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Will you be observing world’s Earth Hour?


By Rob Gibson

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Rob Gibson lends his support to WWF’s Earth Hour campaign.
Rob Gibson lends his support to WWF’s Earth Hour campaign.

I WILL be pleased to support to WWF’s Earth Hour tomorrow by switching off the lights and celebrating the power of the planet.

As lights are being switched off across the world, WWF is encouraging people to think about the kind of energy we use, and where it comes from.

By celebrating the power of our planet through renewable resources such as wave, solar, and wind, MSPs are pledging their support for clean, green, renewable energy as part of our efforts to tackle climate change.

I am urging constituents, local businesses and organisations to join us and thousands of others across Scotland by switching off at 8.30pm tomorrow to show support for action against the impacts of climate change on people and wildlife.

There is a growing interest in dark skies as an attractor to visitors. I hope those of us glad to live here will set the pace in Earth Hour. Do let me know what you are doing to join in via my e-mail at the end of my column.

In 2012, a record 152 countries and territories and 6895 towns and cities took part for the biggest call to action for the protection of the planet.

In Scotland, Earth Hour proved to be yet another successful year, with thousands of supporters switching off their lights and communities across Scotland hosting a variety of events. All 32 local authorities got involved, with 14 achieving our ‘super local authority’ status.

Some of world’s most recognisable landmarks went dark including the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel Tower. In Scotland over 800 schools joined hundreds of businesses, organisations and community groups for the big switch off.

To join the growing community of people supporting Earth Hour, visit: http://www.wwfscotland.org.uk/earthhour

FOUR Scottish Parliament committees have been finalising their reports on Scotland’s low carbon economy ahead of a major debate in the chamber next week.

The report on proposals and policies 2 looks to Scots tackling a reduction of greenhouse gas emission GHG from this year up to 2027. Our world-leading Climate Change Act of 2009, passed by all parties, now needs to be applied with rigour. We missed the 2010 targets due to a harsh winter. So we must redouble our efforts.

When I read of wind farm protesters turning their ire onto the massive offshore arrays planned for the Moray Firth, I just wonder which of three planets they live on – that’s the three planet rate of emissions we currently aim to reduce with a moral duty to do so and halt the poor and low-lying countries bear the consequences.

The UK climate change committee of expert scientists gives Westminster and Holyrood advice how to proceed. Its chief executive David Kennedy said it was more important that there had been underlying progress in implementing low-carbon policy measures than blaming the government for a shortfall and that, in this respect, Scotland had performed well across most sectors.

This lays the foundations for meeting ambitious Scottish emissions targets and building a low-carbon economy in Scotland with the benefits that this will bring in jobs, such as those planned for Wick and Scrabster in projects for marine and onshore clean power.

The committee praised Scotland for its switch to renewable sources of energy. We continue to lead the UK on renewable power with 36% of electricity consumption met from renewable energy, exceeding the 31% target and above the UK’s 9%. Setting a 2030 decarbonisation target has provided longer-term certainty for the power sector.

So when anti-wind protesters lobby the SNP spring conference tomorrow at Eden Court they should bear in mind the tasks all parties agreed in the 2009 Act.

Mr Kennedy also notes that we are making steady improvements through loft insulation rates in our homes more than doubling from 2008-09 to 2011-12.

Waste targets have been legislated for ahead of EU requirements, with Zero Waste Scotland set up to help deliver for us.

Tree-planting rates have been increased – not on arable ground – to close to target level, with proposals to increase the amount of Scottish timber being used in the construction and refurbishment of buildings. And very pertinent to Caithness and Sutherland, £1.7m of peatland restoration has been confirmed for 2012-15 Scottish budgets.

All these activities create clean, green jobs. The new Scotland with a modern landscape and security of electricity supply is now able to look at all the things every family and community can do to cut transport and housing GHG emissions and help make a low carbon country the reality we need in a changing world.

BARRIERS to success and safety are in my final thought this week. I have worked quietly in support of colleagues who put pressure on Network Rail to install at least half barriers at rail crossings such as the site of the Halkirk rail tragedy in 2009.

It is plain that Railtrack and its predecessor the old nationalised British Rail, which was responsible for the installation and maintenance of these crossings, thought that low car numbers in the Highlands would be an opportunity to save cash and leave 27 crossings without barriers.

Now we can see the folly that scrimping to save a few pounds by Network rail and its predecessors. The go-ahead at Corpach, Golspie and Brora isn’t good enough. We were told last year by Network Rail spokesman Nick King that Halkirk is in line to receive barriers which should be in place by 2014.

He went on: "It is our intention to fit the new ‘mini-barriers’ system to the majority of open crossings in the Highlands between now and 2014, but not to all crossings as at some locations we have alternative plans," he said.

"At Halkirk, we will be installing a traditional half-barrier system, while at Dingwall we are looking at full-barriers for two of the crossings."

Get a move on I say!

rob.gibson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk


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