Posted on behalf of William.
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Hi Folks,

I attended the above evening course run by WDM and WWF last Thursday, held in the Quaker meeting house in Edinburgh.

There were at least 50 of us and all very passionate.

It started by stressing the urgency of the situation - that if things go on as at present the world will reach a point of no return in SEVEN years.

We are to visit our MSPs asking them to make sure that Scotland's Climate Change Bill is a strong one. It would be their opportunity to lead the World !!

There should be no diminution of the target of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. (Other sources say the target needs to be around 120% to be meaningful !) (The 80% reduction is on 1990 figures)

There must be annual statutory reductions of at least 3% from 2010. Without these statutory annual targets there is a risk of inaction in the early years (The bill as it currently stands suggests no start till 2015, and only minor reductions in years up to 2019, at which date the 3% figure will come into operation. Vide the SEVEN year warning mentioned above )

We should press very strongly for the inclusion of emissions from international aviation and shipping. (The inclusion of domestic figures are already included). Aviation is the fastestgrowing source of Gr House Gas Emissions in the UK. Since1990,UK CO2emissions from aviation have risen by 125 % and currently growing at 5-10% per year. Scotland's contribution to international aviation has tripled since 1990. It should be noted that no country in the world has plans to include aviation emissions , arguing that it is a complicated calculation , but there is an existing framework and this could be adopted.

On the matter of emissions from international shipping - this covers all the traffic that is trade. We have to ask ourselves - do we need all the goods that we currently import ?

Direct contact with one's MSP is 200 times more powerful than letter or email

When should you go - as soon as possible. The earlier the more influence you will have, particularly in the fist stage of the Bill January to April , with perhaps a 'reminder' nearer to the final voting time ( after their summer recess)

We have one Constituency MSP : Mary Mulligan
seven Regional Representatives : Fiona Hyslop (lives in Linlithgow)
Robin Harper (Green Party)
George Foulkes
Margo MacDonald
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Gavin Brown
Ian McKee

Find out their Biographies, Voting record , interest in Environment by going to their website

Keep focused during your meeting. Report on the outcome.

Finish by asking them what they are going to do about your concern.

Follow up.

All the best
William