By Pennie Taylor
Thunderous applause greeted First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s recent declaration that there is indeed a climate change emergency, and that Scotland is ready to tackle it. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urges Westminster to back his motion and also acknowledges the scale of the crisis that has seen schoolchildren and grassroots activists take to the streets in protest at lack of action.
Both timely statements, given that today the Committee on Climate Change will update its advice on the UK’s long-term climate change targets. Addressing the SNP conference in Edinburgh last weekend, Ms Sturgeon said that if it recommends more urgent steps to cut C02 emissions, her government would act.
Read more: Public told to make lifestyle changes now or all hope for planet will disappear
But why wait? There is plenty of evidence that our world is drowning under the effects of climate change, driven by fossil fuel emissions and the pursuit of profit. If political pledges to respond are to be more than empty rhetoric and further harmful hot air, what is to stop us from acting now?
Being alert to the threat of climate collapse is clearly identified as a vote-winner by opposition politicians. Yet Environment Secretary Michael Gove refused to concede an emergency when he met Extinction Rebellion protestors in London earlier this week. The activists felt patronised by Gove stating that while he shares their “high ideals”, ER’s timescales are unrealistic.
Read more: Iain Macwhirter: Politicians should be wary when declaring a climate war they cannot win
It could be argued that he was at least honest. Commercial vested interests are clearly to the front of Gove’s mind as he considers the pressure for change. Corbyn appears to have conveniently forgotten his pledge to re-open Britain’s coal mines; and Nicola Surgeon has made no mention of Scotland’s reliance on oil and gas revenues, far less a pledge to cut airline taxes.
The Committee on Climate Change, made up of experts in climate science, behavioural change and business, is unlikely to move far enough or fast enough to satisfy those who want to see urgency. They are calling for short-term commitments, not yet another plan to kick the problem out into the political long grass. That will mean dong things very differently, and fast.
Or risking the loss of trust – not to mention votes.
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