Is Scotland a global leader for climate change policy?

Highland cows, Irn bru, breathtaking scenery, and this year, hosting COP26  - Scotland is known around the world for many things. But what about being a leader in the fight against climate change? Well, not according to 18 year old climate change activist Greta Thunberg, who is infamous for being rather impossible to placate. In a recent interview with the BBC regarding this year’s climate change conference, COP26, Greta branded Scotland’s climate change efforts as “most definitely not” world leading, and went so far as to say that no country in the global north is “even doing close to what would be needed”. However, aside from mentioning the plans for a new oil field (who’s development is actually controlled by the UK government, not the Scottish Government), Miss Thunberg never elaborated on why Scotland’s efforts are inadequate in fighting climate change. So let's take a closer look at how we as a country are meeting targets, or falling short.

Arguably one of the most important changes we must make is switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy. I know, you’ve heard this one before… between our miles of storm-tossed coastlines and swathes of barren, hilly land, Scotland is in the perfect position to harness the waves and wind to power our little country. And we have! In 2020, 97.4% of electricity was generated from renewable sources – falling slightly short of the target of 100%. That’s enough to power every house in Scotland for three and a half years. Not too shabby. Aside from electricity, Scotland is also planning to use renewable energy to meet demand for heat and transport, which when combined make up about 75% of energy consumption (figures from 2019). By 2030 the aim is to have renewable energy account for 50% of all energy demand across the three sectors of electricity, heat, and transport. With an even more ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2045. To give some context for how ambitious these goals are, Sweden - who already use renewables to fuel more than 50% of total energy consumption – have the same net zero carbon emission goal for 2045 as Scotland. Although we are off to a slower start than Greta’s home country, Scotland is catching up and on track to level with the current EU leaders in renewable energy consumption by percentage, and I think we can do it.

But even as we make a step forward with renewable energy consumption, we are dragged three back by our reliance on the oil and gas industry. As of 2021 there are 21 active oil rigs in the North Sea, but this number isn’t enough for the UK government. Plans have been put in motion to develop a new oil field in the Cambo region off the coast of the Shetland Islands, which will produce over 800 million barrels of oil if given the green light. For Boris Johnson to approve this mere weeks before the largest climate conference in the world is about to go ahead in the same country, is making a fool out of us all. The hypocrisy, and the arrogance to assume that the global community should look past this hypocrisy, is enough to turn your stomach.

But this is out of Scotland’s hands, right? If it is the UK government that’s making this decision, then surely we can’t be blamed? Well, not really. The responsibility still lies with the Scottish Government to voice their concerns on an issue they regard so highly. Or in other words, practise what they preach. What did the First Minister of Scotland do in response to the environmentally damaging plans in the face of COP26? Well, she wrote a letter. Truly a devastating blow to Johnson’s plans. Greenpeace UK didn’t think much of this response either, calling it a “PR exercise” and urging Sturgeon to “make her own stance clear”. Even after the recent coalition with the Green Party, the SNP have to do much more to convince the global community that they really can be deemed world leaders in the fight against climate change. The actions (or lack of) speak louder than words. Now is the time for the Scottish Government to take a decisive stance against oil and gas development and focus on alternative ways to boost internal employment instead of pinning the problem on Westminster. Otherwise, we look weak and hypocritical in the face of this climate emergency.

So, can Scotland call itself a world leader in the fight against climate change, or are we just saying all the right things without actually making a net difference? Well, time will tell. Evidently we are on the right trajectory when it comes to renewable energy use, but we have to continue to put pressure on the UK Government for them to prioritise our planet instead of petty party politics – for the sake of every future generation, and not just to win the approval of a particularly cantankerous campaigner.