Climate action can support rural communities for years to come
Supporting farmers to switch to climate friendly methods, will revitalise rural and island communities for years to come, say the Scottish Greens.
Restoring native woodlands, thousands of hectares of peatland, and agreeing community led plans for maritime protections, will all be pivotal in ensuring communities play a role, they said.
Scottish Greens rural affairs spokesperson Ariane Burgess MSP said:
“From Shetland to Selkirk, the expertise, work and lifestyle of people in rural communities have a vital part to play in reducing our carbon footprint.
“When I spoke to many of them while travelling in my region this summer, I was encouraged to hear just how open and willing they are to embrace change with the proper support to help tackle the climate and nature crisis
“Further expanding our iconic Atlantic rainforest and ancient Caledonian pinewoods for example as announced in the Programme for Government is not just something for now, but a living legacy for future generations and like peatland, cannot be overstated in terms of their importance.
“All these things, alongside progress on animal protections such as the proposed ban on snares and action on caged birds, and consulting about a phasing out of farrowing crates for pigs, means our natural environment is stronger and more protected than ever thanks to the work we are doing.
“Sometimes numbers like the £550m of support being made available are just too large to comprehend, but it means the farmers who will start to receive payments from this September can start taking action to tackle climate change, cut emissions and restore nature on their lands.
“That is why I am so pleased that a Scottish Government with Greens at its heart is putting these bold reforms on land use front and centre of its work, so we can make sure our rural and island communities in particular can have a resurgence.”
- Find out more: 2023-24 Programme for Government
