CLIMATE organisations and campaigners have had a mixed reaction to the collapse of the Scottish Government’s power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.
There was one consensus, however – the climate emergency “won’t wait” and “urgent action” is still needed.
Humza Yousaf ended the Bute House Agreement last Thursday – leading to Scottish Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater being booted out of their positions as government ministers and sparking a motion of no-confidence in the First Minister.
It came after controversy over the Government’s scrapping of the 2030 target of cutting emissions by 75%.
READ MORE: ‘Targets mean nothing’: Climate campaigners plead for action from Scottish Government
Craig Dalzell is the head of policy and research for pro-independence think tank Common Weal, which focuses on environmental sustainability among other issues. The organisation has also been vocal on the route Scotland must take to ensure a greener future and the measures needed to ensure Scotland meets ambitious climate targets.
“In a sense, the ending of the Bute House Agreement should have no impact whatsoever on climate change measures,” Dalzell told the Sunday National.
“Because every single party in the Parliament has told us that they fully understand the ramifications of failing to deal with our climate emergency and that they fully understand the measures that need to be taken to avoid that.”
He argued, however, that “not a single party” in Holyrood – not even the Scottish Greens – had a strategy or set of policies that would have met climate obligations.
“I hope that the failure of the Bute House Agreement will be taken as an understanding that parties compromising on a mutual ‘middle ground’ of climate solutions that they all know are inadequate is itself doomed to failure,” he said.
“And that the only way forward isn't to retrench or - as some in Parliament have already suggested - to embrace outright climate denialism but to push forward faster and to come up with a plan that actually meets our obligations to the planet.
“The climate emergency won't wait for petty party politics. Neither should Scotland.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland campaigners, meanwhile, warned Humza Yousaf must get action on climate change “back on track” with a commitment to protect “vital” legislation which was being spearheaded by Scottish Greens ministers.
Key recycling targets under the Circular Economy Bill and energy aims through the Heat in Buildings Bill will be important going forward, the environmental group said.
A spokesperson added: “The Government must urgently clarify how it will deliver the vital climate change legislation that will bring down pollution and improve lives through both the Circular Economy Bill and the Heat in Buildings Bill, both of which were being overseen by Green ministers.”
These concerns were echoed by Lang Banks of WWF Scotland, who said: “Despite this news, one thing remains the same – the Scottish Government must urgently continue to take steps to address the climate and natural emergency.
READ MORE: What did the Bute House Agreement achieve from the original SNP-Green deal?
“There is overwhelming public support in Scotland for action that will create jobs and deliver warmer homes, cleaner air, and support more farmers to adopt climate and nature-friendly practices.”
Lauren MacDonald from the Stop Rosebank campaign said that despite the current chaos in Holyrood, “the views of the public have not changed”.
“People are as concerned this week as they were last week about what’s happening to our climate and about being able to afford to pay energy bills.”
The campaigner added: “With a General Election just months away, the SNP should remember that voters want a government prepared to act on climate change and fuel poverty, and not now be tempted to side with the profiteering oil and gas giants who will no doubt be celebrating the removal of the Greens from government.”
Others, meanwhile, have said the end of the Bute House Agreement is an opportunity for the First Minister to reset his relationship with businesses and communities in rural Scotland.
Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land and Estates, said: “An end to the Bute House Agreement is a new beginning for the Scottish Government. It is an opportunity to hit the reset button on its relationship with rural Scotland.
“Now is the time for a rural reset, and a chance to map out a vision for rural Scotland that takes an evidence-based approach to delivering the outcome we all want to see.
“We now have an opportunity to take a different approach that takes into account the real priorities of people in rural Scotland and allows evidence and lived experience to lead the debate.”
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