Achi news desk-
He confirmed that the target, which was included in legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2019, is being removed.
The move has caused a furious reaction among Greens activists who will question Mr Harvie, along with MPs Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay in an online meeting tonight.
It comes at a time when the Bute House Agreement, which saw the Greens come into government with the SNP in August 2021, is already under pressure.
“Many members are extremely disappointed and increasingly frustrated with the direction of the Scottish Government and the leadership of the Scottish Greens,” a senior member told The Herald.
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Ms McAllan outlined a “new package of climate action measures”, including setting up a climate assembly and tripling the number of charging points available for electric vehicles, in a bid to encourage more people to switch away from petrol and diesel.
However, the measures do not appear to have mollified Scottish Green members.
“Today’s climate announcements seem completely inadequate to the challenge ahead and many of them will be controlled by SNP ministers,” the member told Yr Herald.
“Many Green members don’t trust what the SNP is promising, especially when they didn’t consult us on the council tax freeze.”
They added: “One of the reasons why we have had to reduce these targets is that the SNP have been in power for 17 years and they have not taken the necessary steps.
“Now we are in government and our ministers are sitting with egg on their faces because we have not succeeded in pushing [the SNP] further and faster.”
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Ms McAllan’s statement came hours after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde suspended the use of puberty blockers for new patients under the age of 18 with gender dysphoria.
The member said: “Members have been discussing the [climate] today’s announcement on internal channels and the overwhelming feeling of disappointment and frustration.
“It has been a particularly difficult day for members because instead of trans health care being pushed forward and moved forward we are now seeing care being restricted.
“So the combination of dropping the targets announcement and the Sandyford announcement has focused a lot on the thought that the spirit of the Bute House Agreement may not be kept.
“And I definitely think that members will challenge our leadership tonight on this. Many people think that the leadership needs to wake up.”
They continued: “Some members think that we can achieve more of our party’s goals by attracting the support of the opposition parties for a minority SNP government than we can by being in government?”
Environmental groups and trade unions were highly critical of McAllan’s announcement.
Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns, Imogen Dow, said it was “the worst environmental decision in the history of the Scottish Parliament.”
Ms Dow said that instead of a “substantial response and more action”, the Scottish Government had “delivered a weak package of reheated ideas, many of which were already promised years ago and never delivered.”
RSPB Scotland said the decision was “deeply concerning.”
“Future generations will struggle to understand how our politicians could not do more,” they added.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Scottish Government abandoning its emissions target is the latest setback in a growing list of failed green policies. The constant inability to meet its emissions targets is inextricably linked with green jobs itself. Government ministers need a reality check.
“The fact is that you cannot meet emissions targets unless there is a coherent energy strategy in place and government ministers at Holyrood and Westminster have completely failed to deliver that.”
In a press release the Scottish Greens at Holyrood welcomed the new measures put in place by the Scottish Government to reach the 2045 target.
He expressed no anger or frustration at abandoning the 2030 target.
“Tackling road congestion, installing a massive network of 24,000 electric vehicle charging points and bringing in integrated ticketing to make travel on buses, trains, subways and ferries easier are among a host of new measures announced today to increase action on the climate crisis.
“Establishing a new Climate Assembly to build public understanding and engagement on the transition to net zero, creating greener jobs for workers in Mossmorran and Grangemouth, and making public subsidies for farming conditional on measures to understand and reduce emissions among other measures. to present,” he said.
“New climate legislation has also been proposed to introduce a system of five-year carbon budgets designed to put Scotland on track to reach its net zero goal by 2045 as recommended by the UK’s Climate Change Committee .
“Efforts to get political leaders from England, Wales and Northern Ireland to join Scotland as part of the Four Nations climate response group and a carbon tax on large estates, a review of business taxes to encourage green investment, and an effort from the new development and implementation of air departure tax is also being brought forward.”
Scottish Greens climate spokesman Mark Ruskell MSP said today’s announcement would see Scotland move “from targets to action”.
He insisted that the Greens in government were making a difference and that the Scottish Government was committed to tackling climate change.
“Scotland is halfway to net zero, and at the forefront of the global renewable energy industry, but the hard work is yet to come after years of missed opportunities,” he said.
“This package increases action across some of the most difficult areas to reduce emissions, and will give people and businesses the support they need to cut emissions and build a green, net-zero economy.
“I am very pleased that the workforce in Mossmorran will be able to jointly design a plan to build a greener and cleaner industry, while we will also introduce support and incentives for farming and establish a Climate Assembly so that everyone has a voice for our climate future. .”
He added: “Across the world and in Scotland decision-makers have delayed the action we need for decades, while the climate crisis has intensified. Today’s announcements see us move from targets to action.
“The Scottish Greens in government make the difference. There is no doubt that this Scottish Government is committed to tackling the biggest challenge of our time – in stark contrast to the hostility of the Westminster political machine to climate action.”
