John Swinney urged to crackdown on plastic pollution 'fuelling climate crisis'
First Minister John Swinney has been called on to take urgent action to crackdown on plastic pollution.
In an open letter signed by 18 environmental and civil groups, the SNP leader has been told to do more to protect Scots from the effects of plastic.
The call comes as the final stages of international talks on the Global Plastics Treaty begin in Geneva.
The agreement calls on countries around the world to work together to end plastic pollution.
In the letter, the Scottish Government is urged to support the principles of the treaty and do more at home to tackle the root causes of plastic pollution.
It reads: 'The science is clear: the plastics crisis is damaging the planet and our health, and these impacts will worsen if production continues to increase.
' 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, and plastic production is fuelling the climate crisis.
'If left uncontrolled, it will consume up to one-third of the remaining Paris Agreement carbon budget by 2050, surpassing the energy and transportation sectors.'
The letter says much of the plastic use in Scotland is 'unnecessary', designed for single use and often not recyclable.
It adds: 'People see the impact of plastic litter and thrown away products in their daily lives and support for change is high.
'Measures in place today, such as recycling and selective product bans, have proven insufficient in addressing the plastic crisis.
'Solutions must address the root cause of the crisis – how plastics are produced and sold.
'Only governments can hold producers and retailers to account for the harm created by their plastic products. Many of the actions required to achieve this can and must be taken at a devolved level.'
The letter calls on Swinney to take a range of actions such as setting clear targets to reduce plastic production and waste, including the exporting of waste. He is also urged to ban the burning of plastic in incinerators and fund research into the impact of plastics on people's health.
'The Scottish Government must step up action to reduce the impacts of plastic and protect the people of Scotland from its harms,' the letter said.
Signatories include Friends of the Earth Scotland, UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN), Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and Circular Communities Scotland.
Kim Pratt, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said ministers were 'failing' to take the action needed to prevent the harms caused by the plastics.
She said: 'Promises at an international level will only be meaningful if they are backed up with action at a local level. Industry-backed solutions, such as recycling, do not address the underlying cause of the plastics crisis – that there is too much plastic to begin with and more is being made every day. It doesn't have to be this way.
'The Global Plastics Treaty is an incredible opportunity internationally, and a chance for the Scottish Government to reset the way plastics are used in Scotland too. There are practical steps the Scottish Government should be taking today to halt the plastics crisis.
'These include immediately banning the burning of plastic waste, forcing companies to be responsible for cleaning the products they sell, and investing in reuse services.'
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: 'Scotland was the first part of the UK to implement a ban on some of the most problematic single-use plastic products and we continue to work with our partners to reduce as many sources of plastic pollution as possible and also to support the removal of rubbish from our seas and coastline.
'In addition, the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 increases the powers available to the Government to take action on waste in Scotland, and we are also progressing with international efforts to address major pollution sources such as plastic pellets, as well as supporting the removal of rubbish from our seas and beaches.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
4 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Trump's shock new tariff move could add $80 to Scottish products sold in the USA, says Parcelhero
Despite previously announcing that the US would keep its de minimis tariff threshold until July 2027, President Trump is now set to scrap it at the end of this month. That means all goods worth $800 or less entering the US from Scotland and the rest of the UK will no longer be exempt from US tariffs, says the international delivery expert Parcelhero. However, there are two hacks that will help senders avoid the worst impact of the new duties. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A shock decision by President Donald Trump means that America's $800 (£600) de minimis limit is set to be scrapped at the end of this month – that's two years earlier than previously announced. The unexpected acceleration of the axing of the USA's de minimis import threshold is likely to have a substantial impact on Scottish manufacturers and exporters of of 'low-value' goods to the US, warns the international delivery expert Parcelhero. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It says sellers across Scotland and the rest of the UK were already preparing for the worst, as the scrapping of America's de minimis limit was originally announced in President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) last month. However, that legislation stated that the de minimis tariff exemptions would not be repealed until July 1, 2027. The White House now says: 'President Trump is acting more quickly to suspend the de minimis exemption than the OBBBA requires, to deal with national emergencies and save American lives and businesses NOW.' Exports of products valued at under $800 from Scotland and the rest of the UK to the US will soon cost American consumers more, as the US is set to scrap its de minimis tariff exemptions at the end of the month. Parcelhero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: 'Many UK-based exporters of products valued at $800 and under will be taken by surprise by the change. So-called low-value packages will now be subject to the same country-specific tariffs as larger shipments. The sudden increase in the cost of British goods to US consumers could result in UK exporters ending up with warehouses full of unsold items. The only alternative is to absorb the new charges themselves, rather than pass them on to their US customers. 'To give an idea of the scale of the potential impact of the axing of the de minimis limit, in the four quarters leading to the end of Q1, 2025, the UK exported £61.4bn-worth of goods to the US. While this total includes expensive products such as cars, it also includes millions of pounds worth of goods valued at $800 or less, which are about to be clobbered by tariffs for the first time. 'For example, last year the UK exported $138.87m-worth of apparel (including knitted and crocheted clothing), $109.37m-worth of ceramics and $256.75m-worth of toys, games and sports equipment to the US. Most of these products will have had a value of under $800. From the end of this month, these goods will all face new tariffs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The UK is one of the few countries to have reached a trade deal with the US. The terms of the UK's deal are reasonably favourable compared to the tariffs many other nations face. Under the terms of the deal, UK-produced goods now attract a 10% tariff when they arrive in the US whereas, currently, Brazil is facing tariffs of up to 50%. Good deal or not, however, the fact is that all lower-priced UK-produced goods will potentially cost US shoppers more from 29 August than they pay today. 'The new Executive Order states: 'The duty-free de minimis exemption shall no longer apply to any shipment of articles… regardless of value, country of origin, mode of transportation, or method of entry. Accordingly, all such shipments… shall be subject to all applicable duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges.' 'At the very least, that means that, if the UK's trade deal rate of 10% is applied, a UK-made coat costing $800, for example, will cost US shoppers an extra $80 (£60), which could make all the difference between whether they purchase a UK-made product or one manufactured in the US. That may not be the only applicable tariff, however, as it could also attract a further tax depending on the item's tariff code. 'Parcelhero is also concerned that, at least initially, a potential blanket $80 duty might be applied to every package of $800 or less arriving in the US from the UK by post. That's because the new Executive Order's small print states that packages shipped through the 'international postal system' will face EITHER a duty equal to the tariff rate applicable to the country of origin of the product (which in the UK's case would be 10% of the package's value) OR a 'specific' duty ranging from $80 to $200 per package. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This 'specific' duty could mean a tariff of $80 will be slapped on all packages sent by international mail from the UK, regardless of whether they are worth $1 or $800. That's because a specific tariff of $80 is being applied to all parcels arriving by international post for all countries whose tariff rate is under 16% (a category which includes the UK). 'Believe it or not, this $80 fee could be a lot worse. A blanket $160 will be charged on packages arriving by post if the tariff rate of the country it originates from is between 16-25%, and $200 if the tariff rate of the country the package is posted from is above 25%. 'Why are these steep charges being applied so indiscriminately? When the de minimis limit was first cancelled for goods from China back in February, it resulted in US Customs chaos, the suspension of USPS deliveries of all packages from China and significant backlogs at airport cargo facilities. This blanket duty rate is presumably a way to avoid a similar logjam at the end of August as parcels will only face a specific duty based on the country they were mailed from. 'The good news is that Parcelhero has identified two ways senders can bypass some of the worst impacts of the ending of the de minimis limit. The first is to use an international courier service, rather than traditional postal services such as the Post Office. Using a courier bypasses the 'international postal system' blanket $80 specific duty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our second hack applies particularly to individual senders, rather than businesses. American citizens can continue to receive bona fide gifts valued at $100 (around £75) or less duty-free. So, providing a UK-shipped parcel's documentation specifies the item is a gift and is worth less than the $100 limit, it will escape all new tariffs. 'One final piece of advice applies particularly to overseas traders considering exporting to the US via the UK, in order to qualify for the UK's preferential tariff rate. Don't try it! All goods that are considered to have been transshipped to avoid applicable duties will face a punitive 40% tariff.
Telegraph
5 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The SNP has just lost their most effective candidate for independence
She says her decision not to stand for re-election next year is for domestic reasons and her desire to see more of her family. This means, sadly, in a Parliament not exactly stuffed with talent, there is no doubt that Kate Forbes will be much missed. Scotland's Deputy First Minister is one of the few talents – perhaps the only one – on that lacklustre SNP front bench. And if it really was a party with genuine ambitions and a determination to do the best for their country, it would have elected her in 2023 when she stood as a candidate for the vacancy caused by Nicola Sturgeon's resignation. That was the opportunity for the SNP to put Sturgeon's egotistical madness and her determination to become an international figure behind it and elect someone with a fresh outlook on the genuine priorities of Scottish people. Issues such as the appalling gap in educational standards between rich and poor Scots, the shocking NHS waiting times, and Europe's worst drug death record. But there wasn't really much of a chance of her party electing her. They knew she was the best candidate, with a stack of academic achievements and a genuine appeal to a wide cross-section of Scottish society. But as the voting system was announced, and after Sturgeon made it plain that she wanted her disciple Humza Yousaf as her successor, the die was cast. And just to rub salt in the wound, no sooner had Yousaf been sworn in as First Minister than he offered Forbes the post of rural affairs minister that she was quick to reject – it was a significant demotion from her the post as finance minister. But many SNP members had another – and to my mind disreputable – reason for withholding their support for Forbes becoming SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland: her religious beliefs. She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland. As a result, many SNP members rejected her views on gay marriage, abortion and trans rights. And she was further criticised for saying that having children outside of marriage was 'wrong'. However, she insisted that she would have been 'haunted' had she not answered questions about her religious beliefs. Her defeat by Yousaf saw his continuation of the disastrous Sturgeon policy agenda, but when he resigned she declined to contest the leadership, leaving the way clear for John Swinney to be elected unopposed. However, she accepted Swinney's offer as Deputy First Minister but while he tried to unpick Sturgeon's unpopular legacy, her presence – and perhaps even influence – on the national political stage appeared to diminish. At this stage we're left with the public explanation for her decision not to contest next year's Scottish Parliament election, but an intelligent politician such as she has shown herself to be would surely have been able to see clearly how the land lies with her party. It is essentially returning to the bare bones of its political agenda, and has decided to focus its campaign next year almost entirely on independence. As Ms Forbes will understand, there's nothing else for the nationalists to try and 'sell' to the voters; certainly not its education and NHS policies. And there appears to be very little support for breaking up Britain in this troubled world. As is often the case in Scottish politics, Scottish Labour's deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, summed up the situation best. In offering Kate Forbes her best wishes she added: 'Kate Forbes was the future once – but now, like many of her counterparts in the SNP, she can see the writing on the wall. The truth is this is a tired government with no vision and no ideas.'
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Forbes calls for change for parents in politics after decision to quit
Scotland's Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has called for a change in how parents in Holyrood are supported after she announced her decision to stand down. Ms Forbes will not seek re-election in the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency next year, bringing to an end – for at least the next election cycle – one of the most promising political careers in Scotland. In a letter to First Minister John Swinney, Ms Forbes said she did not want to 'miss any more of the precious early years of family life'. Ms Forbes – who has a two-year-old daughter and three step-daughters – pushed the Scottish Parliament to be better for those with young families working in politics. The parliament was viewed as a more family-friendly version of the Westminster legislature, but recent years have seen a number of women step back, citing the pressures on young parents. Former Tory leader Ruth Davidson, former minister Aileen Campbell and MSPs Jenny Marra and Gail Ross were among those who were outspoken in their thinking for standing down at the 2021 election. 'I'm not the first and, unless anything changes, I'm unlikely to be the last,' Ms Forbes said on BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday. 'So many parents know the pressures and the guilt of balancing all of this, and I'm totally in the same camp as them.' Ms Forbes said there was the added stress of one of the country's furthest north constituencies, meaning an 'eight hours return trip to my place of work' and sometimes 'a minimum three to four hours drive across the constituency before the day even begins'. 'There are some areas I think the Parliament could do more and do better,' the Deputy First Minister said. She pointed to the Holyrood creche – a service which was seen as a sign of the more family-friendly ethos – which is only available for three hours per day, three days a week. 'I don't know anybody who only works three hours per day, so that doesn't make sense,' she said. 'I'm certainly not advocating for the job to be any less demanding or any less all-consuming, it has to be by its very nature of representing people. 'But if we can't even get some of the basic support right, then it will always be difficult for mums and dads.' Despite the decision announced on Monday, the Deputy First Minister did not completely close the door to a political return, saying 'maybe' she would consider such a move in 20 years. Since taking over as finance secretary in 2020 after the resignation of her predecessor Derek Mackay following a scandal involving messages he sent to a 16-year-old boy, Ms Forbes has been marked for leadership. She would ultimately lose the race for the SNP's top job after Nicola Sturgeon's resignation in 2023 in a contest marred by criticisms of her views on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. Following the resignation of Humza Yousaf last year, Ms Forbes was handed the role of kingmaker, being the one to decide if the party would be forced to go through with a potentially damaging leadership contest, which she ultimately decided against in favour of a pact with First Minister John Swinney, becoming his deputy. The, sometimes ugly, criticisms levelled at the Deputy First Minister, she said, were 'in the past' as she continued to voice her support for the SNP and Scottish independence.
