McInnes demands real action to tackle climate change

6.14.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th May 2008

Liberal Democrat Climate Change spokesperson Alison McInnes has demanded the Scottish Government take real action against climate change, so that Scotland takes a leading role in tackling this global challenge.

Commenting after a debate in the Scottish Parliament on climate change, Mrs McInnes said:

"Just over a year ago the First Minister outlined his new Government's priorities. He devoted a good deal of time to talking about the environmental challenges, the need for a Scottish Climate Change Bill, and the all-encompassing nature that action against climate change must take. But, 12 months on, every day it seems more and more as though the First Minister's words were just that - words, and nothing more.

"We cannot, however, accuse the Government of doing nothing since they have come to power. Ministers have found the time to ditch their manifesto commitment to binding annual reduction targets of 3 per cent. They have committed to a huge increase in spending on roads, while at the same time delivering budget cuts to public transport. They have cut funding for sustainable travel initiatives and turned down planning applications for wind farm developments, while at the same time proclaiming that 'coal is King'.

"For all the rhetoric, we have yet to see evidence that the Government has any substantive policies that will help meet the Bill's targets. Setting an emissions target is important, but actually taking action that will allow that target to be met is where the real work lies."