NEWS RELEASE – Green spaces lose out

GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL USING MONEY FOR GREEN SPACES TO COVER MORE OF THE CITY IN CONCRETE

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Notes for Editors
1. Green Councillor Nina Baker is issuing a ‘call-in’ of this decision of Glasgow City Council.

NEWS RELEASE – First 100 days

FIRST 100 DAYS: GREEN GAINS AND COMMENTARY ON SNP GOVERNMENT SO FAR

As the first 100 days of the new SNP Government approaches Greens highlight significant policy gains despite only having 2 MSPs in the parliament. Greens were also critical of the SNP for pursuing environmentally unsustainable policies such as removing tolls from the Forth and Tay bridges and carrying on the Libdem/Labour agenda of massive expansion of airports and motorways, but praised the government for agreeing to a Climate Change Bill.

Green achievements since May 2007

- agreement secured with SNP to deliver early action on a Climate Change Bill. In their manifesto it appeared that the SNP were not going to move on this commitment till 2013.- Patrick Harvie appointed Convener of the Climate Change, Transport and Infrastructure Committee- Green proposals for blocking ship-to-ship oil transfer in the Firth of Forth adopted by Government.- secured a commitment by the First Minister to include social and environmental expertise in economic advisory council.- consistently backed funding for the Edinburgh Tram project, but rejected the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link- rejection of deep geological disposal of nuclear waste agreed in Scotland- Green Party debate in parliament on Trident wins historic vote; the first parliamentary rejection of a nuclear weapons system in British history- Green Party debate in parliament on carbon offsetting wins case that it is no substitute for reducing emissions directly

Criticisms of government action

- SNP government ignores its own advisers to press ahead with scrapping bridge tolls which will increase congestion and pollution, and refuses to support Green Party proposals for ’smart charging’.- SNP indicates an unwillingness to commit to clear annual 3% pollution reduction targets as part of the climate change bill- Although committing itself to marine legislation and some fish stock conservation measures, SNP has yet to move on delivery of marine national parks.- With support from Tories, Labour and Libdems, the SNP government is pressing ahead with massive road and airport expansion projects despite pollution and congestion levels running at their highest ever level.- Glasgow and Aberdeen Crossrail schemes still gathering dust.- All parties proposals for replacement of Council Tax regarded as inadequate, but a glimmer of hope for Green proposal of Land Value Taxation as government agrees to examine it again as an option.- Nicola Sturgeon refuses to order release of information on childhood leukaemia statistics

Robin Harper MSP said: “I hope that by now it is clear that whilst Greens will work with the new government in a constructive and positive way where we agree, where we disagree we will tackle the SNP as we would any other party. It does appear that the shift towards more constructive engagement by parties to deliver for the people is underway. I am pleased that despite our small number, we continue to make a difference and bring influence to bear. Action on laws to tackle climate change and marine pollution for example are testament to that.

“It is however, a mixed bag, and the one step forward two steps back approach of the Labour and Libdem Executive appears to still be in evidence. Whilst the SNP appears keen on giving itself some green clothing, it is also keeping its head firmly buried in the sand over some of the choices that need to be made if we are to build a sustainable society in Scotland. I hope that we can continue to exert influence and change minds so that Scotland can become a greener, fairer place.”

NEWS RELEASE – Transport

SNP GOVERNMENT HAS ‘HEAD IN SAND’ OVER RISING TRAFFIC LEVELS

Greens today called on the SNP Government to invest in public transport schemes that have previously been shelved instead of major road expansion projects as new figures reveal that Scotland’s traffic levels went up by 3% last year to their highest ever level.(1) A report to the Executive today also warns that removing bridge tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges will lead to increased traffic levels and recommends retaining the tolls. Ministers have rejected this advice. Greens advocate a system of ’smart charges’ instead to tackle congestion on the bridges. Greens say that bigger roads will just lead to more traffic, and that the Minister’s decision to remove tolls from the Forth Bridge is going to make matters worse. Greens want public transport projects prioritised, for example to invest in the Aberdeen and Glasgow Crossrail schemes instead of the Aberdeen Bypass and M74 Extension. Patrick Harvie MSP, Green Speaker on Transport, said: “It is plainly ridiculous for Ministers to claim that by investing in bigger roads, Scotland’s congestion problems will be eased. It has been accepted since the 1970s that building more roads simply encourages more traffic. It’s frankly bizarre for the Minister to appeal to people to leave the car at home whilst at the same time investing in bigger roads which attract people into their cars. The Minister appears to have his head in the sand. Congestion causes economic damage as well as environmental problems, and pursuing policies which make it worse is simply absurd.

“The previous Libdem/Labour Executive has left its legacy of increased traffic levels and the new administration appears hell bent on continuing the same unsustainable path. The government should accept the need for change, and give people alternative choices to the car instead of simply building capacity for more road traffic. Ministers appear unwilling to take the rational transport choices.” For more information contact 0790 99 33 074 Notes to editors 1. Latest transport statistics and a study commissioned to look at the impacts of removing tolls from the Forth and Tay bridges suggest an increase in the number of car journeys on Scotland’s roads network over future years.

Today’s publications show: * A 3% increase in traffic volume on Scotland’s roads last year, contained within “Main Transport Trends 2007″, a SE statistics publication * Removing tolls will increase congestion according to a Toll Impact Study examining the effects of removing tolls from the Forth and Tay bridges. The authors have advised that tolls should not be removed as a result. 2. Main Transport Trends published today by the Scottish Executive, describes some of the main trends shown by the statistics on Transport in Scotland over the past ten years. See: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/09154042/ 3. The Toll Impact Study was commissioned by the previous administration to look at the effects of removing tolls from the Forth and Tay bridges. The report was published today at www.scotland.gov.uk/ The authors predict significant extra traffic movements, increased travelling time with associated costs, and adverse environmental impacts. The report does however suggest that over the long term there would be likely to be some 1000 more residents of Fife in employment. The consultants recommend that tolls should not be removed from either the Tay or the Forth road bridge.

NEWS RELEASE – Climate protests

HARVIE CALLS ON PARLIAMENT TO BACK HEATHROW CLIMATE CHANGE PROTEST AND REJECT USE OF TERROR LAWS ON SCOTTISH PROTESTERS

Green MSP Patrick Harvie has today called on all MSPs (1) to back the climate change campaigners resisting the expansion of Heathrow airport, and also to reject the use of anti-terror laws on Scottish climate change protesters. Plans in Scotland to expand airports are likely to face similar protests. (2)

Greens say that Scotland should aim to be at the forefront of actions to tackle climate change and whilst applauding recent government commitments to set targets to reduce pollution, the expansion of airports and aviation numbers in Scotland would be incompatible with this. The SNP Government is also continuing to promote the previous Labour/Libdem Executive subsidies to new air routes.

Patrick Harvie MSP, who also convenes the Scottish Parliament’s Climate Change Committee, said: “Climate change requires an urgent political response and sooner or later politicians of all parties are going to have to get a grip on the expansion of aviation. We should certainly be putting in place transport alternatives for UK internal flights instead of subsidising new air routes. Only a low carbon economy will deliver a stable climate and a strong, healthy economy. To plan for massive growth in airports in order to boost the economy is deluded.

“There is also an important democratic and justice issue here. I hope that all parties can agree that treating climate change protesters like terror suspects should be rejected. These people are not terrorists, they are simply seeking to get the message through to the political mainstream that unfettered growth of aviation is untenable.

“The Scottish SNP Government and the UK Labour government will both struggle to reach emissions targets while continuing to subsidise and support the massive expansion of aviation.”

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Notes:

1. Text of motion lodged in parliament today by Patrick Harvie:

That the Parliament congratulates all those who have helped to win the argument that human-induced climate change is taking place and requires an urgent political response; welcomes the proactive steps being taken by the UK and Scottish governments to set emission reduction targets and to recruit advisors to serve on a Climate Committee; equally welcomes the proactive efforts of campaigners from across the UK and Europe who holding the ‘Camp for Climate Action’ near Heathrow airport to highlight the threat posed by the expansion of aviation; commits itself to ensuring that Scotland is at the forefront of action to tackle climate change; and commits to protect the freedom of individual and communities to campaign on this issue without being restricted by the misuse of legislation designed to apply to terrorism suspects.

2. Reports of possible protests in Scotland: http://www.holyrood.com/content/view/1010/10051/