This Campaign has now finished
| When it ran | 2015 - 2016 |
| What we did | We organised a series of activities and resources to help people talk to their candidates about climate change issues and to better understand what different political parties had to say about it. We published an alternative manifesto outlining some of the key policies we wanted political parties to commit to in their own election manifestos. |
| What changed | Climate change was on the agenda during the election campaign and parties included in their manifestos some of the priority issues that people across Scotland had told their election candidates they wanted them to commit to. |
The 2016 Scottish elections were an important moment for thousands of people across the country to remind political party leaders that they want to see the next Scottish Government turn climate ambition into climate action.
By 2016, all parties in the Scottish Parliament were broadly supportive of action on climate change. In 2009, this had become a concrete commitment, set down in Scottish law, in the form of the Scottish Climate Change Act.
Meanwhile, at the UN climate talks in Paris at the end of 2015, political leaders from across the world had agreed to take more significant and more urgent action on climate change. It wasn’t enough on its own, but it continued to push countries – particularly those who are less keen on reducing their emissions – to confront this most pressing issue.
Scotland’s political parties now need to set out new actions that will put our nation firmly on its way to becoming a low carbon economy. The transition to a greener economy can kick-start jobs, cut emissions, and help tackle social issues like fuel poverty. The consequences of the decisions that the next Scottish Government takes will stay with us for years to come, and that’s why Scotland’s political parties need to know that tackling climate change is a priority.
Here are some of the activities we did as part of this campaign:
Live election debate
Broadcaster David Torrance hosted an evening debate on climate change with political party spokespeople. It was broadcast live online with questions and participation from across the country. Watch a recording of the debate.
Our alternative manifesto
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland pulled together a manifesto of some of the key transformative decisions for the next Scottish Government. Read our alternative manifesto for the Scottish elections in 2016.
Manifesto bike ride
We hand-delivered a copy of our manifesto to political parties’ HQs.
Briefing for talking to election candidates
We put together a briefing to help members of the public talk to their election candidates about climate change issues.
We also campaigned in the run-up to the 2011 Scottish Elections.
SCCS’ election campaign was directed towards the five political parties at that time already represented in the Scottish Parliament.
