The Scottish government has announced a ‘nationwide conversation’ on measures to arrest the progress of climate change.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the Big Climate Conversation, set to take place across Scotland this summer; with public consultations around the country and digital citizen engagement programmes. The government aims to solicit input from Scottish industry, business and the public sector, as well as civil society.
Launching the initiative ahead of her address at the World Forum on Climate Justice in Glasgow, Sturgeon said: “Scotland has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 47% since 1990. We want to go further and end our contribution to climate change completely. Becoming a net zero emissions nation will require changes to virtually every aspect of everyday life. We will need to change how we travel, how we keep homes and workplaces warm; and how we design cities and towns. We will have to move rapidly from a throwaway culture to a circular economy, and will need to develop and apply new technologies, while also planting millions of trees and restoring peatlands. All of this has to be a truly national endeavour – and it has to be done in a way that is fair. That’s why the Scottish Government is launching The Big Climate Conversation to encourage communities, businesses and the public sector to talk about what action we can all take.”
Scotland, which has officially declared a ‘climate emergency’, has adopted legislation committing to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045. At its current rate of action, the country is projected to cut its emissions by 70% by 2030.
Sturgeon added: “Our public engagement programme under The Big Climate Conversation will launch next week. There will be consultation events around the country with communities and businesses; we will help organisations to stage their own events; and we will reach many more people through digital communications. We hope to reach thousands of people and organisations to hear about their concerns, priorities and ambitions. We want to understand what changes Scottish people are willing to make, and what they want Government to do to tackle the global climate emergency.”
