WWF Scotland looks back on 2009 and what’s in store for 2010
31 December 2009
As predicted 2009 was a landmark year for environmental issues, with the Scottish Parliament passing the strongest climate change legislation in the world and the UN Climate talks in Copenhagen being the main highlights
Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said:
“2009 has been a crucial year for the environment. We have seen Scotland introducing the world’s strongest climate legislation and the people of Scotland demonstrate their own support for international action by taking part in WWF’s Earth Hour and The Wave.
"Unfortunately the talks in Copenhagen failed to deliver the level of ambition required to keep global temperature rises below 2C. So, while the world is forced to wait for a new legally-binding deal it is important progressive countries like Scotland get on and deliver on its 42 per cent target for 2020, reducing emissions, creating jobs and improving people’s lives.
“During 2010 we will find out if Longannet in Fife is successful in securing Government funds to properly test carbon capture and storage technology, while much needed reform of Europe’s fisheries policy will begin in earnest. We’ll also see a UK General Election where we hope environmnetal policies come to the fore and hopefully see better protection for Scotland’s marine environment by the passing of a new Marine Bill.”
Below, WWF Scotland looks at the issues that have kept environmental issues in the Scottish headlines in 2009, and we set out our green wish list for 2010.
2009
• World leading Scottish Climate Change Act passed
• Scotland leads the way in tackling fish discards
• Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill passed
• WWF’s Earth Hour 2009: a billion people worldwide switched off their lights for action on climate change
• WWF’s first Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard delivers early success
• Successful year for renewable energy
• Disappointment as Aberdeen bypass given go ahead
• Thousands took to the streets of Glasgow for The Wave ahead of climate talks in Copenhagen
• G20 Finance Ministers met in St Andrews
2010: What’s coming up…
• Continue working to tackle climate change on national and international level
• Better protection for our seas with a strong Scottish Marine Bill
• WWF’s Earth Hour 2010 – Saturday 27 March
• Will Longannet win the UK Government’s Carbon Capture and Storage competition?
• WWF Scotland Electric Vehicles Report published
• UN Year of Biodiversity
• Common Fisheries Policy reform
• Year of the Tiger
• UK General Election
2009
WWF’s Earth Hour
On Saturday 28 March nearly 3,000 cities and towns in more than 80 countries took part by switching their lights off for one hour in a graphic demonstration of support for determined international action on climate change. Lights went out in 66 national capitals and 9 of the 10 most populated metropolises on the planet. 100 cities and towns in the UK also participated including Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Over 800 of the world’s most iconic landmarks also went dark including Edinburgh Castle, Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Giza and the Empire State Building. In all around a billion people took part, making Earth Hour 2009 the biggest climate change event ever.
Scottish Climate Change Act
In June the Scottish Parliament unanimously agreed to cut the country’s emissions by 42% by 2020, and at least 80% by 2050, setting the benchmark for the rest of the world at this year’s UN Climate Change summit at Copenhagen. Leading elements of the bill include: at least a 42% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and an 80% cut by 2050 (based on 1990 levels); Emissions from international aviation & shipping to be included from the start; and a strong duty across the public sector to play a full part in tackling Scotland’s greenhouse gas emission.
G20 Summit in St Andrews
Finance ministers of the world’s largest economies failed to reach agreement on the financing required for a global agreement to stave off catastrophic climate change when they met in the Fife town in November ahead of the UN Climate talks in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen Climate Talks
On the eve of the talks in Copenhagen in December, around 8,000 people took part in The Wave, a family-friendly march through the streets of Glasgow, to demonstrate their concern that world leaders should share Scotland’s ambition on climate change. Despite high hopes the talks failed to agree the necessary legally binding emission targets to keep temperature rises below 2C. All eyes will now turn to Bonn in March and Mexico in December.
Fish Discards
The introduction of the Scottish Conservation Credits Scheme last year began to bear fruit during 2009 by helping fish stocks, such as cod recover. Its success proves the importance of governments, industry and NGO’s working towards long-term management objectives in fisheries, ensuring the future sustainability of stocks and profitability of fleets.
Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act
During 2009 many homes across Scotland were affected by flooding once again. Some of the causes should now begin to be tackled through the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act which was passed this year by the Scottish Parliament. Thanks to the work of WWF Scotland the legislation focuses on a catchment approach and emphasises the role of natural techniques in flood management ensuring that we deal with the causes not just the consequences of flooding.
WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard
In October WWF published its first Palm Oil Buyers' Scorecard - an assessment of Europe’s leading brands purchase of certified sustainable palm oil. We found some positive steps amongst the top 10 companies – including some British brands - but even they need to do more to meet their own targets and disappointingly the majority of companies were failing to take any action. On the plus side, WWF found that two Scottish companies - Nairn’s and Walkers - are already taking positive action on palm oil.
Renewable Energy
2009 was another good year for renewable energy with Whitelees, Europe’s largest onshore windfarm officially switched on and Aquamarine Power’s pioneering Orkney-based Oyster wave energy generator was connected to the National Grid. WWF Scotland along with a number of other NGO’s produce the Power of Scotland Renewed report which found that the country could meet all its electricity needs by 2030 without the requirement for either nuclear or fossil fuel powered installations. With almost six Gigawatts of renewables capacity installed, consented or under construction Scotland is on course to smash its interim target of meeting 31 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2011.
Aberdeen Bypass
There was dismay in December when the Scottish Government gave the go ahead to the £400 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. This traffic-generating road project will increase Scotland’s carbon emissions at a time when we are all trying to do everything we can to reduce them. This decision quite simply flies in the face of Scotland's ambition to be a low-carbon nation.
2010: What’s coming up…..
Climate change
2010 will be the first full year of the Scottish Climate Change Act and it will be important to ensure the Scottish Government delivers on its ambitious legislation. The government will also publish a plan to ensure it hits the 42 per cent target to cut emissions contained in the Act. With the failure to agree a legally-binding global climate deal in Copenhagen all eyes will now turn to March’s climate talks in Bonn and December’s UN climate meeting in Mexico. Fingers crossed, the US should pass its own climate laws.
Scottish Marine Bill
The Scottish Marine Bill will be passed in 2010. By taking a 3-pillar approach to nature conservation, the Scottish Marine Bill has the potential to be a groundbreaking piece of legislation, delivering an environmentally sustainable future for our seas. To do this, the Scottish Marine Bill must deliver management within environmental limits, a coherent network of Marine Protected Areas and the protection of marine species.
WWF’s Earth Hour 2010
On Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm, millions of people around the world will again be asked to switch off their lights for an hour in a global demonstration of support for determined international action on climate change.
Decision time on clean and dirty coal
During the year, the UK Government should finally announce the winner of its Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) competition. WWF believes that Longannet, in Fife, remains the obvious choice to test carbon capture and storage technology. Our report Carbon Choices found that if the technology is tested on a purpose built new coal power station overall emissions from the power sector could increase. By comparison, fitting carbon capture to the existing power station at Longannet would reduce emissions. Also, the company behind plans to build a new coal fire power station at Hunterston in Ayrshire are expected to decide whether to submit a planning application.
WWF Scotland report into Electric Vehicles
In the Spring WWF Scotland will publish a report setting out the importance of increasing the use of electric vehicles, the infrastructure required for their success and the part they will play in reducing emissions within the transport sector.
Year of Biodiversity & Year of the Tiger
2010 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Biodiversity – with nations invited to take action during the year to safeguard the variety of life on Earth. In October hundreds of degelates will gather in Japna for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10). 2010 is also the Chinese Year of the Tiger. WWF is committed to doubling the wild tiger population by 2022, through conservation projects across Asia. Our Tiger Network Initiative will be launched in 2010.
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)
During 2010 the European Commission will review all responses to the CFP consultation and Green Paper. WWF is calling for Long Term Management Plans for all fisheries and a regional approach to fish management such as the Scottish Conservation Credits Scheme. Changes to the Common Fisheries Policy will be adopted in 2013.
UK General Election
Gordon Brown will call a General Election early in 2010 and the outcome may have major implications for the environment depending upon the outcome. It is crucial the environment remains prominent in the minds of politicians and to this end WWF will continue to work with other NGO’s and the public to lobby MP’s to ensure their policies reflect the urgent need to tackle climate change.
