Yeah, probably. Can't quite see how that fits in with a strategy of demand reduction...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Holyrood- the next five years
(149 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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"
Finally, in promoting sustainable growth, we will continue our transition to a low-carbon economy.
Since 1990, we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 38%. We are on course to meet our current target of a 42% reduction by 2020.
But we must be bolder. We will legislate to establish a new and more testing target for 2020 - one of reducing actual Scottish emissions by at least 50%.
We will look for support across the chamber for the bold - and sometimes controversial - actions we will need to take to meet that target.
In doing so, we will not just be living up to our moral obligations - we will also be seizing a massive economic opportunity. The low carbon and renewable energy sector already employs more than 21,500 people. A tougher target gives us even greater incentive to develop clean energy, promote energy efficiency and move to a more circular economy.
"
http://news.scotland.gov.uk/Speeches-Briefings/Priorities-speech-Taking-Scotland-Forward-24f8.aspx
Doesn't mention transport.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The big reductions in Scottish greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 are due to the closure of the Ravenscraig steelworks and major coal fired power stations.
It's easy to present these as a major success (even though they were all opposed by the Scottish political establishment at the time). Future major reductions will require hard choices - which seem unlikely to be made.
Posted 8 years ago # -
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Car-Sick Glasgow (@carsickglasgow)
27/05/2016, 19:20
The contract for *design* of this road is worth more than the entire annual active travel budget for all Scotland"
https://twitter.com/carsickglasgow/status/736260778710405121
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
Scotland’s new cabinet secretary charged with reviving the country’s ailing economy is being urged to tackle the growing gap with the rest of the UK as he today sets out his blueprint for growth north of the Border.
Keith Brown will today reveal how he plans to deal with the impact of the North Sea oil crash and soaring unemployment levels in his first address to MSPs since he was appointed by Nicola Sturgeon as the country’s first ever economy secretary.
He will tell a Holyrood debate that he will focus on making the Scottish economy more productive by increasing global trade links and investing in the key sectors of the economy.
"
More roads?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Need to drive the economy innit.
Posted 8 years ago # -
***Rant Begins***
Is the Scotsman unaware of the existence of the government of the United Kingdom? Maybe someone should write to inform them of its existence and its functions.
And I know Johnstone Press is now staffed by twelve year olds, but this sort of guff is just depressing. Why, for instance, should anyone care about Gross Domestic Product if what we produce is siphoned off and hidden in the British Virgin Islands before we get a sniff of it? And why the emphasis on work when so much of it is soul-crushing and counter productive?
I'm also wondering if rebranding the Scottish Executive as the Scottish Government before it had the normal functions of a national government wasn't a tad naive.
***Rant Ends***
Posted 8 years ago # -
Well yes.
Part of the problem is how the economy it's measured.
More driving = more car/petrol sales, road/car repairs. Crashes add to GDP too.
If the focus (with justification) is on jobs then plenty a Government ought to be able to do.
More teachers/classroom assistants to 'reduce the attainment gap' (NS's BIG - and difficult - idea). More new paths + pavement repairs to encourage active travel and 'sustainable' tourism.
'But that might reduce the driving element of GDP' - 'yes, but congestion is a cost to productivity'....
So that's why we need more roads.
Wrong targets and wrong measurement techniques for "the kind of Scotland we want to live in - a Scotland that is Wealthier and Fairer, Smarter, Healthier, Safer and Stronger and Greener".
http://www.gov.scot/About/Performance/scotPerforms/objectives
Posted 8 years ago # -
"why the emphasis on work when so much of it is soul-crushing and counter productive?"
Far too difficult for most politicians to understand or 'sell' to the voters.
Be a while before this idea 'breaks through' -
Posted 8 years ago # -
Posted 8 years ago #
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Well, the Scottish Government is moving into new territory. It will now raise a significant part of what it spends. So the focus will be on creating and sustaining highly paid work in Scotland for people who live here. Up to the relevant arguers to argue that greater cycling facilities contributes to that to politicians while at the same time reducing overall pressure on government services (how often do roads need repaired if they have less traffic on them, how much healthier are cyclists compared to car commuters etc.).
Posted 8 years ago # -
Far too difficult for most politicians to understand or 'sell' to the voters.
Not all of them. Jim Sillars has understood this, and also the impending disappearance of middle class work. I don't think he's better informed or more visionary than many others, just braver and older and less concerned about being elected.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Potentially bad news for cycling - the Parliament has just announced its new committee structure. Transport will fall within the remit of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee - this will have a Conservative convenor and SNP deputy convenor.
Posted 8 years ago # -
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Economy secretary Keith Brown warned opponents to be “wary about deterring potential investment”.
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Posted 8 years ago # -
Was he using his "don't talk Scotland down" tone of voice?
Posted 8 years ago # -
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We call on the Scottish Government to..
1. Shift our car is king culture to more sustainable transport modes - make 20mph zones the national norm, introduce workplace parking levies for large employers, and investigate urban congestion charges.
2. Roll out a network of Low Emission Zones in towns and cities by 2018, where the most polluting vehicles would be banned or have to pay hefty fines
3. Invest 10% of transport funds in walking/cycling."
Cycling and Health supplement to Spokes Bulletin 125
http://www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/B125-centre-all.pdf
Posted 8 years ago # -
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and incorporate into GDP, positive measures which reduce carbon emissions and help to slow climate change – even if, like the encouragement of cycling rather than driving, or the reduction of home energy consumption through good construction and insulation, they have a headline negative effect on outdated conventional measures of economic activity and “growth”.
"
http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/joyce-mcmillan-big-questions-remain-unanswered-1-4145007
Posted 8 years ago # -
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Edinburgh Airport (@EDI_Airport)
20/08/2016, 7:58 am
Planes are a cheaper and faster means of transportation around the UK than trains"
Posted 8 years ago # -
Doesn't surprise me.
I like the train, but on the occasions I need to go to London it's never booked 6 months in advance with a family of 5 leaving at 3pm on a Tuesday.
Obviously I am exaggerating, but it seems to me that the train operators really stiff you if you are what they deem a "last minute" traveller.
Last fare quoted was about £300 return !!!!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Very selective, and inaccurate, use of the timetable and fare table in this report. What's in it for The Sun? Time and cost to and from airports mentioned but not realistically reported, not to mention security checks.
A more interesting report might be what the "real" costs of domestic flights are compared with more sustainable modes of transport.
Posted 8 years ago # -
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Does she want to be Scotland’s first minister?
“Yes. Isn’t that outlandish?” Actually, it is. “I’m not saying it will happen in five years. But I have more MSPs sitting behind me now [she has 31 to the SNP’s 63, and Scottish Labour’s 23] than the SNP had in 2003 [they then had 27] – and they became the government in 2007.” She meets my eye, and holds it, as if daring me to laugh.
"
Posted 8 years ago # -
The editor of The Guardian should be ashamed of herself. I've rarely read such credulous guff, vaguely disguised as an interview.
Just remember - when anyone tells you how great Ruth Davidson is, this is someone who saw the actions of Thatcher, Major, Forsyth and the rest in the late 80's and early 90's and thought "These are the guys for me!" She also currently supports "austerity" - social security cuts for disabled and vulnerable people, benefit sanctions, repeal of human rights legislation and everything else the most right-wing UK Government in the modern era is willing to rain down on us.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"austerity" - social security cuts for disabled and vulnerable people, benefit sanctions, repeal of human rights legislation
all whilst ignoring the billions of tax avoidance by those most able to pay: Google, Facebook, Starbucks, Boots, Air-Passenger-Duty, all those Cayman Is. firms...
FTFY
Posted 8 years ago # -
If anyone is in any doubt about what Ms Davidson's party stands for...
Which of the rights in the second link might be so objectionable that they require to be removed from any of us?
Posted 8 years ago # -
For those that have seen this before, apologies. For those that haven't - enjoy!
Robert
Posted 8 years ago # -
IWRATS - reminds me of one of my all time favourite quotes from a Tory policy document:
"We will set out a clearer test in how some of the inalienable rights apply to cases of deportation and other removal of persons from the United Kingdom."
Got to watch who those inalienable rights apply to.
The terrible details: https://www.conservatives.com/~/media/files/downloadable%20Files/human_rights.pdf
Posted 8 years ago # -
3 months ago -
"Whoever it is, their first job is to get that pavement fixed."
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16358&page=2#post-220321
And now -
Posted 8 years ago # -
This is by a former CEC councillor who didn't become an MSP and is slightly more about UK politics, but obviously is also about future of Holyrood.
https://maggiechapman.wordpress.com/2016/09/18/indyref-2-years-on-what-we-won
Posted 8 years ago # -
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Alex Cole-Hamilton is facing calls to resign the party whip as police probe alleged ‘financial irregularities’ in the Liberal Democrat MSP’s election spending.
The MSP for Edinburgh Western, who won the seat in May’s Holyrood elections, was reported to Police Scotland earlier this month and faces allegations over inacccuracies in his campaign spending return.
"
Posted 8 years ago #
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