SNP accuse Tories and Labour of 'ignoring' climate change after freak 20C Highland January heatwave
The SNP have claimed the two big Westminster parties are “ignoring the realities of climate change” after a shock Highland heatwave - in January.
The country recorded a record-breaking UK winter temperature of 19.9C on Sunday in Achfary, the northwest Highlands - making it hotter than Rome and the Cote d’Azur.
The Nats environment spokesman at Westminster, Steven Bonnar, blasted both the Tories and Labour for not doing enough to prevent climate catastrophe.
It comes as a new report from the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) hit out at the Prime Minister’s “mixed messages” on the environment and his failure to meet green obligations.
And Labour has been criticised for reportedly u-turning on its commitment to invest £28billion a year on net zero projects to spark a green industrial revolution.
Scotland broke the UK January temperature record twice in a day - with 19.6C logged in nearby Kinlochewe before the mercury hit a stunning 19.9C in Achfary on January 28.
The bizarre temperatures are partly explained by the Foehn effect, a weather phenomenon which causes the warming and drying of air around mountains.
But never before has it caused temperatures to climb so high at this time of year, smashing previous January records of 18.3C in Inchmarlo and Aboyne in 2003.
And it follows record 31C heat in parts of Spain in recent days - with unseasonably warm temperatures elsewhere around the world.
Bonnar told the Record: “Abnormal and record high temperatures in January should set alarm bells ringing.
“But if things are to continue as they have been the last few years Westminster will simply remain ignorant to the realities of climate change.
“Labour and the Tories should be ashamed of their response to the climate emergency which has consisted of nothing more than dithering and back-pedalling.
“If we’re to properly tackle the challenges we face we must start now.”
The Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill MP added: “The Tories in Westminster have dithered and delayed on targets while Labour have altogether scrapped key climate plans.
“These aren’t the actions of parties that are taking their obligations to the planet seriously, and just show how Westminster can’t be trusted to lead this fight.”
Despite Scotland’s more ambitious target to go net zero by 2045 - rather than the UK’s 2050 aim - the SNP-Green government has not escaped criticism from groups like the CCC.
The expert climate advisers previously warned Scotland is well “off track” and missing seven of its 11 key eco targets.
In a new report yesterday, the CCC took aim at Sunak’s government over the PM’s plan to “max out” North Sea oil and gas and water down measures to phase out petrol cars and gas boilers.
It comes after world leaders signed off on an agreement at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai last month to “transition away” from fossil fuels.
Experts at the CCC said: “The international perception of the UK’s climate ambition suffered from mixed messages following announcements on new fossil fuel developments and the prime minister’s speech to soften some net zero policies.
A Tory government spokesman said:“As the first major economy to halve its emissions, the UK is leading the charge to accelerate global action on climate change - including recently helping to secure the global agreement at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels.
“We have some of the world’s most ambitious legally binding targets, and have over delivered on every carbon budget to date, with the UK now accounting for one per cent of annual global emissions.
Labour was also asked for comment.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week refused to use the £28billion-a-year borrowing figure previously pledged to invest in the net zero transition, blaming the "dire" state of the UK's public finances compared to when the promise was first made by Keir Starmer in 2021. But she said the party's flagship "green prosperity" industrial plan still remained a key part of their platform.