Wednesday September 21st 2016
Scotland’s progress on climate change risks being rolled back by a Tory Brexit, SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh Colin Beattie has warned, as Scotland marks its national Climate Week, which runs from 16th September until 23rd September.
The opposing approaches of the Scottish and UK governments in the last week were highlighted by Mr Beattie – as a Scottish Government supported world-leading tidal energy project was unveiled days before the Tories approved the Hinkley Point. A Climate Change Committee report also showed that Scotland is leading the UK in cutting carbon emissions.
This has led to SNP MSP Mr Beattie calling on the Tories to match the Scottish Government’s pledge to maintain vital environmental protection measures required under EU law after Brexit, something they say is important in safeguarding communities across East Lothian and Midlothian from the effects of climate change.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh Mr Beattie said:
“The Tory government at Westminster are in serious danger of damaging our efforts to tackle climate change and build a sustainable future for the Lothians – which is completely unacceptable and light-years away from our efforts in Scotland, marked by the annual national Climate Week.
“Time and again, the Tories have failed to adapt to the need to develop a more sustainable energy policy that would benefit our local communities in the constituency. From the appointment of Andrea Leadsom, who once asked if climate change was real, to the environment portfolio and harrowing cuts to renewable subsidies, to a willingness to spend billions on nuclear power whilst scraping innovative Carbon Capture and Storage schemes, we can see that their priorities lie elsewhere.
“Their record on the environment leaves a lot to be desired – and with an unwanted Brexit now looming over my constituency, I don’t have high hopes for the vital protections that the EU provides on animal habitats, air and water pollution and carbon emissions being maintained.
“If the increasingly right-wing Tory government had any sense, they would prioritise and strengthen environmental legislation – but given their desire to roll back the decades and cut out the ‘Brussels red-tape’ which provides many vital protections across all areas of public life in Midlothian and East Lothian, I can’t say I’ll be holding my breath on that.”
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