SNP/Green Government reheats 12-year-old transport PR stunt in return for ditching climate targets

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today said it was “treating the climate with contempt” for the SNP/Green Government to delete Scotland’s climate change targets in exchange for a promise on transport that they first announced at a PR stunt 12 years ago.

SNP/Green ministers claimed that they would offer a “new package of climate action measures” which included a commitment to “explore a new national integrated ticketing system for public transport in Scotland”, with a promise to encourage operators to participate.

However, Nicola Sturgeon first promised a Oyster-style card for smart travel in October 2012, with a promise to work with transport operators.

The ‘new measures’ also included a commitment to explain how car kilometres will be reduced by 20% by 2030 – another “world-leading commitment” first announced in 2020 that the Climate Change Committee has repeatedly observed is “missing” a strategy.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“The SNP/Green Government is treating the climate with contempt by scrapping Scotland’s targets in return for promises which they held a PR stunt on 12 years ago.

“It’s humiliating that this government is still no closer to delivering integrated transport in a manner that has been operating in London since 2003.

“A vague list of 16 reviews, consultations and plans doesn’t make up for missing and then ditching Scotland’s climate targets. The very fact these supposed new measures reheat 12-year-old proposals is proof of inaction and why they are in this mess in the first place.

“The SNP/Green Government has resorted to greenwashing because it is out of ideas, incapable of getting the basics right and has been in power too long.”