Scotland’s climate targets and achievements – beware of rhetoric’s negative influence

By stewartb Back on 23 April this year, the BBC News website had the headline: ‘Scotland in ‘dangerous’ moment for climate goals’. Following an appearance before a Holyrood committee by Chris Stark, the outgoing CEO of the UK Climate Change Committee, the BBC reported Mr Stark’s remarks on Scottish Government targets: ‘THERE WAS NO POLICY PACKAGE THAT COULD DELIVER ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE NINE-FOLD INCREASE IN DECARBONISATION LEVELS NEEDED TO HIT THAT GOAL.’ (my emphasis) viz. reducing greenhouse gases by 75% by 2030. Within its process of annual reviews, when did the CCC first reach that conclusion – just recently? … Continue reading Scotland’s climate targets and achievements – beware of rhetoric’s negative influence

News you won’t hear on climate change – actually doing something?

You won’t see this on BBC Scotland – Murrell! Murrell! Sturgeon! Murrell, more ferry delays…. Nor on BBC Scotland Business – climate change targets scrapped (lie), bank closures, shouting at fish markets….no Murrell….isn’t embezzlement a kind of business? From the Scottish Government today: The Scottish Government is stepping up action to tackle climate change with a suite of new policies on transport, including increasing the number of electric vehicle chargers, and land use. The increase in charging points comes as part of a wider climate package that also includes an integrated ticketing system which can be used across all public transport. … Continue reading News you won’t hear on climate change – actually doing something?

Climate change – ‘Why don’t they do it as well as the Scots?’

there is a target that can’t be met, so it is a shame we have to give that message to the Scottish Government but what is behind it is behind it is a lack of progress all round. The above comments follow on from the opening headline claim by BBC Scotland that: Climate experts say a target for a 75% emissions cut by 2030 is out of reach and make much of its ‘legally-binding’ nature. Chris Stark above is the Chief Executive of the CCC, just about to leave them, so must be well-informed of progress or otherwise made by … Continue reading Climate change – ‘Why don’t they do it as well as the Scots?’

“The Traitors: Labour has delivered one of the biggest betrayals in UK industrial history” – the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce is not holding back!

By stewartb The quote comes from an opinion piece written by the Policy Director of the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) published 15 February 2024 in the industry news journal ‘Energy Voice’. Headline: ‘The Traitors: Back-stabbing TV hit has nothing on Labour – The Traitors: Labour has delivered one of the biggest betrayals in UK industrial history with its North Sea policy’. Seehttps://www.energyvoice.com/opinion/547861/the-traitors-labour/ This is in response to the Labour Party ‘who just months after heading north to promise “no cliff-edge end” to the North Sea oil and gas sector have delivered one of the biggest betrayals in … Continue reading “The Traitors: Labour has delivered one of the biggest betrayals in UK industrial history” – the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce is not holding back!

England – 307 flood warnings and 500 flood defences delayed and no Labour promise to help

Imagine this was in Scotland. According to BBC Politics, but not headlined anywhere else: Rishi Sunak is being urged by opposition parties to do more to help areas in England affected by flooding. Hundreds of homes have been evacuated following heavy rainfall, with flooded roads and railway tracks causing travel disruption. Labour said the PM should set up a “taskforce” to manage the response, and set out what support will be available. He is also coming under pressure to visit flood-hit areas. The Liberal Democrats said he should go to affected areas to “see for himself the devastation caused by … Continue reading England – 307 flood warnings and 500 flood defences delayed and no Labour promise to help

‘Growing proportion of England’s flood defences in disrepair, analysis finds’

From the Guardian today: Ministers have been told they will be “punished” by voters after analysis revealed the decline of vital flood defences across England. The proportion of critical assets in disrepair has almost trebled in the West Midlands and the east of England since 2018, leaving thousands of homes and businesses more vulnerable to storms. Critical assets are defined as those where there is a high risk to life and property if they fail. The east of England, which spans the Conservative heartlands from Suffolk to Bedfordshire and Essex, has one of the highest proportion of rundown flood defences in … Continue reading ‘Growing proportion of England’s flood defences in disrepair, analysis finds’