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£5,000 for ultra-low carbon vehicles welcomed

2010-07-28

Responding to today's announcement by the UK Government that motorists will receive up to £5,000 towards purchase of an ultra-low carbon car from January 2011.

Dr Sam Gardner, Climate Change Policy Officer at WWF Scotland said:

"We welcome this much needed support to encourage the purchase of electric and ultra-low carbon vehicles. Although support is limited to just £5,000 per car it marks a much needed signal from the new coalition government that it's serious about tackling emissions from our transport system. However, the reality is that if we are really going to slash transport emissions then some additional measures and incentives will still be required.

"Our recent research found that as well as returning to 2001 car use levels, one in every ten vehicles on Scotland's roads will need to be an electric by 2020 if we are to meet our ambitious climate targets. We need to see the Scottish Government's recently announced funding in this area backed up woth a commitment to make the public sector vehicle fleet entirely low carbon by 2020. This is the ambition we must see if we are to hit the targets required by the Climate Change Act."

Scotland should benefit from growth in marine energy

2010-07-27

Commenting on the first Annual Energy Statement set out by the UK Coalition Government, which sets out 32 actions of coalition energy and climate change policy.

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said:

"Chris Huhne has laid out a lot of positive things about meeting climate targets and delivering on renewable energy and on energy efficiency. The UK Government's extra enthusiasm for marine energy is particularly welcome but we must ensure that Scotland, as the UK leader in this sector, benefits properly rather than losing out to other areas as happened under the last UK Government.

"The real problem with this energy policy is that the UK Government is still pursuing its nuclear dream. The Government's new online energy policy simulator lets you play with the options up to 2050. But it also reveals that their minimum vision for new nuclear reactors in the UK is 13 new stations, more than they have previously admitted. Their own reports show how we can use renewables and energy efficiency to meet climate targets without any need for new nuclear. But still they insist on splitting their priorities, endangering our current global lead in wave power technology and planning to leave a radio-active legacy for a thousand generations to come."

WWF Scotland offers chance to win a free energy-saving home make-over

2010-07-20

WIN A £5,000 ECO-MAKEOVER FOR YOUR HOME

A £5,000 eco-friendly home makeover is up for grabs as part of a Scotland-wide competition to encourage the public to tackle climate change by taking steps to save energy.

To celebrate WWF Scotland's new charity partnership with the People’s Postcode Lottery the environmental charity has announced the launch of an amazing 'Household climate-saver' competition. One lucky Scottish household is set to win up to £5,000 worth of free energy-saving measures, which could include anything from loft insulation to draught-proofing through to the purchase of energy-saving gadgets and energy systems. All people have to do to enter is submit their details online, for free.

The winning home will be chosen at random and will receive a combination of the latest energy-efficiency measures donated by Knauf Insulation.

Following a free energy-saving survey, the winning home will be upgraded into one that is warmer, more comfortable, less expensive to run - and a whole lot better for the climate too. The winning home will be the envy of the whole street.

WWF Scotland's Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said:

"Home energy use, particularly for space and water heating, accounts for nearly one third of climate changing emissions in Scotland. There is no doubt that making our homes warm and energy efficient is not only necessary to fight climate change, it is one of the most cost-effective ways of doing so.

"While we continue to campaign to make it possible for every home in the country to be energy-efficient, we are excited to be able to offer one lucky household the chance to win a free eco-friendly makeover. We are very grateful to People’s Postcode Lottery and Knauf Insulation for their support in making this possible.”

TV presenter and Charity Ambassador for People's Postcode Lottery, Angus Purden, said:

"On the whole Scotland's homes are pretty shocking when it comes to saving energy. The People's Postcode Lottery is all about making a difference to local communities and that's why I'm excited about our competition with WWF. I can't wait to see just how much energy the winning household will save in the end. So, what are you waiting for? Enter online today."

David Adams, Head of External Affairs of Knauf Insulation, said:

“Knauf Insulation wholeheartedly supports initiatives such as this, which aim to encourage home improvements that not only positively impact on the homeowner, in terms of improved levels of comfort and energy efficiency, but also on the environment as a whole. Insulation has a fundamental role to play in the fight against climate change and we are delighted to be working with WWF Scotland on such a great competition, demonstrating how Scottish households can introduce simple energy saving measures to truly make a difference.”

Investment in green technology welcomed

2010-07-19

Announcement of a partnership between Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries welcomed

Scotland's potential to become a world leader in green technology has been boosted by the announcement today of a partnership between Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to work on a range of low carbon energy developments including off-shore wind farms, carbon capture and storage and low carbon vehicles.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Dan Barlow, Head of Policy at WWF Scotland said:

"This announcement is great news and reflects the huge opportunities in Scotland to develop green technologies that can play an essential role in global efforts to tackle climate change and contribute towards building a low carbon economy for Scotland.

"With power generation and transport responsible for the bulk of Scotland's climate emissions investment decarbonising these sectors is critical if Scotland is to achieve its 42 per cent target set out in Scottish Climate Change Act.

"The creation of a hundred new highly-skilled jobs at the Centre of Engineering Excellence for Renewable Energy at the University of Strathclyde is also to be warmly welcomed."

Drop in wind-farm output due to calm weather 'extremely rare'

2010-07-19

The reduced level of power produced by Scotland's wind-farm network this year is not a reason to hit the panic button, WWF Scotland said today.

Research carried out for the first five months of this year showed showed the unusually calm weather conditions had led to output being less than expected in a normal year.

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said:

"It was a quite unusual period weather-wise so it's not a great surprise that in that period they weren't producing what we would normally expect. Denmark gets 20 per cent of its electricity from wind farms, and does not have difficulty maintaining supply.

"It is hardly a surprise that wind power is variable. However, no one is seriously suggesting that Scotland should rely solely on wind-power. Increased capacity to store energy alongside a mix of renewables types is what we need: some intermittent like wind, some utterly predictable like tides and some on-demand like hydro and biomass.

"The anti-windfarm brigade have been very selective with the data. Looking at just 4 months of the year tells us very little about the overall performance of Scotland's windfarms, especially since the windiest months are usually in the autumn.

"Last year WWF Scotland along with other NGO's produced a report which shows that there is enormous potential to increase generation of electricity from a mix of renewable sources during the next two decades, so much so that by 2030 renewable energy can meet between 60 per cent and 143 per cent of Scotland’s projected annual electricity demand."

Scotland was right on climate targets

2010-07-15

Other countries back move to increase targets as new report warns of threats

Scotland was right to set world-leading targets to slash climate change emissions, environmentalists said today. WWF Scotland made the claim following a decision by the UK, Germany and France, to call for Europe-wide cuts in carbon of at least 30 per cent by 2020.

The welcome news comes on the same day that scientists revealed that the seas around Scotland and the rest of the UK are experiencing warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, changes in fish stocks and declines in seabird populations as a result of climate change.

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said:

"This is very welcome news and proves the Scottish Parliament was right to pass the toughest climate emission targets in the world last year. The simple truth is that Europe's existing target to reduce emissions by 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 is little more than business as usual. Europe was useless at Copenhagen. By increasing ambition to cuts of at least 30 per cent, Europe could achieve a double whammy - showing leadership internationally before the next UN meeting in Cancun, and also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery across Europe.

"The call by these key EU countries comes on the day a new report for the UK Government is published which clearly shows climate change is already having an impact on our marine environment. We don't have the luxury of delaying setting strong climate targets - it is time Europe caught up with Scotland and imposed legislation to ensure Europe will not be left behind other economies and miss out on the opportunities for innovation and jobs in the rapidly growing green economy."

Scottish Climate Update - June 2010

2010-07-14

June 2010 was more than a degree and half warmer that average

Dr Sam Gardner, Climate Policy Officer for WWF Scotland, said:

“Settled fine and dry weather gave us a June well above average temperatures and it has been so dry there is little water in many rivers. Already people in Dumfries and Galloway are being asked to look at saving water.

“Despite the cool spring across western Europe, globally 2010 is heading towards being the hottest year ever recorded. For Scotland the hottest five years in the last century were all in the last decade. So far this year is setting records for the low levels of rainfall we have experienced, there have only been four drier years since data was first collected in 1910.

“In the Scottish Parliament the political parties are still debating about how tough to make the annual climate targets for the next few years. We won’t know the final results until September, when we should also see the first version of the Scottish Government’s detailed plans to meet these targets and deliver a world-leading 42 per cent emissions reduction by 2020.”

Earn your stripes and save the tiger!

2010-07-14

WWF is looking for 18-22 year olds to come to Russia and help save the tiger

Environmental group WWF has launched an exciting new competition offering 18-22 year-olds a once-in-a-life-time chance to travel to Russia for a Tiger Youth Summit in Vladivostok this September.

With as few as 3,200 tigers left in the wild, world leaders are meeting up in St Petersburg in Russia this September to draw up vital plans to double wild tiger numbers by 2022. To ensure these leaders realise that future generations are relying on them to act now to stop the decline, WWF is organising a youth summit to take place at the same time in the Russian Far East.

The environmental organisation is looking for two 18-22 year olds to come to the summit and learn about tiger conservation first hand. The lucky winners, chosen by WWF, will join others the same age from all over the world, in order to see our work for themselves, and to help spread the word about tiger conservation . Countries where wild tigers live are especially being encouraged to send representatives, as well as young people from other countries that support tiger conservation.

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said:

“It would be great if a young person from Scotland was amongst those attending the youth summit in Russia. Without decisive global action right now, we are in serious danger of losing the species forever in many parts of Asia. This is a fantastic way for two young dynamic individuals to help make it clear to our world leaders that the next generation is counting on them to save the tiger.

“We are keen to get young people engaged in our work, so they understand the real threats facing some of our most iconic species and habitats, and can help raise awareness of the conservation work WWF does .”

The two winners will get to visit tiger habitats, learn first-hand about the threats facing this iconic species, and find out what WWF is doing to protect it. WWF will ask for them to share their experiences, both during the summit and afterwards, through blogging, tweeting and Facebook, to encourage other young people to learn more about our work.

WWF is also calling on the UK public to sign up to a petition to show their support for a united push for tiger conservation. This will be handed in at the St Petersburg summit in Russia this September.

Dr Dixon added:

“If we lose the tiger, not only do we lose one of the world’s top predators, we will lose so much more. By safeguarding their habitats, we will protect hundreds of other species in the process.

“It is vital that leaders at the summit in Russia understand that the UK public does not want to live in a world without tigers, so WWF is asking as many people as possible sign our petition, which will be added to thousands of voices from all over the world and handed over to negotiators in September.”

Find out more details of the competition

Sign the WWF tiger petition

Calls for immediate arctic oil drilling moratorium grow

2010-07-14

Critical meeting between energy commissioner, oil companies and regulators European Parliament asked to back moratorium on new drilling in the Arctic Scottish oil firm's drilling activities under scrutiny

There should be an immediate moratorium on new offshore drilling in the environmentally-sensitive Arctic, said environmental groups today (Wednesday 14 July).

The call by WWF, the European Environmental Bureau and The Bellona Foundation comes ahead of important talks today between the European Union's energy commissioner and major oil companies and industry regulators. Last week, the EU's energy commissioner, Gunther Oettinger, called for a temporary ban on new oil drilling in the North Sea following the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

In a letter to the European Parliament, the environmental groups called on the Parliament to back an immediate moratorium on new offshore drilling in the region. The U.S., Canada and Norway have all declared moratoria on deepwater drilling whilst the Gulf of Mexico accident spill is investigated.

The call for an immediate moratorium comes less than a week after it was announced that Scottish oil firm, Cairn Energy, had begun drilling exploration wells in the waters off Greenland.

WWF Scotland's Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said:

"The sensitive Arctic environment is the last place we should be drilling for oil, the risks just aren't worth it. That a Scottish company is at the forefront of exploration in the Arctic is deeply disturbing. The European Parliament has a good track record on tackling environmental pollution and now is the time to introduce an immediate moratorium on new offshore drilling in the Arctic and time for countries to start ending their addiction to oil."

Dr. Patrick Lewis from the WWF Arctic Initiative said:

"The European Union has a growing interest in the Arctic. Hand in hand with this interest comes a responsibility to ensure that new industrial developments do not threaten the environment which defines the region, and upon which local communities depend.

"At the June G8 meeting the Russian Federation called for the establishment of an international regulatory mechanism for the petroleum industry. The adoption of a moratorium by the European Parliament would echo growing concerns across the Arctic that industry needs to prove Arctic oil development will not cause catastrophic damage to the Arctic environment and to the lives and livelihoods of peoples who depend on that environment."

John Hontelez, Secretary‐General European Environmental Bureau said:

"The EU pretends to go for a low carbon economy and is promoting investments in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. It would therefore be strange to allow and support oil explorations in the Arctic that will create serious environmental risks but also compete with the decarbonisation of our economy."

Frederic Hauge, President The Bellona Foundation, said:

"The BP oil spill clearly proves that the oil industry is incapable of handling major disasters in a safe manner. The mere fact that they are considering new activities in the Arctic, such an important region for renewable natural resources, is worrying. But even worse, oil companies are now moving their activities from the Gulf of Mexico to more northerly areas after the ban on deep sea drilling on the US shelf. An example is the Swedish corporation Stena, which recently moved its rig Stena Forth to the Davis Strait near Western Greenland in order to explore new prospects there."

Scottish Government sends mixed mesages on waste

2010-07-10

WWF Scotland is calling for joined up Government thinking in order to realise its zero waste goal and is 'shocked and surprised' by recent mixed messages from Government.

The comments follow the publication of two documents which appear to contradict each other. On 9 June the Zero Waste Plan was published which sets out key actions and new targets to help Scotland tackle the near 20 million tonnes of waste we produce each year. WWF Scotland welcomed the proposals which put greater focus on the need to tackle the amount of resources we consume in Scotland, extend progress in recycling for household waste to the commercial and industrial sector and very importantly stated that burning waste would only be considered where this makes environmental or economic sense. However, just a week later a report, The Energy from Waste Potential in Scotland, commissioned and released by the Scottish Government included proposals which fly in the face areas of the Zero Waste Plan.

WWF Scotland's Head of Policy, Dr Dan Barlow said:

"The Energy from Waste Potential in Scotland report suggests that Scotland could burn half a million tonnes of paper, card and wood each year as a way of producing energy. In environmental terms this is nonsense and completely at odds with the Government announcement in its Zero Waste Plan, just a week earlier, that burning waste would only be considered where greater environmental and economic benefits cannot be gained through reuse or recycling.

"There is substantial evidence that demonstrates clearly that re-use and recycling of paper and card is the preferred environmental option.

"We are shocked and surprised that the Government announced a policy one week, only to undermine it the next with a contradictory report. This apparent lack of joined up thinking is deeply worrying.

"Aside from making a mockery of Scotland's Zero Waste aspiration, proceeding with any proposals to burn such volumes of paper and card is at odds with EU requirements to reuse and recycle packaging.

"We urge the government to deliver the Zero Waste Plan by focussing on waste prevention reuse and re-cycling, alongside the role of anaerobic digestion for dealing with Scotland's organic waste."

Peterhead carbon capture and storage plans welcomed

2010-07-08

Announcement further damages case for new coal-fired at Hunterston

Plans to demonstrate capture and store carbon emissions at an existing gas-fired power station at Peterhead, in Aberdeenshire, were welcomed today by WWF Scotland. The environmental group was responding to an announcement by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) that it is taking forward plans for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) at the site.

WWF Scotland said the news further undermined the case for plans a new coal-fired at Hunterston, in Ayrshire, which would lead to a net increase in Scotland's emissions.

Dr Sam Gardner, Climate Change Policy Officer at WWF Scotland said:

"This decision to demonstrate carbon capture and storage technology at an existing power plant is to be welcomed. This announcement follows hot on the heels of the recent advice from the UK Committee on Climate Change that the Government should consider funding at least one gas project as part of its proposals to fund four demonstration sites.

"Scotland now has an excellent opportunity to reduce emissions by demonstrating carbon capture on two existing power plants at Longannet and Peterhead. There is no need to risk the huge increase in emissions that would result from the proposed new largely unabated coal plant at Hunterston. The Scottish Government should reject the Hunterston application at the earliest opportunity and work to realise the existing potential we have at these two sites on the east coast of Scotland.

"Carbon capture and storage was originally proposed at Peterhead in 2007 as part of an enhanced oil recovery plan for the North Sea. This time, the technology should not be used to extract the last remnants of North Sea oil. Instead, Scotland's off shore energy future is to be found in our huge wave, tidal and wind potential."

Dismay as Greenland drilling for oil begins

2010-07-07

Edinburgh-based oil firm drilling in senstive Arctic waters

Environmental group WWF Scotland has reacted with dismay at news today that Edinburgh-based oil firm, Cairn Energy, has begun drilling oil exploration wells in the waters off Greenland. WWF Scotland had hoped plans to drill in the environmentally-sensitive Arctic environment would be postponed following the recent BP oil disaster. WWF is calling for an immediate moratorium on new drilling activities in the Arctic.

The U.S., Canada and Norway have all declared moratoria on deepwater drilling whilst the Gulf of Mexico accident spill is investigated. At the June G8 meeting the Russian Federation has called for the establishment of an international regulatory mechanism for the petroleum industry.

Commenting, WWF Scotland's Head of Policy, Dr Dan Barlow, said:

"It's bitterly disappointing that oil exploration has begun in this sensitive Arctic environment. The decision to drill flies in the face of decisions by other countries to postpone drilling while they take stock of the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

"The Gulf of Mexico is the world's centre of drilling technology with thousands of engineers and immense resources in terms of boats, planes, control equipment and manufacturing facilities - and even here it is proving immensely difficult to handle the tragic event of the Gulf of Mexico blowout.

"It is time for countries to recognize that offshore oil drilling with current technology and response capability poses unacceptable risks in the Arctic where conditions are far more extreme. The consequences of such an event in the cold climate would lead to a persistence of ecological damage over many decades.

"The climate problems arising from our burning fossil fuels, like oil, are already well know. However, the direct threats oil exploration pose to people and the Arctic environment are yet another reason why we need countries to rapidly end their addiction to oil."

Dr. Patrick Lewis from the WWF Arctic Initiative said:

"An immediate moratorium on new drilling activities in the Arctic is a basic requirement until the international community has considered the need for increased regulation and stronger environmental standards."

Marine Energy

2010-07-07

Milliions to harness power of sea welcomed

Commenting on the announcement today by the Scottish Government that five marine energy projects will share £13 million to harness the power of the sea Dr Dan Barlow, Head of Policy at WWF Scotland said:

"This announcement is great news for the future of the marine renewable industry in Scotland. There is a massive amount of power in our seas and Scotland is well placed to lead in developing the technologies to turn this potential into clean, green electricity. Marine energy has a critical role to play in meeting the Government commitment to decarbonise our power supply by 2030.

"With careful planning we can harness Scotland's wave and tidal energy to help cut our climate emissions while safeguarding the nation's tremendous marine environment."

Poll: Scottish public supports climate concerns

2010-07-07

An overwhelming majority of the Scottish public believe that climate change is happening and that human activity is to blame.

85 per cent believe climate change is happening
72 per cent think it is largely caused by human activities

An overwhelming majority of the Scottish public believe that climate change is happening and that human activity is to blame, a new poll revealed today. The poll by George Street Research found 85 per cent believe climate change is happening and 72 per cent think it is largely caused by human activities.

Just 8 per cent of the public said their views had changed on the science behind climate change in the last year because of the recent "climategate" controversy, where as 19 per cent cited the recent cold winter as a reason for changing their views on the science. WWF said that the latter finding suggests that many people have difficulting in distinguishing 'weather' from 'climate'.

Commenting on the findings, WWF Scotland's Head of Policy, Dr Dan Barlow said:

"This poll once again confirms that the vast majority of the public agrees that climate change is happening and that it is a result of human activity. These findings show that Scotland's politicians were right to back ambitious cuts in Scotland's climate emissions and lead the way in tackling climate change. The results should provide Scottish Ministers with confidence to move swiftly in implementing proposals required to deliver our emissions reductions.

"The findings show that people in Scotland have clearly seen through the unhelpful attempts of a few climate sceptics to discredit global scientific consensus and undermine action to tackle climate change.

"The detailed figures do suggest that many people have difficulting in distinguishing weather from climate. However, a single cold winter for Scotland does not undermine the much more significant long term changes in our climate, globally this year we've already seen some of the warmest monthly temperatures on record."

First Minister announces cash for low carbon vehicles

2010-06-16

WWF Scotland urges "jump start" for electric vehicles

Money announced by Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, should be used to "jump start" a move toward electric vehicles if Scotland is to curb its emissions from the transport sector, said WWF Scotland today.

The environmental group made the call in response to a Government announcement of a £4.3 million initiative to boost the use of low carbon vehicles by Scotland's public services.

Last month WWF published research outlining the role of electric vehicles could make in helping Scotland move toward a low carbon future.

Commenting, WWF Scotland's Climate Change Policy Officer, Dr Sam Gardner, said:

“This is a very welcome first step by the Scottish Government to jump start the transformation to electric vehicles. If we are to meet our challenging emission targets the transport sector must play its full part and that means a future where electric vehicles are the norm rather than the exception. The public sector has an important role to play in driving demand for electric vehicles and helping to bring them to the public’s attention. We hope today’s announcement of financial support by the Scottish Government will be backed up by committing the public sector to an entirely low carbon vehicle fleet by 2020. This is the ambition we must see if we are to hit the targets required by the Climate Change Act.

"Recently published research from WWF Scotland has shown that the future role for electric vehicles very much depends on our efforts to reduce the distance we drive year on year and the urgent need to replace our fossil fuel electricity with clean renewable power. If we are to ensure that money spent on electric vehicles delivers its greatest possible carbon saving we must match it with a much greater effort to reduce the distance we drive each year and ensure remove the carbon from our electricity.”

Scottish Climate Update - May 2010

2010-06-12

May 2010 was close to average temperatures. A warm spell broke temperature records in Fife and the Borders. The month was rather dry, especially in the west and south

COMMENT:
Dr Sam Gardner, Climate Policy Officer for WWF Scotland, said:

“Despite a record-breaking warm spell in the middle, May ended up with only average temperatures but was quite a bit drier than usual. Meanwhile the Met Office is predicting that droughts like that of 1976 could be happening once a decade by the year 2100 if we don’t reduce emissions.

“May also saw the Scottish Parliament throw out the Government’s proposed annual climate targets for the next decade. This means a big rethink before we know exactly how we are going to get properly on track to meet our world-leading target of a 42 per cent reduction by 2020.

“Sadly the Parliament let the Government off much too lightly on how it will include aviation emissions. This means the industry will be getting away with only counting half their real emissions. This despite planes being an important and growing source of climate emissions.”

THE YEAR SO FAR
Despite a very warm spell May was close to average temperatures overall. Weather stations in Fife and the Borders recorded their highest ever May temperatures (on the 22nd Leuchars 26.2 °C and Charterhall, Borders 25.7 °C). April was nearly a degree warmer than the average and quite sunny. March saw a return to average temperature but with heavy snow in the north and coastal flooding in the east. February was the 12th coldest ever recorded and the winter was the second coldest ever. January was very cold but was also the 4th sunniest January in Scotland according to the records which began in 1929. It was particularly sunny in the west.

WWF calls for urgent action on government flying

2010-06-10

Scottish Government signs up to reduce flights by one in five

A new report from WWF shows that UK Government and devolved administrations could save more than £100 million and 59,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next three years if they reduce the number of unnecessary flights taken. The environmental group also announced today that the Scottish Government has signed up to its One in Five Challenge, promising to reduce flights by 20 per cent over the next 5 years and making it the first part of government in the UK to sign up.

Excess Baggage: the case for reducing government flying shows the Scottish Government ranked 8th out of 22 Whitehall and devolved governments surveyed on their progress towards reducing flights. This resulted in an ‘amber’ rating indicating a moderate level of flight reduction and carbon savings.

The report also found that if government departments followed their own best practice, they could cut 600,000 flights, reduce CO2 emissions by more than 59,000 tonnes and save well over £100 million of taxpayers’ money over the next three years. In Scotland that equates to a £2.4 million saving and 729 tonnes of CO2.

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said:

“Our report shows that the Scottish Government is moving in the right direction when it comes to reducing flights, but still has some way to go. Signing up to our One in Five Challenge is a great sign of commitment and means the Scottish Government will have to cut one in five flights within five years, replacing these with lower carbon alternatives such as rail or videoconferencing. The Scottish Government are the first part of government in the UK to sign up for the One in Five Challenge and they join SEPA and companies ranging from M&S and BT to Vodafone.

“Flying is the most polluting form of transport, as well as being a costly waste of time for our public servants. Using video-conferencing or taking the train turns wasted time into useful time and could save millions of pounds in these times of tight public finances. The new UK Government is committed to reducing Government emissions by 10 per cent over the next year, and major commitments on reducing the use of flights would be a great start.”

Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport and Climate Change, said:

“The Scottish Government is proud to be the first Government organisation to sign up to WWF’s One in Five Challenge. Since setting our world-leading emissions reductions target of 42 per cent in our Act last year, Scotland has continued to set the pace on action on climate change.

“As an organisation, we are taking action to ensure that, where business journeys are necessary, we travel sustainably. We flew half a million miles less in 2008/09 and have delivered a considerable reduction in our air travel costs. This dropped by 24 per cent from July to December 2009, compared to the previous six months. And we already have a carbon emissions levy in place so that whenever a Minister or staff member travels by air, we pay a carbon levy per journey to offset the carbon emissions. We are also making increasing use of video conferencing facilities, when appropriate, instead of travelling to meetings in the UK.”

The report found that, across the UK, the most frequent domestic routes used by Ministers and officials were between London and Edinburgh and London and Belfast whilst the top non-UK short haul routes were to Brussels, Geneva, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, all of which are reachable or replaceable by train, ferry, or videoconferencing.

Of the 22 government departments contacted by WWF, less than half have reduced the number of flights taken between 2007 and the end of 2009. According to the report, the best performing departments are the Department for Education and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Department of Energy and Climate Change spent £715,115 on 1,378 flights last year, with 676 of those taken domestically.

The worst performers include the Ministry of Defence and HM Revenues & Customs. Flying in both departments increased over the three year period.

Scotland's first zero waste plan

2010-06-09

WWF Scotland comment

Commenting on the publication today of the Scottish Government's Zero Waste Plan, Dr. Dan Barlow, Head of Policy at WWF Scotland said:

"Transforming our attitude to waste and resource use has a critical role to play in reducing Scotland's ecological footprint. The proposals set out in the Zero Waste Plan can help ensure that a zero waste Scotland becomes a reality.

"The plan rightly identifies that much greater focus is needed to tackle the amount of resources we consume in Scotland and to extend progress in recycling for household waste to the commercial and industrial sector, with a welcome new target to recycle 70 per cent of all of Scotland's waste by 2025. Policies to ban materials from landfill and require much greater segregation of waste must ensure resources are reused and recycled rather than disposed of by landfill or incinerated."

Blunder: Power station firm gets its figures wrong

2010-06-05

WWF Scotland questions firm's suitability to build £3bn power station

The firm behind plans to build a controversial new coal-fired power station has admitted today that some of the figures in its planning application, lodged earlier this week, are wrong.

Environmental group WWF Scotland said that the blunder by Ayrshire Power, the firm behind plans to build the £3bn facility at Hunterston in Ayrshire, raised serious questions over whether the company was suitable to be in charge of such a project and called on Scottish Ministers to reject the proposal.

WWF Scotland's Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said:

"Ayrshire Power don't seem to know what they are doing. In their application they state they will capture a pitiful 15 per cent of the carbon emissions from the proposed plant. Now they say this is a misprint and it should say 25 per cent but present figures which only come to 22 per cent. Even this claim contradicts the detailed figures in their application, which come to a maximum of 20 per cent. You have to question whether a company which can't divide one number by another and get the right answer should be allowed to build a £3bn power station.

"The simple truth is that this is a very sloppy attempt to build a coal-fired power station that will belch the vast majority of its climate changing emissions straight into the atmosphere. Scottish Ministers should take the opportunity to reject this nonsensical proposal at the earliest opportunity.

"Scotland does not need new coal, as research published by WWF and other groups shows. A combination of improved energy efficiency and increased use of Scotland's wealth of clean renewables is more than adequate."

Toxic eels found in Scotland's rivers

2010-06-02

New study highlights the need to avoid use of risky chemicals say WWF Scotland

Industry needs to avoid the creation of new persistent pollutants and speed up the global phase out of existing ones, said WWF Scotland today. The environmental group made the call following news that more than 25 years after it was banned, the long-lived pesticide, DDT, is still contaminating eels in Scotland's rivers.

Commenting on the news WWF Scotland's Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said:

"The poor eels have been in trouble for decades. If climate change wasn't bad enough, they have also been subjected to a cocktail of persistent chemicals, many of which are still showing up today, years after they were banned. We finally got round to banning DDT in the UK more than 25 years ago but here it is still circulating around the Scottish environment and potentially still getting into the human food chain.

"It is good that levels of many of these banned chemicals are declining, but we need to learn the lesson that early action is essential when dealing with any problem for the environment we all depend on.

"These findings underline the continued need to avoid the creation of new persistent pollutants and the continued global phase out of existing ones."