Section:GDN 1N PaGe:14 Edition Date:190827 Edition:01 Zone: Sent at 26/8/2019 18:55 cYanmaGentaYellowb
- The Guardian Tuesday 27 August 2019
(^14) National
Ban petrol and diesel
in cities, says Scottish
climate crisis coalition
Severin Carrell
Scotland editor
A coalition of climate campaign-
ers and business organisations have
called for a ban on all petrol and diesel
vehicles in Scottish cities as part of a
multi billion-pound strategy to reduce
carbon emissions.
The Climate Emergency Response
Group (CERG), a coalition of 19 envi-
ronmental groups, civic institutions,
companies and business groups, said
the Scottish government had to sig-
nifi cantly speed up and strengthen its
responses to the threats posed by the
climate crisis.
That includes focus ing the £11bn
spent by the Scottish government
every year on buying goods and ser-
vices that reduce carbon emissions.
Nicola Sturgeon, the fi rst minister,
has agreed that 2045 will be Scotland’s
new net-zero target for CO 2 emissions ,
with ministers due to set out more
detailed proposals in coming weeks.
Claire Mack, chief executive of
Scottish Renewables , an industry
body for energy companies, said: “We
are already witnessing the eff ects of
climate change and now is the moment
when we must accelerate our response
if we are to avoid the worst eff ects and
secure the many social and economic
benefi ts of moving to a climate neu-
tral economy.”
The group, which includes Edin-
burgh University , the Energy Saving
Trust and a landowners’ body, Scottish
Land & Estates, has issued a 12-point
plan that includes a ban on petrol
and diesel cars in all city centres by
2030; establishing four low-carbon
Frances Perraudin
They could buy a Maserati and a holi-
day in Monaco, but the latest National
Lottery winners say a Skoda and Skeg-
ness will do.
Vicky Mitchell, 42, and her partner
of 18 years, Adam Fry, 38, have won
£10,000 every month for the next 30
years, the top prize in the National Lot-
tery’s Set for Life game.
But the couple told a press confer-
ence near their home in Halifax, West
Yorkshire, they would not be chang-
ing their plans for caravanning in the
A Skoda will do
just fi ne, insist
lottery winners
city investment deals; a £100m fund
to decarbonise farming; regional
land-use plans to maximise the coun-
tryside’s role in cutting CO 2 emissions;
and a public information campaign to
promote climate-friendly diets with
less meat and dairy.
The UK government expects to
be chosen as a co-host of next year’s
COP26 global climate talks. It has rec-
ommended Glasgow hosts the summit
later in the year, adding to pressure
on both the Scottish and UK govern-
ments to intensify their eff orts on the
climate crisis.
The Scottish government is spend-
ing tens of millions of pounds on
various road and rail electrifi cation
projects and on energy effi ciency, but
has yet to deliver any cuts in CO 2 emis-
sions from transport or farming, while
bus use is falling.
Its ministers have refused to sup-
port calls from the Scottish Green
party for urban speed limits to be cut
to 20mph across Scotland, claiming it
was unpopular with voters. Sturgeon
has, however, abandoned plans to cut
aviation taxes and her government’s
support for wind power has resulted
in Scotland becoming a net exporter
of zero-carbon electricity.
The climate emergency response
group also includes organisations with
a business interest in promoting low-
carbon energy, such as the forestry
body Con For, and Star Renewable
Energy, which makes heat pumps.
Lincolnshire seaside town next year.
“You can’t beat a caravan holiday with
the kids. They love it. We’ve already
booked for next year,” Mitchell said,
though she added she also hoped
to travel to European cities such as
Budapest.
Fry said the family car was a 14-year-
old Vauxhall Agila which was “falling
to bits”. Mitchell said: “I Googled ‘best
family car’ and the Skoda [Citigo] came
up as best family car. So, I’ve seen a lit-
tle one that’ll be enough .”
The part-time administration assis-
tant explained how the prize was her
third lottery win in a week. Having
won £10 on the Thunderball draw,
she re invested the cash and won £
fi ve days later on the Set for Life game.
She then spent the last £1.50 left in her
online account on the 12 August draw.
“I was half asleep when I saw the email
and thought: ‘Great, it’s another fi ver .’”
She said the money would provide
fi nancial security for her two boys.
“It’s still sinking in, but whereas before
I would see a jumper for one of my sons
and think that I couldn’t aff ord it, I can
now just buy it.” The couple said they
planned to continue working, but were
considering moving from their two-
bed terrace to a bigger property once
they had saved a deposit.
Fry said the money would allow
him to pay off family debts and that
he would continue to account for every
penny of their fi nances on his three-
month rolling spreadsheet.
▲ Vicky Mitchell and her partner,
Adam Fry, celebrate the lottery win
‘Now is the [time to be]
moving to a climate
neutral economy’
Claire Mack
CEO, Scottish Renewables
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