A leading member of the Kirk has urged Westminster “not to turn away” from a commitment to tackle climate change.
Pauline Edmiston, vice convener of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council, fears progress to moving the UK towards a low carbon economy could be put at risk after the UK Government’s changed to renewable energy policy and the closure of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc).
The Church and Society Council has requested a meeting with Greg Clarke, UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), to discuss the Church’s concerns.
The pronouncement comes in the wake of the publication of a damning House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee report on the renewable energy sector in Scotland.
MPs have said Scotland has suffered a “disproportionate impact” from the UK Government’s subsidies cuts with the axe falling “particularly heavily” on the onshore wind industry.
Ms Edmiston said: “In the aftermath of the Brexit there are worrying indications that the UK Government appears to be turning away from its leading role in climate change.
“I am concerned that the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee report highlights confusion and uncertainty in UK Government renewable energy policy and the closure of the Department of Energy and Climate Change worryingly suggests a down grading of UK Government commitment to action on climate change”.
Ms Edmiston said the Kirk’s partner churches around the world continue to reiterate that climate change is one of the biggest causes of environmental change and puts at risk the lives and wellbeing of people in countless communities in countries across the continents.
“We have to redouble our efforts, not seek to avoid our responsibilities,” she added.
“This is a particular worry for Scotland where good progress towards a low carbon economy is put at risk.
“As the Church of Scotland we are particularly concerned about the impact on people living in poverty.
“Our recent report to the General Assembly set out how action on climate change can help to lift people out of poverty but that this requires action by government .
“We need the UK Government to act on this, not to turn away because of lack of commitment.
“We have written to Greg Clarke, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to raise our concerns and asking for a meeting.”
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