Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change

As an amendment to motion S7M-00434 in the name of Gillian Martin (Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change), leave out from “that climate change” to end and insert "the reality and impacts of climate change and supports an affordable transition to net zero; understands that Scotland is committed to reaching net zero by 2045; raises significant concern over the findings of the Climate Change Committee that meeting this target will require significant and far-reaching changes across the economy, including major reductions in domestic oil and gas production, substantial changes in agriculture and livestock numbers, rapid acceleration in the uptake of electric vehicles and the expensive mass installation of heat pumps in homes across the country; recognises that public confidence in climate policy depends on targets being credible, achievable and supported by clear delivery plans; calls on the Scottish Government to set out clearly, honestly and in full, how it plans to meet its 2045 targets, including the practical steps required, the trade-offs involved, and the real impact on jobs, households, businesses and communities; emphasises that Scotland’s transition to net zero must be grounded in economic reality, protecting jobs, strengthening energy and food security and supporting sustainable economic growth; recognises the vital contribution of Scotland’s farmers, crofters, land managers, gamekeepers, fishing industry and rural and island communities in protecting the natural environment; supports the continued responsible extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea as part of a managed transition, recognising its importance to Scotland’s economy, energy security and skilled workforce, and rejects virtue signalling in favour of a practical, transparent and accountable approach to climate policy."