Many people would rather forget 2016 and its catalogue of mistakes, disasters and deaths. The election of Trump poses a real threat to environmental progress and climate action. Richard looks ahead to a busy 2017 for climate campaigning and getting Scotland on the path to a fossil free future.
Marrakech blog – still waiting for action on climate change
For a while this meeting looked like it might be that rarest of things, a UN climate conference that actually finished on time rather than running into Saturday or even Sunday. But, true to UN form, talks broke down last night.
Marrakech blog – Paris Agreement gets going but much to resolve
Ministers and heads of state came to the COP today. Finance has been a big issue with rich nations shirking responsibilities and scepticism that more money or action will emerge.
Marrakech blog – urgent action needed and still possible despite Trump
Yesterday at the UN Climate Conference in Marrakech a broad coalition of development, union, faith and environment groups laid out their analysis of where the world is heading and the urgent action that is needed to meet the targets agreed …
EU departure means a tough fight to protect our environment
In 1993 the Norwegian Environment Minister called John Gummer, the UK Environment Secretary, a drittsekk – a shitbag– because of the massive impact on Scandinavian lakes and forest of acid rain caused by emissions from British power stations. In the …
Closure of Longannet signals the end of fossil fuels
When the steam turbines at Longannet power station cease to turn some time tomorrow there will be no coal being burnt for electricity production anywhere in Scotland for the first time in at least 115 years. For a country which virtually invented …
Nuclear – if only they would listen …
EDF today announced that they would extend the life of the nuclear reactors at Torness until 2030. This announcement is hardly a surprise, everyone who knows anything about energy has been expecting this announcement for a decade. The only surprise …
The Budget and the Environment
On the face of it George Osborne’s Budget doesn’t say much about the environment. But if you dig into the details there is plenty to show that David Cameron’s claim that the last government would be the ‘greenest ever’ has …
North Sea – transition from oil jobs to clean energy jobs essential
Last week the Pope produced his much-trailed encyclical on the environment. The core of this policy pronouncement was a strong message on the moral case to act on climate change. A life-long champion of the poor, Pope Francis also criticised the …
The end of the age of coal
With the announcement of the closure of Longannet power station we are probably already in the final year of coal power in Scotland, with the plant expected to stop generating in March next year. We should celebrate the end of …