ON the day the IPCC released its report warning of climate change consequences becoming “more frequent”, Common Weal – and MP Douglas Chapman – have won praise from some of its authors for their publication of a series of actions Scotland can take this year to address the emergency.
Their report is called 21 For 21: the climate change actions Scotland needs now, and is drawn from six years of policy work on energy and climate change from Common Weal.
Among its central recommendations are: the setting up of a Scottish Energy Development Agency to properly and coherently plan the infrastructure and policies needed to decarbonise Scotland; a National Energy Company to drive forward the energy infrastructure Scotland needs – and keep it in collective ownership; an urgent plan for the retrofitting of every house in Scotland to bring them up to proper environmental standards and guarantee people warm, comfortable homes; and incorporate these into an ambitious Green New Deal with a major training programme to build a workforce, help people transition out of employment in oil and gas and capture as much as possible of the manufacturing and supply chain work for Scotland.
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The report has won praise from a number of high-profile scientists, including authors of yesterday’s IPCC report, in particular, Emeritus Professor Bill McGuire at University College London, who said it was a “brilliant and imaginative initiative”.
The IPCC said the world had four years to ensure that carbon emissions have started to reverse permanently.
Common Weal argues that since almost no country is better placed to act than Scotland, we must urgently work together across society, government, the public sector, private business and academia to put these actions into practice to create a greener, fairer and more resilient nation.
SNP MP Chapman (above) said: “21 For 21 is a vital political, social and economic call to arms to address the urgent and epic climate crisis as outlined in the new IPCC report.
“In Scotland there is a strong willingness across society and government to act together to drive down carbon emissions and play our part in the global battle against climate change and we have already made great strides forward on our ambitions.
“Now it is this commitment that we must harness alongside our abundant natural resources and renewable potential to refocus hearts and minds on the critical task ahead.
“We have the tools, skills and talent that we need to act; now we have an evidence-based blueprint backed by experts in the field of climate science. Let’s grasp this opportunity together Scotland.”
Dr Keith Baker, a member of the Common Weal Energy Group, a researcher at the Built Environment Asset Management Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University, and one of the authors of the plan, added: “The IPCC report reveals that the window of opportunity to act to avert climate catastrophe is closing fast.
“Scotland has the potential to become a world leader on climate change, reflected in 21 For 21’s clear road map to urgently address the decarbonisation of Scotland, create green jobs, tackle fuel poverty and bolster economic regeneration.
“We are delighted that the IPCC authors back these ‘crucial mitigation measures for Scotland’ as ‘inclusive, just and progressive’ to ensure a greener and fairer nation for everyone.
“As we approach the summit of the century at COP26, the science is clear; we must set goals and act now.”
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