TO say that 2021 has been a big year for the climate crisis is an understatement.
Extreme climate-change induced weather events across the globe, Antarctica’s “doomsday glacier” rapidly retreating and fracturing and, of course, COP26 in Glasgow in November, when the phrasing “phase down” of coal replaced “phase out” in the final document, causing tears of frustration from UK COP president Alok Sharma, are just a few bookmarks in 12 months of change.
The jury is still out on the success of the UK presidency at COP26 – with just 11 months until the next summit in Egypt, Sharma’s gains on centring coal for the first time in climate negotiations as well as the commitment to review carbon emissions on a yearly basis rather than five yearly may yet be regarded as a positive turning point in our vital climate journey.
The recognition of fossil fuels’ role in this emissions emergency cannot be underestimated. The UK Government may have paused a decision on the Cumbrian coal mine, but it’s hard to see them not relenting to pressure on this doomed venture. And already we are seeing a shift in behaviours of oil and gas companies Siccar and Shell relating to the controversial Cambo oil field off Shetland. Has a tipping point been reached? Will 2022 see a further retreat of the great climate-causing bulldozer that is fossil fuel?
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None of this can happen, of course, without a Just Transition at the heart of any big changes. This was brought home to me in the recent demolition of the Longannet chimney in my constituency.
The controlled explosion felt both poignant and symbolic – poignant for the end of an era, but for the loss, too, of work in an industry that is impossible to pursue in the face of a code-red warning for humanity and the long-term implications for communities in West Fife.
It was also symbolic of the great shift we must take in addressing this crisis for our planet and the responsibility we have as a nation to ensure we make the most of our renewable potential, skills and talent in order to transition fairly to a greener and more sustainable economy.
Others were watching the Longannet explosion from an entirely different angle. Cheap jibes from Scottish Tories on the Just Transition rang hollow as Kate Forbes announced £20 million for the North-east and workers in the oil and gas industry and an additional £23.5m for a green jobs fund in the Scottish Budget. The irony of the Conservatives trying to score political points on destroying industries will not be lost on the coal communities around the UK that were so cruelly treated by this party.
THE Scottish Budget’s ambition and financial commitment signals that Holyrood is keen to meet our obligations in terms of transformational change. It remains to be seen whether Westminster will step up to the challenge given energy is a reserved power.
Just days before Longannet’s demolition and the Scottish budget announcement, the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) Progress Report on Reducing Emissions in Scotland highlighted how this scope and challenge for transformation and reaching net zero must now be matched with “a comprehensive, detailed policy framework …. (to) be completed so the focus can be on implementation and delivery of real-world progress”.
In other words, flesh on the bones of policies and methodology to ensure our ambition meets the reality of vital climate action.
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Fortunately, a blueprint for hard-and-fast action already exists. In the summer I was privileged to support Common Weal’s proposal document entitled “21 For 21 – The Climate Change Actions Scotland Needs Now” to take us forward to a greener and fairer future.
Many of the recommendations in this Progress Report from the CCC echo the proposals in 21 For 21 on the kind of realistic plans needed to deliver rapid reductions in emissions, co-ordinated across the nation and tailored for local needs.
In my forward to 21 For 21, I highlighted the dual issues of responsibility and opportunity that mark this important moment in our nation’s story – that not only must our targets on climate match reality, but with the opportunities granted to us through our abundant natural resources and renewable potential, we have a duty to play our part at a global and local level to protect the planet. With this goes accountability – this is our chance to create credible green opportunities for economic regeneration where no one is left behind.
In the new year, we plan to update this vital call to arms of 22 For 22, to focus minds and win hearts, engage heads and elbow grease on the practical steps necessary to match this ambition with action. Much of this can be done within the powers already at our disposal. But the fact remains that until we have full independence and control of all the levers of power, Scotland’s assets, potential and world-leading aims will be stymied by the UK Government.
Douglas Chapman is the SNP’s Small Business, Enterprise and Innovation spokesperson
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