Dumfries and Galloway Council may not achieve its net zero carbon targets by 2025 as originally planned [6988d89c]. Auditors found that the council was not clear on whether it was still working towards the target. A cross-party working group is now considering whether the 2025 target is realistic and may propose a new target of 2030 or 2035. The council's plan was criticized for not addressing inequalities and climate emergencies. The council's audit committee discussed the need to prioritize these issues [6988d89c].
Conservative former minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has called for net-zero targets to be postponed 'indefinitely' [cf055b59]. Energy minister Graham Stuart pointed to the science and evidence of a climate emergency. The Government has a target to decarbonise the power grid by 2035 and cut emissions by nearly four-fifths by 2050. Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said there is an ongoing need for fossil fuel gas in the electricity mix. DUP MP Sammy Wilson branded the net-zero policy as 'madness' and damaging to the economy. Green Party MP Caroline Lucas criticized the power station plans for risking climate targets and relying on expensive gas imports [cf055b59].
During a Holyrood debate, MSPs urged ministers to work with council chiefs to introduce standardised bin collections across Scotland. Edward Mountain, Convener of Holyrood’s Net Zero Committee, said: “It should not be too much to ask to have the same system of coloured bins across Scotland – it could certainly help reduce confusion and increase compliance.” However, Lorna Slater, the minister for bins and other green stuff, rejected the idea. The article criticizes Slater's approach to the Circular Economy Bill, calling it a missed opportunity and a waste and litter bill. The author suggests that Scotland should return to a more sustainable way of living, like in the 1970s, by shopping locally and reducing waste. The article concludes by questioning why commenting on The Herald is only available to subscribers [4872a694].
The five Alliance Councillors on Newry Mourne and Down Council expressed their delight following the decision by Council management to finally bring forward plans to develop PV farms on two of their redundant landfill sites in Aughnagun and Drumnakelly. The investment is expected to generate a net cash flow of ÂŁ250,000pa in the first year and pay for itself in 5 years, providing a ÂŁ400,000 income for the Council thereafter. This is one of the 10 'Green Economy' projects Alliance has been campaigning for since 2019. Newcastle's Councillor Jill Trueman stated that the project is equivalent to reducing rates by half a percent and there are many other sites that Alliance has identified for PV farms that could raise up to ÂŁ3 million pounds per annum in savings or additional revenues. MLA Patrick Brown congratulated Alliance's Council team for pushing through this project over the last 5 years. Rowallane Councillor Tierna Kelly mentioned that this project will transform expensive to maintain brownfield legacy waste dumps into income streams that can help reduce the pressure to increase rates. The Council is also planning to install Tesla-style battery farms in this waste-dump investment project, which is likely to multiply the financial benefit threefold. The project demonstrates how the 'Green Economy' can deliver decarbonisation of power profitably to produce cheap energy locally and boost the economy with local jobs. [2d1274e8].
Campaign group Save Greater Manchester’s Greenbelt is taking legal action over controversial plans to build thousands of new homes on greenbelt land in Greater Manchester. The project called Places for Everyone aims to build 175,000 homes in total, along with industrial sites, on both brownfield and greenbelt land. Nine of the 10 boroughs in Greater Manchester have signed up to the plan, with Stockport opting out. Around 20,000 houses are still planned for greenbelt areas. The campaign group believes there is enough brownfield land to build all the homes the region needs and insists there is 'no requirement' to use the greenbelt. The group has issued a pre-action protocol letter and is fundraising for the legal challenge [4691e8b6].
Sinn FĂ©in candidate Barry Campion believes Longford needs to improve public transport infrastructure. He describes the current public transport as 'poor' and states that the road infrastructure in Longford falls behind the rest of the country, making it difficult for businesses to move goods efficiently. He highlights issues with the N4 and N55 roads, the lack of funding in the rail network, and the dangerous condition of the R198 road. Campion calls for reliable frequent buses and major upgrades or replacements for dangerous roads. He emphasizes the need to reduce car usage and take real action on road safety [47671263].
Families in North Lanarkshire are planning a protest against the reduction in free school transport provision. The North Lanarkshire School Transport Action Group will hold a demonstration outside the council's headquarters on May 21. This will be their third public protest, following a gathering of parents and pupils in March and a three-mile walk by Bargeddie residents to demonstrate their concerns. The council is changing eligibility thresholds for free school transport, which will impact around 3,000 students. The changes will take effect this summer for high-school pupils and in August 2025 for primary pupils [4106d936].