We Don't Care About Our Own Emissions Target

I meant to write this the other day but I've been ill, so forgive the tardiness!

Photo by noraxx

Did you know Scotland has a 42% by 2020 emissions target?

Last week, First Minister Alex Salmond was glad-handing anyone in Copenhagen who would come near him (some wouldn't) and telling them all about Scotland's wonderful 42% emissions target.

That's 42%, by the way.

It's brilliant, isn't it? 42%, and the government is fully committed.

Actually, no, I'll rephrase that. The government should be committed. To an asylum.

Because they seem to think that in order to achieve that 42% we need more roads, like the new 28-mile long Aberdeen Bypass which was approved on Monday. We need new motorways, like the M74 extension which is cutting a swathe of destruction through the centre of Glasgow. We need new coal-fired power stations, like the proposed new Hunterston facility.

We need less public transport, like the trams in Edinburgh. Or the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. Or indeed the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link. And just how long is it going to take to rebuild the Waverley Line?

42%. I'm surprised Salmond could look anyone in the eye in Copenhagen last week.