ANOTHER newspaper reported this week on a poll of scientists who are members of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change .
I cannot help but note this poll comes as a new government comes into office in Scotland. I welcome John Swinney’s commitment to tackling child poverty when accepting the post of First Minister.
It is a fact that we cannot run our economies as if unlimited growth, which relies on the ever-increasing consumption of material resources – which degrade the environment we are all ultimately dependent on for our survival – is sustainable, let alone safe. That, I would suggest, is an uncontestable fact and yet it would seem as if, at least for the time being, the new Scottish Government will not be giving this issue the absolute priority that it deserves.
My suggestion is, in that case, that if the new government in Scotland really does wish to serve the best interests of the people of the country, and its children in particular, then it should do four things.Second, it should make clear what constraints on achieving this goal have been created by the government in London.
Independence has never been achieved without causing irritation, and there’s no bigger cause than this over which to have a fight.The first is that it is not serious about climate change. Second, it is not concerned about our children’s future. And third, it is not serious about independence. It would obviously want a quiet life instead, but that is what no politician wishing to represent Scotland right now should want.