Rural and Environment

  • In the news: Net-zero commitment

    12th June 2019 by

    The UK Government has finally announced that greenhouse gas emissions in the UK will be cut to almost zero by 2050, which is being reported widely this morning.

    The Scottish Government is determined to stop contributing to climate change within a generation and acted on the advice from the Committee on Climate Change immediately by lodging amendments to the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill to set a legally binding target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest.

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  • Farming and the climate emergency

    21st May 2019 by

    Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon blogs on farming and the global climate emergency.

    The First Minister has declared a global climate emergency. The evidence is irrefutable and the science is compelling. People are clear, they expect action and the world needs to act now, not least for future generations.

    We are leading this response. This was made clear when we acted immediately to the advice of the Committee on Climate Change by lodging amendments to our Climate Change Bill to set a 2045 target for net zero emissions.

    Just last week another warning was issued about the damage humans are causing to our natural environment this time in relation to global biodiversity. But there is nothing to be gained from playing a blame game nor from singling out any one sector.

    So I am equally clear, that farming should not be held up as the problem. It is part of the solution.

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  • Listening to and acting on the scientific evidence

    1st May 2019 by

    By Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham The Scottish Government has declared a climate emergency. In recent weeks, the next generation has expressed, in growing numbers and with eloquence, sincerity and passion, their heartfelt concern for the planet they will inherit. Just last week, teenage activist Greta Thunberg accused the UK Government of not listening to…

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  • Informing our climate change adaptation plans

    19th March 2019 by

    By Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham You may well have seen in the news that severe flooding in the south of Malawi – followed by the arrival of Cyclone Idai, which has also caused devastation across Mozambique and Zimbabwe – has affected over a million people, sadly resulting in loss of life and many tens…

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  • In the news: climate change strikes

    15th March 2019 by

    You may have seen in the news today that young people from around the world are taking part in climate change strikes to raise awareness of the threat of climate change, and urge world leaders to take action. Later this month, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will meet with a group of young people from across…

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  • In the news: Farmers on the frontline of climate change

    27th December 2018 by

    You may have seen in the news today that WWF Scotland are calling on the Scottish Government to provide greater leadership and support to Scotland’s farmers to help them adapt to the challenges of a rapidly changing climate. This comes as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming called for…

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  • In the news: climate change and business

    24th December 2018 by

    Findings released by World Wildlife Foundation Scotland today suggests that small to medium-sized businesses feel less prepared for the risks of climate change compared to larger businesses.

    The survey of 300 businesses shows that only 2 in 5 of Scotland’s smaller firms feel prepared for risks posed by climate change, while over three-quarters of larger businesses stated they are either fully or partly prepared.

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  • 29th June 2018 by

    Proposals for an Environment Strategy is an opportunity to establish us as a country that is leading global cation to address environmental challenges, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham writes.

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  • Ambitious climate change plans

    25th January 2017 by

    Roseanna Cunningham highlights the policies and proposals at the heart of the new draft Climate Change Plan.

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  • Musings on Marrakech

    17th November 2016 by

    The recent US Presidential elections may have put the international spotlight on the Paris Agreement but for me it was very much business as usual at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech.

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