Wills calls on SIC to declare climate emergency

SNP by-election candidate Tom Wills has urged the Shetland Islands Council to declare a climate emergency.

Orkney Islands Council joined organisations around the world in declaring a climate emergency in May 2019, but the SIC has so far refrained from taking this step.

After school pupils from around Shetland took part in a climate demonstration that saw them march from the Anderson High School to the Town Hall earlier this year, SIC chief executive Maggie Sandison said that the council would not declare a climate emergency until they had a plan of action.

But SNP hopeful Mr Wills has now called on Ms Sandison, and the council, to “listen to the voice of the next generation”.

“Climate change is one of the most serious and complex challenges that we face as a species. To tackle the crisis we need more international cooperation, not less.

“Councils across Scotland must listen to the voice of the next generation, and play their part in tackling the climate crisis. It is a global issue that needs collective action to succeed.

“It’s imperative that Shetland Islands Council joins organisations around the world in declaring a climate emergency – for our planet, and for the next generation of Shetlanders.”

Around 70 councils across the UK have already made a climate emergency declaration.

Mr Wills comments come as climate concerns continue worldwide, intensified in part due to fires in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

COMMENTS(3)

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  • ian tinkler

    • August 27th, 2019 10:06

    You name the bandwagon, on jumps Tom Wills. The greatest Climate Emergency here is the endless carbon footprint of flying in the Nationalists to support Tom.
    From London:
    Ian Blackford MP
    Alison Thewliss MP
    Chri Law MP
    Margaret Ferrier MP
    Mhairi Black MP
    Miriam Brett.
    From Scotland
    John Swinney MSP
    Christian Allard MEP
    John Mason MSP
    Nicola Sturgeon MSP, three times and once on the boat!!
    Peter Murrell
    Alasdair Allan MSP
    Ross Colquhoun
    Jenny Gilruth MSP
    Shona Robison MSP
    Alyn Smith MEP
    Ruth Maguire MSP
    Cllr Jordan Linden
    Keith Brown MSP
    Claire Adamson MSP
    Gillian Martin MSP
    Derek Mackay MSP
    Michael Matheson MSP

    Nothing like a CLIMATE EMERGENCY HYPOCRITE!!!! Well done Tom.

    REPLY
    • Malcolm Henry Johnson

      • August 27th, 2019 14:26

      You are clutching at straws Ian.

      The visitors on your list may have been here for political reasons but when they were they stayed in hotels, ate in cafes and restaurants and spent money just like any other visitors. From a purely economic point of view, they were just “tourists.” Their membership of the SNP didn’t increase their carbon footprint or make it any different from that of (e.g.) birdwatchers, who visit each year in their thousands.

      During previous submissions to this forum, you have warned us repeatedly about the need to oppose Viking Energy because (amongst other things) the development risks causing a reduction in tourism. This leaves me slightly confused. Are you saying that you want more people or fewer people to visit Shetland?

      p.s. Regarding Tom’s other policies: Would you also categorise Viking Energy, EU Membership and Scottish Independence as “bandwagons” in this by-election?

      REPLY
  • Haydn Gear

    • August 27th, 2019 13:38

    It looks as if Ian T has knocked the nail cleanly and decisively on the head. The same reasoning could be applied to the G7 Heads of State gathering in Biarritz . Quite a nice place to have an all expenses paid summer break. Who really cares about the outcome so long as the food and drinks are up to scratch ?

    REPLY

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