It's really fantastic that the Scottish Government has so swiftly accepted the advice of the UK Committee on Climate Change that we need to cut climate emissions to net-zero target by 2045. Scotland can lead the way on climate action, and at the same time help our precious wildlife, but Government must now help deliver more nature-based solutions to climate change across Scotland. Anne McCall, RSPB Scotland Director, sets out how here.
Nature is a vital solution to the climate emergency
We are in the midst of a climate emergency! It’s an emergency for our precious wildlife and for us as a society. Just last month we rallied with hundreds of others outside Parliament to say time is running out if we are to halt climate change and protect our precious wildlife. Not doing anything will be a catastrophe, not acting quickly on what we know will be devastating, especially for many of our species which find it harder than us as humans to adapt to warming and chaotic weather. But, thankfully, as a society we are recognising the dangers - a recent YouGov poll showed that 70% of us in Scotland want to see more action on climate change, with two thirds of people concerned about climate change because of the threat to wildlife.
Today, experts at the independent UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) have spoken and published a report on what the UK and Scotland’s response must be to stopping global warming. At RSPB we strongly welcome the recommendations along with our coalition partners in Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. The CCC say we need to set a new target in Scotland to cut our GHG emissions to net-zero by 2045. Net-zero means that by then we must match any minimal remaining GHG emissions produced in our decarbonised society with actions that remove an equivalent amount of emissions from the atmosphere.
The advice calls for immediate action to meet the 2045 target but also more ambition for 2030 and 2040 to get us there. Early action is vital as we can’t afford to fall behind and fail in halting a climate catastrophe. We also can’t afford to miss out on the great opportunities that action to meet these targets provides – warmer homes, cleaner air, healthier lifestyles, good food and a countryside full of wildlife.
The CCC says that Scotland can get to net-zero emissions before the UK as a whole (they call for the same mark by 2050 in UK), and can do this because of our greater opportunity for nature-based solutions, such as tree planting and restoration of damaged peatland habitats. If we do this in a big way nature will take over and suck huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, locking it away permanently in soil and vegetation. If we do it in the right way throughout Scotland it can lock away carbon and provide much needed habitats for wildlife, as well as other things we need such as flood control, clean water and beautiful places to visit and enjoy. We must do this employ these natural solutions in the right way and not cause further ecological damage in the process.
This week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared a climate emergency in Scotland and pledged to follow the advice given by the CCC. This is a welcome promise, but we now need action commensurate with an emergency situation. We need Government to start writing new strategies today in areas like farming where the untapped potential of farmers hasn’t been realised. Our RSPB Scotland ‘Balancing Act’ report lists many actions that Government can put in place now and over the coming years to help farmers meet the challenge of reducing emissions, storing carbon in farmland, producing good food and providing homes for nature.
At RSPB Scotland we have been championing and leading development of nature-based solution to climate change for years on our own reserves. Our pioneering peatland restoration work at Forsinard Flows has been adopted up by others across the UK. Native tree planting, like at Wood of Cree in Dumfries and Galloway, is another example of where our reserve management also helps the climate. This is an emergency, make no mistake. The Scottish Government has already responded by promising to cut and paste the recommended 2045 net-zero target into the Climate Change Bill. It must now use all its powers to ramp up immediate efforts for more nature-based solutions to climate change across Scotland.