‘Climate emergency’: Council leader says action required as globe reaches ‘tipping point’
Keegan MurrayShetland Islands Council has formally acknowledged a “global climate emergency”.
The declaration comes after a petition from Climate Action Shetland, with over 700 signatures, was handed to the council on Wednesday morning.
At that morning’s meeting of the full council members of Climate Action Shetland were invited to present their case to the chamber.
Brian Ashley told councillors that two-thirds of Scottish councils had already declared a climate emergency and said that the SIC could set an example to the local community by joining them.
“It is on our watch to decide the future of our children and our grandchildren”, he said.
A report on climate change prepared by council officials was considered shortly after Climate Action Shetland’s presentation.
In addition to endorsing the report’s aims and approving funding councillors also approved a motion which said that “action is required”.
Council leader Steven Coutts proposed a motion stating: “The evidence is irrefutable and the science is clear. Action is required.”
He said: “The issue now is that we are at that tipping point. We have delayed this for so long. What we need now is a global step-change.”
In addition to the climate change report councillors also discussed the Shetland Energy Hub project this week. The project counts reducing emissions from Sullom Voe as a key aim.
For full details see Friday’s Shetland Times.
Ian Tinkler
Now here is a bit of lateral thinking. Beg to borrow or steal a few decommissioning SSNn or SSBNs and hitch up the reactors, turbines and generators to the Shetland electricity grid and. Hey presto, nil carbon footprint electricity for about 30 years, nearly at no cost.
Now my Green pals may throw their usual tantrums, but Soviet, Rusian Federation and Nato nuclear submarines have been operating in Shetland waters for the last 50 years. If it makes anyone feel better, we could take the assorted nuclear weaponry and conventional explosives off our Sullom Voe subs first! That would be better than declaring a climate emergency, would it not?