NEWS RELEASE – Energy Ministers clueless on climate impact of fracking

Greens have today warned that both the Scottish and UK Governments are failing to properly assess the carbon impact of a potential era of UK gas extraction by the controversial process of fracking.

Appearing before the Economy, Energy and Tourism committee of the Scottish Parliament, both UK and Scottish Government Energy Ministers were questioned by Patrick Harvie MSP on whether the climate change impacts of the gas extracted would be taken into account during the licensing process.(1) The UK Minister, Charles Hendry MP, confirmed that climate change would not be a factor considered.

Respected climate researchers at the Tyndall Centre estimate that if just 20% of shale gas reserves identified in Lancashire are burnt, 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide would be released: 15% of the UK’s carbon budget to 2050.(2)

In November 2011, SEPA granted a licence for the extraction of coal bed methane in Canonbie, Dumfries and Galloway. Another firm is drilling for coal bed methane in Airth, Falkirk, though without yet using the fracking technique.

Patrick Harvie said:

“Charles Hendry showed the UK Government’s breath-taking irresponsibility in admitting that the climate change impact of shale gas will not be a factor in deciding whether to approve applications for fracking. But that was nothing compared to the Scottish Minister Fergus Ewing, who appeared to be completely at sea on this issue.

“I have been asking questions regularly on this for months now, and the Minister knew it was coming up at today’s meeting. I’m shocked that he remained unable or unwilling to answer a few clear and specific questions, and it’s clear that if Scotland is going to resist this dangerous new drive to extract ever more fossil fuels, we’ll need a Minister who is at least up to speed on the basics.”

Notes

1. Scottish Planning Policy states that ‘potential pollution of land, air and water’ should be considered factors in planning decisions. See paragraph 232.

2. For an estimate of the carbon impact of UK shale gas, see the Tyndall Centre report, especially the last paragraph.

NEWS RELEASE – Scotland must set the pace on same-sex marriage

Greens have welcomed today’s demonstration of cross-party support for legislation lifting the ban on same-sex marriage and mixed-sex civil partnership in Scotland, and have called for a Bill to be published this year.

Patrick Harvie MSP joined with all other opposition leaders in signing the Equal Marriage campaign’s pledge of support, ahead of what is expected to be the most well-attended reception ever hosted at Holyrood since the creation of the Scottish Parliament.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“It’s really encouraging to see so much support for Equal Marriage both inside Parliament and outside, and all that’s needed is for the Government to come forward with the legislation.

“I see no reason why a Bill couldn’t be published this year, and I’m convinced that when MSPs have the chance to vote on this, Scotland will once again set the pace of change for the rest of the UK by backing equality for same-sex couples. This is a vital signal about the kind of progressive society that Scotland wants to be in the 21st century.”

From STV Local – We need to start building Glasgow’s better future now

If my next few decades are healthier than my last and I make it to the age of 88, I will be around to find out whether the glossy new image of ‘Future Glasgow’ ever comes to pass.

That’s the name of Glasgow City Council’s 50 year vision, and it takes its place alongside the Scottish Government’s equally glossy ‘Agenda for Cities’ published last week.

It’s fashionable for policymakers to set out long term vision statements and even to set specific targets which aren’t supposed to be delivered for decades to come.

I worry that it undermines the urgency of the immediate tasks we should be addressing.

Glasgow is a vibrant, exciting city, and like many people I find it a great place to live. It’s also a city with huge problems of poverty and inequality, and real challenges for the future.

Setting an ambitious long term approach is important, but there is little value in painting a wonderful picture of a bright future if the actions taken in the here and now are simply repeating the familiar old pattern.

Last week Holyrood debated these issues, and in the debate I emphasised the importance of focusing on the needs of a city’s people, and not just getting fixated on the concept of economic growth.

Before the current recession we saw decades of continual growth, but the gap between rich and poor just kept on getting wider. The wealth which benefited the few was created at the expense of other people, and the planet.

The referendum debate picks up pace

The week has been dominated by the issue of the independence referendum, and the UK Government’s
[a] crass attempt to intervene and pull strings.
[b] proposals for a fair, decisive and legal vote.
(delete as applicable)

On Thursday, the matter came to the Holyrood chamber, with a debate opened by Johann Lamont, entitled Scotland’s Future. Here’s my contribution to the debate:

…and a discussion in the Newsnight Scotland studio the same evening:

Concessions needed on both sides of independence debate

Speaking after this morning’s Scottish Parliament debate on the independence referendum, Scottish Greens have called for both UK and Scottish Governments to give ground to prevent the referendum becoming mired in legal conflicts.

Patrick Harvie lodged an amendment to the one put forward by Alex Salmond, calling for parties to work together to resolve questions of process so that the real debate about different visions for Scotland can begin in earnest. (1)

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“The Scottish Government should show willing, by accepting that the Electoral Commission is the right body to oversee the referendum, just as it does elections in Scotland. Similarly, the UK Government should accept that other aspects, like whether 16 and 17 year olds should be able to vote, must be decided by the Scottish Parliament.

“By making these concessions, both sides will find that their aspirations for a fair, legal and decisive referendum can be achieved all the quicker, and we can move on to the crucial choices we face about the kind of society we want Scotland to become.”

Notes

1. The amendment put forward in Patrick Harvie’s name (not selected for debate) can be read here.

Greens congratulate Lamont and Sarwar

Patrick Harvie today offered his congratulations to the newly elected Scottish Labour Party leadership team, and warned that Scotland has already changed around the Labour Party, whether they like it or not.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“Johann Lamont and Anas Sarwar are both hardworking and capable people, and I’d like to congratulate them on their success today. But they have a tough job ahead of them in trying to reinvent Labour in Scotland.

“Labour has tried to make independence a “bogeyman”, but soon the voters will have the chance to settle that one, and all political parties must be ready to take Scotland forward whichever choice the voters make. If Labour maintain their tribal hostility to greater independence they will make themselves irrelevant.

“In the face of the UK cuts, Scotland needs an assertive left-of-centre response. The Greens have clear proposals to close the gap between rich and poor, to promote small businesses and protect public services, and to safeguard the environment from relentless exploitation. These things can’t be done without a clear challenge to free-market ideology. It will be instructive to see if Scottish Labour are willing to move in that direction.

“Meanwhile, all opposition parties at Holyrood need to find better ways of holding the SNP Government to account and offering constructive opposition. That in itself would be a welcome change of tone from Labour.”

Greens backing Nov 30 strike action

The Green MSPs today confirmed the party’s support for tomorrow’s coordinated strike action against UK Ministers’ assault on public sector working conditions. Patrick Harvie MSP, the party’s co-convenor, will take part in an STUC event with the leadership of Scottish Labour and with striking public sector staff in the morning, (1) before taking part in the march from the Usher Hall to Holyrood and then meeting Holyrood staff on the picket line around Parliament.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“Tomorrow is a day when politicians of all parties should be supporting the unions and their action, which comes with a stronger democratic mandate than the UK Ministers who are imposing these unfair and economically illiterate cuts to public sector pensions. The strikes are therefore a crucial statement of resistance, and I will be out with public sector staff in Glasgow in the morning and in Edinburgh in the afternoon.

“MSPs have a responsibility to back both Scotland’s public sector employees and the wider public they serve. It’d be better if all politicians would offer the support that unions have asked for, and not cross the picket line today, but the focus must remain on UK Ministers and their reckless and divisive attack on the public sector.”

Notes

1. This event will take place Wednesday 30 November between 10.00 am and 10.30 am, at the Story Telling Centre, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

Poll: public back church plans for same-sex marriages

A poll published today by the Daily Mail shows remarkable support for churches who wish to conduct same-sex marriages, with 50% of Scots supporting the bid and just 36% opposed. (1)

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“Taken alongside the widespread support for equal access to civil marriage, this is an extraordinary result, and shows a strong groundswell of support for those churches who want to marry same-sex couples. Increasingly, most Scots don’t regard same-sex couples as anything unusual: these couples are friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.

“On this issue the SNP have stood up to the vested minority interests and the remaining Dark Ages attitudes that have held Scotland back from reform on this issue. We will work with them, as will MSPs from other opposition parties, and I believe we will set an example that the rest of the UK will quickly follow.”

Notes

1. The poll of 1233 Scottish adults was conducted between 16 November and 18 November by Progressive Scottish Opinion. The question asked was:
“To what extent do you agree or disagree that gay couples should be allowed to marry in Scotland’s churches?”
Strongly agree: 19%
Agree: 31%
Neither agree nor disagree: 14%
Disagree: 18%
Strongly disagree: 18%

SNP and UK Government will form unholy alliance on strike day

The Green MSPs today condemned the decision by SNP Ministers to ignore representations from public sector staff and unions to close Holyrood during the day of strike action, 30 November, and instead to support the UK Coalition parties’ anti-union position.

Patrick MSP said:

It’s an utterly cynical move, and an abuse of the Scottish Government’s power, to schedule a debate about the strikes so that only MSPs who cross the picket lines are able to take part.

On November 30th, the country will see the strongest wave of coordinated action for generations, all to challenge the UK Coalition’s ideological and counter-productive cuts. On that day, the SNP and the Coalition parties will sit together as an unholy alliance on the wrong side of the picket lines. Is this really what the SNP stand for now?

No doubt there will be empty rhetoric from Ministers about supporting the right to strike – despite knowing that Parliament can only meet if employees and MSPs alike cross the picket lines. The SNP claim they’re on the other side of the argument from the Tories and LibDems. Wrong. The picket line is the argument, and the SNP have picked a side, the same side as the parties primarily responsible for this brutal attack on pay and pensions.

The unions have been very clear about how MSPs can support them – by joining them at pickets and rallies right across the country. That’s the work we should be doing on November 30th.

Letter to the Herald – Captured carbon

I don’t know if this will be printed in Friday’s paper, but here’s what I sent:

The collapse of the CCS project at Longannet highlights the uncertainty which exists, given the technical and financial challenges of capturing carbon dioxide from power stations, transporting it safely, and then storing it in a way that gives confidence that it will stay where it’s put for a period of time which must be measured in geological terms, not in business or electoral cycles. If it can be done, it will help to smooth the transition away from fossil fuels. It’s a pretty big if.

Both UK and Scottish Governments have ignored this “if”, as they seek cover for the expansion of the fossil fuel industries – both extractive and power generating. The SNP in particular have worked a very clever trick of promoting both a high-carbon and a low-carbon economy at the same time. As well as support for renewables, we’ve seen an expansion of open cast coal extraction, proposed coal-fired and gas-fired power stations, fulsome Ministerial support for deepwater oil drilling and a refusal to rule out shale gas extraction.

Whether we blame technical problems, financial risks, or Treasury shenanigans for the failure of the Longannet project, the fact is that CCS remains a speculative technology that will not be available for many years, if ever. Ministers in both Governments must now abandon their support for new fossil fuel generating capacity. They must also, if they are serious about wanting fossil carbon to stay out of the atmosphere, accept the need to leave it where it is. It is already captured, in the ground and under the seas. If it’s extracted it will be burned, and it makes no difference whatever to the climate whether it shows up on Scotland’s emissions inventory or someone else’s.

Sincerely,

Patrick Harvie