Fight for justice goes on

Targets that must now be met with firm action, to protect people and planet from the real challenges that comes with runaway climate change, 
that cannot be ignored any longer.

As much as climate justice is about protecting our only planet, it is also about justice for the people and 
communities who are already feeling the impacts of climate change.

Communities across the globe are already facing the kind of sea level rises and flooding that drives people from their homes, displacing whole communities, 
and tampers with food production.

Challenges that no country can afford to ignore, that will undoubtedly impact on us all in one way or another - as we live in an ever globalised world and economy.

We got some warm words about temperature levels from the Paris agreement, but no concrete action.

In order to have a decent chance of reaching that 1.5°C target, we need to keep at least 80 percent of known fossil 
fuels in the ground, and 
urgently halt the 
exploration and extraction of new sources.

Whilst our UK government signed up to the agreement, at home they continue to pursue fracking and other dirty 
energy policies, severely undermining any agreements made.

It is clear that the fight for climate justice does not end in Paris. It is up to us, the people, to keep our governments in check and held to account around the commitments made in Paris.

Without legally binding requirements to meet the promises made, it could be all to easy for our governments to pay lip service to the agreements made.

Scottish Greens will continue to hold UK and Scottish Governments to account, pushing for divestment away from fossil fuels; and an outright ban on fracking and underground coal gasification; leading the way in showing what’s possible in creating a sustainable, fossil free, energy future for Scotland.

Scotland’s response should acknowledge the direction of travel signaled in Paris.

We are well placed to make the switch to clean technology to sustain our economy and our society.

Scottish Government must deliver serious investment in the low carbon infrastructure our country needs, creating the jobs of the future.

Energy efficient housing, better public transport and support for community and publicly owned renewables are credible alternatives and responses that Greens 
will continue to push for to get our climate targets on track and secure a sustainable future.

Zara Kitson is an organiser of So Say Scotland and has previously fought election campaigns for the Scottish Greens in Dunfermline and Glasgow.