News
Transform presents evidence on Climate Bill to Parliament
Published 13 November 2018 by Transform ScotlandTransform Scotland 
today presented oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on the topic of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Bill. Presenting the evidence to Parliament was Jess Pepper, our Enterprise Manager, but also a bit of an expert on all things climate-related.
The video of the evidence session (c. 45 minutes, starts at 11:53:50), and the Parliament’s Official Report of the session are both now available.
Here are some of our Tweets which accompanied the evidence session:
The #ClimateBill evidence session at @SP_ECCLR is now underway. Our @pepper_jess is presenting, alongside witnesses from @SustransScot, @CyclingScotland, @SPTcorporate and @PathsforAll
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
. @pepper_jess says the waste hierarchy (‘Reduce, Reduce, Recycle’) gives clear priorities. We need ‘Avoid, Shift, Improve’ (demand management, then modal shift, then efficiency improvements). @scotgov Climate Change Plan only looks at ‘Improve’. https://t.co/SbZQDeVZCY
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
Inadequate ambition for low-emission buses. The @scotgov Climate Plan aims for 50% of Scottish bus fleet to be low-emission by 2032. But globally 47% of the world’s buses are projected to be electric by 2025. https://t.co/dPfQucfFXr @FirstGroupplc @stagecoachgroup @ADLbus
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
. @pepper_jess says there needs to be greater ambition for rail electrification and other low-carbon technologies. The roll-out of @HitachiRailEU Class 385 electric trains on the Edinburgh-Glasgow route will transform experience for travellers on @ScotRail services. pic.twitter.com/2oBO5IYGwu
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
The electrification of Edinburgh-Glasgow rail route is great, but there has been no progress on electrifying routes to Aberdeen & Inverness. This was ambition of @scotgov in the 2008 ‘Strategic Transport Projects Review’, but there has been zero progress by @transcotland since.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
Low-carbon rail not only for inter-city journeys. Scotland was pioneer of battery-powered trains 60 years ago (on Aberdeen-Ballater), but this was squandered. How about battery-electric trains for rural lines where electrification may not be economic? https://t.co/HP8QnZOKLN
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
Questions now on rural transport. Our @pepper_jess says that there is need for greater dialogue with transport operators, and start-up investment. @keithirving1 of @CyclingScotland says that big rural challenges shouldn’t stop action being taken in urban areas.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
That wraps up the @SP_ECCLR evidence session. Overall it is clear Scotland’s transport sector provides ample opportunities for greater ambition in cutting emissions. This would also be good for public health, equalities, reducing congestion, and supporting the Scottish economy
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
To deliver a strong #ClimateBill, we need transport policies which: Focus on traffic demand reduction; Achieve a modal shift away from private car use; Reverse the decline in bus patronage; and Achieve the Government’s target for 10% of journeys to be by bike by 2020.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) November 13, 2018
