Statement from Extinction Rebellion Scotland in response to Roseanna Cunningham’s Ministerial Statement, “The Global Climate Emergency: Scotland’s Response.”

The Scottish Government’s announcement today does nothing more than rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic. It’s more consultations, summits and goals. An emergency requires an emergency response and this doesn’t even come close. 

Roseanna Cunningham said ‘if it’s not enough, what’s your offer?’ Our answer is this: 

“We can’t rely on our politicians to do what’s necessary. That’s why Extinction Rebellion Scotland is demanding the government commits to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and creates a Climate Citizen’s Assembly for Scotland. Ordinary people can hear the evidence, assess the policies needed and decide on how we get out of this mess.

“It may mean hard choices about how we travel, grow food and heat our homes, but the rewards are huge, and the alternative unbearable. In our lifetime we could see nature restored and children’s future protected. 

We need to do what’s necessary to protect the planet for our children, not what seems to be possible right now. We have no choice but to rebel until our demands are met.”