“UNACCEPTABLE” TO SEE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ROLLED BACK
Scotland’s progress on climate change risks being rolled
back by a Tory Brexit, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South has warned, as Scotland
marks its national Climate Week, which runs from 16th September
until 23rd September.
The opposing approaches of the Scottish and UK governments
in the last week were highlighted by Ruth Maguire as a Scottish Government
supported world-leading tidal energy project was unveiled days before the
Tories approved the costly white elephant Hinkley Point. A Climate Change
Committee report also showed that Scotland is leading the UK in cutting carbon
emissions, despite Tory cuts to renewables damaging the industry.
This has led to SNP MSP Ruth Maguire calling on the Tories
to match the Scottish Government’s pledge to maintain vital environmental
protection measures required under EU law after Brexit – something that is
important in safeguarding communities across Cunninghame South from the effects
of climate change.
Commenting, Ruth said:
“The Tory government at Westminster are in serious danger of
damaging our efforts to tackle climate change and build a sustainable future
for Cunninghame South – which is completely unacceptable and light-years away
from our efforts in Scotland, marked by the annual national Climate Week.
“Time and again, the Tories have failed to adapt to the need
to develop a more sustainable energy policy that would benefit our local
communities in Cunninghame South. From the appointment of Andrea Leadsom, who
once asked if climate change was real, to the environment portfolio and
harrowing cuts to renewable subsidies, to a willingness to spend billions on
nuclear power whilst scraping innovative Carbon Capture and Storage schemes, we
can see that their priorities lie elsewhere.
“Their record on the environment leaves a lot to be desired
– and with an unwanted Brexit now looming over Cunninghame South, I don’t have
high hopes for the vital protections that the EU provides on animal habitats,
air and water pollution and carbon emissions being maintained.
“If the increasingly right-wing Tory government had any
sense, they would prioritise and strengthen environmental legislation – but
given their desire to roll back the decades and cut out the ‘Brussels red-tape’
which provides many vital protections across all areas of public life in Cunninghame
South, I can’t say I’ll be holding my breath on that.”
