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Date: Tues 29 January 2008
CLIMATE CHANGE BILL CONSULTATION LAUNCH
STOP CLIMATE CHAOS SCOTLAND SAY SCOTLAND CAN DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP
ON TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE (SCCS Press Release)
SCOTS CLIMATE CHANGE BILL SHOULD BACK WORKPLACE ACTION (UNISON
Press release)
STOP CLIMATE CHAOS SCOTLAND SAY SCOTLAND CAN DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP
ON TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE
The Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition (SCCS), backed by environmental
and development campaigners, trade unions, faith organisations and
community groups, with a combined supporter base of one and a half
million, unite in their response to the Scottish Government's Climate
Change Bill consultation launch today. The Bill is welcomed as a
pioneering opportunity to develop a legal framework for managing
carbon emissions. However, SCCS believe the Bill must be strong
if Scotland is to be effective in combating climate change.
Mike Robinson, Chair, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said: "This
landmark Bill is a great opportunity for Scotland to become a world
leader in tackling climate change - more than 30 of Scotland's most
respected organisations campaigning on climate change greet it with
enthusiasm. The consultation is a good start; we are encouraged
by the Scottish Government's acknowledgement of the 2º Celsius global
warming danger threshold and the need for policy to reflect the
most recent science. However, in order to meet overall targets it
is essential that there is a commitment to annual reductions of
at least 3% per year in statute. Without it, this is a departure
from the SNP manifesto commitment. This broad coalition will also
be hugely disappointed if the Scottish Government rules out the
inclusion of emissions from international aviation in its targets.
"It is vital that the Scottish Climate Change Bill is seen
in a global context; we need to acknowledge that poor people around
the world are already feeling the real impacts of climate change
- changing weather patterns undermine their ways of life while increased
disasters threaten their lives.
"Scotland has had huge benefit from fossil-fuel based energy,
we can and should be leading efforts to shift to a low-carbon economy."
ENDS
For more press information please contact: Lang
Banks/Jess Pepper, WWF on 01350 728200 or 07980 852562
For more information about SCCS please contact:Ruth Dawkins,
SCCS on 0131 311 6512, 07790 386 329 and ruth@stopclimatechaosscotland.org
Notes to editors
- Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is a growing coalition on climate
change, bringing together environment and development organisations,
unions, faith, community and women's groups. Members include:
Christian Aid, Oxfam, WWF Scotland, RSPB, UNISON, SAMH, Church
of Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Friends of the Earth
Scotland, Woodland Trust, World Development Movement, SCIAF, Tearfund,
Greenpeace, Baldernock Community Council, Campaign against Climate
Change, Clyde Heritage Trust, Concern Worldwide Scotland, Edinburgh
University Students Association, Glasgow University SRC, Glasgow
Eco-Renovation Network, Heriot Watt Students' Association, Hillhead
Community Council, Justice and Peace Scotland, People and Planet,
Ramblers Association, Scottish Action On Climate Change, Scottish
Seabird Centre, SEAD, Spokes, Surfers Against Sewage, Sustrans,
TRANSform Scotland, Women's Environment Network
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SCOTS CLIMATE CHANGE BILL SHOULD BACK WORKPLACE ACTION (UNISON
Press release)
UNISON Scotland today urged the Scottish Government to back green
workplace action as part of the Scottish Climate Change Bill.
Welcoming today's consultation and the proposed 80% target for
cutting carbon emissions, Scottish Organiser Dave Watson stressed
that more CO2 emissions are generated in the workplace than the
home.
He said: "We would like the Bill to give powers to Scottish Ministers
to issue regulations and guidance to promote greener workplaces
and workforce involvement.
"Public services in particular have a vital role to play and the
Bill should ensure that the public sector leads by example.”
For UNISON comments please contact: Dave Watson (Scottish
organiser - policy) 07958 122 409(m) Chris Bartter (Communications
Officer) 07715 583 729(m) Fiona Montgomery (Information Development
officer) 0141 342 2852 9w)
Notes to Editors:
1. UNISON Scotland is a member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland,
the coalition of environment and development NGOs, trade unions,
faith, community and women's groups.
2. UNISON welcomes the 80% target for cutting carbon emissions
by 2050 as the minimum necessary according to the latest science.
We urged the UK Government to also adopt an 80% target instead of
their proposed 60% cut.
3. Our Green Workplace Briefing is available at www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/greenworkplace.html
4. The UNISON Scotland Environment Manifesto produced during last
year's Scottish election campaign is at: www.unison-scotland.org.uk/greenworkplace
Index
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