The people of the lesser developed countries have suffered so much. But there are those who try to change this sad situation. I give thanks to WDM and its work.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Sign up to E-NewsPress release
21 June 2007
WORLD DEVELOPMENT MOVEMENT SCOTLAND
NEWS RELEASE
CAMPAIGNERS SHOCKED AT SNP U-TURN ON CLIMATE
- campaigners' call on government to live up to manifesto commitments on launch of climate change bill for Scotland
Anti-poverty campaigners, the World Development Movement (WDM), have today (21st June) expressed their shock and disappointment that the Scottish ministers have reneged on manifesto promises to introduce annual legally-binding targets to cut climate emissions in the Scottish climate change bill proposed today.[1]
During the 2007 election campaign, the SNP party committed to mandatory annual targets of 3% to cut climate emissions.[2] In launching proposals for a climate bill, John Swinney MSP, the Minister for Finance and Sustainable Growth, has moved away from this commitment towards 5 year targets with annual reporting only.
WDM's head of Scottish campaigns, Kirstie Shirra, said:
"While WDM welcomes the introduction of a climate change bill for Scotland, the proposals brought forward will not bring about the necessary changes quick enough. It is vital that countries like Scotland take responsibility for their contribution to climate change, the effects of which are a massive global injustice. The poorest countries effectively make no contribution to climate change, yet will suffer most from the effects.
It is incredibly disappointing that the government has reneged on its manifesto commitments and not recognised the importance of annual legally-binding targets to cut climate emissions. The 5 year targets proposed today will enable delays, inaction and the buck to be passed to future governments.
WDM is urging the government not to go back on its annual targets and to introduce the bill as soon as possible. Otherwise action on climate will be to late for the millions living in poverty likely to suffer the worst impacts. In Africa alone over 85 million people could die as a direct result of climate change by 2100 and one-sixth of the world's population water supplies are at risk from glaciers vanishing.” [3]
WDM we also be calling for the inclusion of aviation, the fastest growing contributor to climate change, to be included in the emission reduction targets. [4]
ENDS
For more information or comment, contact: Kirstie Shirra, Head of Campaigns, on 0131 454 3802 or 07983 364 529
Information for editors
[1] In a statement today (21st June), John Swinney MSP, Minister for Finance and Sustainable Growth, launched proposals a Scottish climate change bill.
[2] Page 29 of SNP manifesto:
"In government we will introduce a Climate Change Bill with mandatory carbon reduction targets of 3% per annum and also set a long-term target of cutting emissions by a minimum of 80% by 2050 - above the UK target of 60%."
[3] With excessive carbon emissions driving climate change, it is rich countries, like our own, that are responsible yet it is people in the poorest countries that will suffer most. Rich countries are responsible for 80% of the manmade increase in CO2. If we stand by and do nothing the impact on poor countries will be devastating:
- diseases will increase - 185 million people in Africa alone could die as a direct result by 2100
- water supplies for one-sixth of the world's population are at risk from glaciers vanishing
- droughts will worsen threatening the food supplies of hundreds of millions of people
- rising sea levels, erosions and agricultural damage could create between 150 and 200 million environmental refugees by 2050
For more information visit http://www.wdmscotland.org.uk/ or call 0131 454 3802
[4] Under current plans, UK aviation’s contribution to climate change will have increased by 213 per cent by 2050, almost half of Britain’s contribution to climate change. A copy of the report Emissions invisible is available on the WDM site http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/reports/climate/emissionsinvisible04052007.pdf
[5] The World Development Movement was founded in 1970. It campaigns to tackle the root causes of poverty. WDM believes that charity is not enough and aims to change the policies that keep the developing world poor. It is a democratic and politically independent organisation with 16,500 supporters and a strong role for its 70 local groups across the UK.
Anti-poverty campaigners, the World Development Movement (WDM), have today (8th May) condemned the announcement by BAA to carry out a massive expansion to Glasgow airport [1] as a disaster for both people and the climate.
In a new report, ‘Emissions Invisible’, WDM highlights that under current plans aviation will account for almost half of Britain’s contribution to climate change by 2050 and that Britain cannot hope to meet its target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 unless it does something now.
WDM's head of Scottish campaigns, Kirstie Shirra, said:
"Plans to treble the number of passengers at Glasgow airport make a ridicule of the UK government's efforts to tackle climate change. Their draft climate bill proposes to exclude the UK’s share of international aviation emissions from emissions reduction targets [2]. At the same time the Department of Transport is backing the expansion of UK airports and airport capacity [3] such as this development in Glasgow.
Action must be taken now to halt aviation expansion if we are to have any chance of reducing our climate emissions. The plans for expanding Glasgow airport should be scrapped and the climate bill must include international aviation in the reduction targets from the outset.”
In its new report, Emissions Invisible [4], WDM calculates that:
§ Aviation currently accounts for 12.4 per cent of Britain’s contribution to climate change; greater than that of cars (9.3 per cent), home heating (11.1per cent) or manufacturing and construction (11.3 per cent) [5].
§ Under current plans, UK aviation’s contribution to climate change will have increased by 213 per cent by 2050.
§ By 2050 the Climate Bill, as currently drafted, will result in only a 17 per cent reduction in Britain’s actual contribution to climate change despite other sectors of the economy undertaking more significant emissions reduction.
The report also shows that under current plans aviation will account for almost half of Britain’s contribution to climate change by 2050 but while the climate bill will likely necessitate emissions reductions from all other sectors of the British economy it allows international aviation emissions to continue growing [6].
ENDS
For more information or comment, contact: Kirstie Shirra, Head of Campaigns, on 0131 454 3802 or 07983 364 529
Information for editors
[1] Airport operator BAA will, today (8th May), announce proposals for a major expansion of Glasgow airport with passenger numbers predicted to treble from 8.8 million to 24 million a year by 2030.
[2] The draft Climate Bill proposes that the UK’s contribution to international aviation emissions be excluded from reduction targets until or unless international agreement is reached on accounting for and reducing aviation emissions. This will delay action by the UK for at least 5 years and probably much longer. The draft Bill and consultation documents can be viewed at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/
[3] The government’s aviation white paper supports new runways at Edinburgh, Birmingham International, Stansted and Heathrow airports. In addition, the government’s white paper supports other airport expansion measures, such as new terminals or longer runways, at a total of 24 different airports in the UK.
[4] A copy of the report Emissions invisible on a private section of the WDM site http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/reports/climate/
emissionsinvisible04052007.pdf
[5] The draft Bill only requires reduction of carbon dioxide and excludes reduction of other greenhouse gases. Aviation makes up over 6 per cent of UK CO2 emissions, but the extra global warming effects of aviation boosts it to 10-15 per cent of the UK’s contribution to climate change. Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.
[6] For example, WDM’s new report calculates that road transport’s contribution to climate change will likely have decreased by 56 per cent by 2050.
[7] In March 2007 WDM released its report Dying on a jet plane that showed that the richest 18 per cent of the British population is responsible for 54 per cent of flights. WDM argued that the world’s poorest countries make effectively no contribution to climate change but are affected first and worst.
http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/reports/climate/
[8] The World Development Movement was founded in 1970. It campaigns to tackle the root causes of poverty. WDM believes that charity is not enough and aims to change the policies that keep the developing world poor. It is a democratic and politically independent organisation with 16,500 supporters and a strong role for its 70 local groups across the UK.
Print this page
