include international aviation emissions would have severely damaged the credibility of the Scottish Climate Change Bill. It is right that the Scottish Government is continuing to lead the UK Government in developing a strong Climate Bill."
However, Transform Scotland stress that the Bill will only be as good as what it ends up delivering on the ground. Colin Howden said:
"What we now need to see is the Government matching its statements about tackling greenhouse gas emissions with action. The Government's draft budget would bring about a massive increase in funding for new road-building, while the proposed National Planning Framework plans to legislate for airport expansion and a £4,200m Second Forth Road Bridge.
"Transport is the basket case of climate policy. Until such time as investment is switched into sustainable transport, and away from subsidising road use and airport expansion, there is no chance that we will see falls in climate change emissions from the transport sector."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups.
[2] See <http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/10/27131648> for Scottish Government news release.
END OF NEWS RELEASE