September 2011
Christian Aid regards climate change as one of the most challenging issues facing vulnerable communities around the world.
If nothing is done to stem a rise of 2C in global average temperatures by 2050, experts predict we'll see:
acute water shortages for 1-3 billion people
sea levels increasing by up to 95cm by 2100, which will submerge 18% of Bangladesh
40-60 million more people exposed to malaria in Africa
and 30 million more people going hungry as agricultural yields diminish across the globe.
Scotland's role
This a social justice issue, given that developing countries have contributed the least to the problem, and have fewest resources to enable them to adapt to its effects.
In contrast, industrialised nations like Scotland which bear the historical responsibility for climate change have the greatest capacity to deliver an equitable global solution to the problem.
This is why Christian Aid strongly welcomed the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, which demonstrated that Scotland was willing to take its fair share of the global effort required to prevent catastrophic climate change. It is also why we are asking supporters to monitor and support the implementation of the legislation to ensure that Scotland remains a leading example internationally.
Low-carbon option
We want Scotland to show that a low-carbon option is feasible and affordable, and that investment in low-carbon technologies and industries which reduce carbon emissions can also create new jobs and opportunities for people in Scotland.
The next few years are crucial in terms of meeting our ambitious and necessary targets. One way to help ensure that the commitments are met is to ensure that the next Scottish budget supports the steps that are necessary to meet Scotland's climate change ambitions.
The Scottish Government is currently putting together the 2012-13 Budget as well as a four-year spending review. The Scottish Parliament will then scrutinise the budget and it will be agreed in February 2012. But this autumn is the key time to influence it, while it's still in its early stages.
Take action on climate change
Please urge your MSPs to ask the ministers to prioritise climate change actions in the forthcoming budget and as a minimum to fully fund everything in the government's own plans to tackle climate change, as outlined in the ‘Report on Policies and Proposals’.
You have 1 constituency MSP and 7 list MSPs. You can contact as many as you like. Ask them to contact the following Ministers:
Write to your MSPs:
Find your MSPs' contact details on the Scottish parliament website.
Send them an email/letter - we've included an outline below, but feel free to personalise yours. If you would appreciate some help in tracking down your MSPs or anything else, please feel free to contact Diane Green at dgreen@christian-aid.org
Dear [insert name] MSP,
Christian Aid regards climate change as one of the most challenging issues facing vulnerable communities around the world. This is why Christian Aid strongly welcomed the Climate Change (Scotland) Act which demonstrated that Scotland was willing to take its fair share of the global effort required to prevent catastrophic climate change.
We want Scotland to show that a low-carbon option is feasible and affordable, and that investment in low-carbon technologies and industries which reduce emissions can also create new jobs and opportunities for people in Scotland.
The next few years are crucial in terms of meeting our ambitious and necessary targets. One way to help ensure that the commitments are met is to ensure that the next Scottish budget supports the steps that are necessary to meet Scotland’s climate change ambitions.
I would therefore urge you to write to the relevant Ministers- John Swinney MSP and Keith Brown MSP, to ask them to prioritise climate change actions in the forthcoming budget and as a minimum to fully fund everything in the Government’s own plans to tackle climate change, as outline in the 'Report on Policies and Proposals'.
Yours sincerely,
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is asking that similar letters be written.
For more information visit: www.stopclimatechaos.org/scotland
