“Put climate plans into action” Quakers urge Scottish government
On MSPs' first day back in 2025, Quakers joined other members of Scotland's climate coalition to call on them to implement fast and fair climate action.
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) gathered outside the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, 7 January, asking the Scottish government to show global leadership and fulfil its promises.
Last year the Scottish government announced it was ditching its legal target reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 and delayed promised climate action.
Now Quakers in Scotland have joined Christian Aid, Oxfam and others in urging action that makes homes warmer, cleaner transport easier and helps secure good jobs in green industries.
Carolyn Burch of the Quakers in Scotland parliamentary engagement working group said: “Quakers in Scotland want the government to put its plans into action.
“They should roll out the Heat in Buildings Bill as an early priority, and take other concrete steps to help Scotland to reduce our carbon emissions."
Quakers in Scotland said all climate action should be fair and equitable and should consider the impact of the UK's historic use of carbon on the rest of the world.
This would include contributing further to the Loss and Damage Fund, and pursuing innovative climate finance using the “polluter pays principle'", they said.
“We also want to see the Government acting with truth and integrity, being honest and positive about the urgency of applying real solutions as a priority over unproven new technology such as carbon capture and storage," Burch said.