WEIR HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNS IN EUROPEAN CLIMATE DEBATE

 

Speaking following a debate in the House of Commons today (Wednesday) on the European Union (Amendment) BIll as it relates to climate change, SNP Westminster Climate Change spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, has raised concerns over the scope of the debate.

 

Mr Weir said:

 

“We cannot discuss climate change in a bubble. Whether we seek to reduce carbon emissions by sixty or by eighty per cent, the resulting economy will be very different to that which we have today.

 

“There are consequences to all actions to reduce climate change, and we must seek to strike the correct balances to take the people with us. If we do not do so then we will fail to tackle climate change.

 

“The debate about biofuels is a classic example. If we simply reject out of hand all alternatives to fossil fuels then people will give up. Similarly, European moves on emissions trading and renewable energy will lead to price increases, and at a time that fuel poverty is rising we cannot simply ignore this.

 

“Government must strike a balance that prevents the most vulnerable paying the price of combating climate change.”