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WWF rates party policies for impact on footprint |
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Tuesday, 24 April 2007 |
Scotland's political party manifestos have been scientifically assessed for their overall environmental impact, with the Greens, unsurprisingly, coming out top, and the Lib Dems getting the best report of the big parties, and the Tories the worst.
WWF Scotland commissioned the Stockholm Environment Institute to
undertake an objective technical analysis relating to the four key
areas that make up the biggest chunk of Scotland's ecological footprint
- food, energy, transport and waste.
According to the report, "the Conservatives would produce major rises
in Scotland's footprint by 2020, Labour a slightly smaller rise and the
Lib Dems and SNP would only manage to hold the footprint steady. The
SSP would manage a small reduction by 2020 and Greens an impressive 20
per cent reduction."
The WWF said of the Conservative Party: "While the Scottish
Conservatives acknowledge the importance of climate change as a global
issue they have few commitments on anything environmental. Their
Eco-Bonus scheme to help householders, businesses and communities
install insulation and small-scale renewables is a good idea, but alone
it is nowhere near enough to prevent Scotland's ecological footprint
increasing under their policies."
Of Labour, it said: "Labour's commitment to introduce a Scottish
Climate Change Bill is very welcome, but their continued support for
growing road traffic and more flights means that even good pledges on
renewable energy and recycling can't stop Scotland's ecological
footprint increasing in the longer term if they were in control."
The Lib Dems got a slightly better report: "The Lib Dems set new
climate and recycling targets as well as ruling out new nuclear power
and recognising heat from renewables as an important issue. All of
these are good, and put them ahead of the other big parties, but they
are not actually enough to stop Scotland's ecological footprint growing
over the next decade."
The SNP got a mixed review. "The SNP's commitment to introduce a
Scottish Climate Change Bill with carbon reduction targets of 3 per
cent per annum is excellent. They also rule out new nuclear power and
promise a big boost for electricty from renewables. However, they would
have to do much more on transport and reducing energy consumption to
stop Scotland's ecological footprint growing, let alone actually
deliver on their climate promise."
Of the Scottish Green Party, the WWF saidL "It is perhaps no surprise
that the Green Party's policies would see the biggest reduction in
ecological footprint. Their plans on transport, energy, efficient
housing, local food and zero waste add up to a serious reduction in the
harm that consumption in Scotland will cause around the world."
Mark Ruskell, Green Party election campaign director, said: "Another
week, another report confirming that all the other main parties are on
course to worsen Scotland's already poor record. Lib Dem, Tory, Labour
and SNP voters must be under no illusion: if they want a greener
Scotland, they will need to first vote Green with their regional vote
to get it. There is only one choice for a green future, and that is the
Scottish Green Party.
"We are the last generation that can get to grips with climate change
and the many challenges facing people and the planet. The good news is
that a greener Scotland would deliver a better quality of life, world
class public transport, warm affordable homes, sustainable jobs, a
stronger local economy and a better future for our children and
grandchildren."
No one has commented on this article.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 April 2007 )
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