Approving another nuclear power station when we should be doing everything to reduce energy prices is surely a joke. Reports at the weekend said that Boris Johnson had approved government funding of £6bn towards the £20-30bn estimated cost for the …
Water scarcity and climate change
Despite the recent downpours much of Scotland is still in a state of water scarcity. As well as protecting river flows, reservoir levels and drinking water supplies, there are good climate change reasons for saving water. Last week the Scottish Borders …
Truss’ Brexit fundamentalism threatens environmental gains
Liz Truss’ pledge this week to scrap all EU-derived laws by 2023 is a big threat to environmental and consumer protection, even where those measures have been put into Scots’ Law. What did the EU ever do for us, as …
Toxic chemicals escape scrutiny
A bit of Brexit ideology means we are falling behind Europe on protecting the public and the environment from toxic chemicals. And it can only get worse. From perfume to smart phones and food to washing up liquid there are thousands …
Courts take on climate change
Last week a landmark ruling by the UK High Court told the UK Government to go back to the drawing board on its climate plan. Could the same happen here? I’ve written before about some of the many legal challenges that …
Overhyped hydrogen put in its place
A recent report from Friends of the Earth busts the myth that hydrogen is a wonder fuel that is going to do everything from powering cars to heating homes. Instead it is an expensive, energy-intensive fuel which should only be used …
Materials targets essential to reduce global footprint
Figures released this week showed that 80% of our coastal waters are contaminated with fragments of plastic, a threat to wildlife and, via the food chain, to us. The promised Circular Economy Bill must take action to eliminate this problem and …
Peterhead’s climate-busting power plan
Scotland is supposed to be at the forefront of tackling climate change and we have renewable energy resources that are the envy of the world, yet energy company SSE is proposing to build a new fossil-fuel power station at Peterhead. …
The Ferret – Ministers urged to reject new Peterhead gas plant
A story in the Ferret and Sunday National covers plans to build a new gas fired power station at Peterhead. In a country which is supposed to be leading on climate change. This is the full quotes I gave to …
COVID helps climate ambitions
The climate change emissions results for 2020 are out and they show that we met our target for the first time in four years. Hurrah! But only because COVID lockdowns kept emissions from cars and planes unusually low. The new figures published …
Pointless nuclear propaganda war
At the weekend a newspaper story revealed the scale of nuclear industry lobbying of MSPs and Ministers. Sadly for them nuclear reactors across Europe are increasingly showing the folly of relying on complex, always late and eye-wateringly expensive technologies for power. …
The Ferret – Industry lobbies MSPs to back nuclear power
A story in the Ferret and Sunday National covers the nuclear industry’s propaganda offensive to get nuclear power back on the agenda in Scotland. These are the full quotes I gave to the Ferret: “Investing in renewables and energy efficiency …