Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Scottish Greens plan carbon ration cards for travel

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 11 March 2007
By MURDO MACLEOD
Motorists buying fuel and travellers buying airline tickets will be forced to use 'carbon ration cards' to prove they are not responsible for too much greenhouse gas under plans to be unveiled by the Scottish Greens tomorrow.
The plans will involve everyone in Scotland being given a personal allowance of about four tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, enough for an average annual car mileage of 12,000 miles. If they want to travel more, they will have to buy carbon credits
from others who do less driving or travelling by plane.

The Greens will also pledge to have annual Scottish targets for reduction of greenhouse gases, and to scrap all new motorways and airport expansion, and spend the cash on better public transport.

The carbon trading scheme will involve motorists and travellers being allocated carbon credits at the beginning of each year. When buying a product that generates carbon such as fuel or an airline ticket, or paying their electricity bill, consumers would have to show their carbon card to prove they had enough points.

A high-mileage driver or a frequent air traveller would have to choose between buying extra carbon credits from others or changing their lifestyle. Those who drive and fly less could make a tidy income from their green lifestyle by letting others buy their carbon credits.

The plan will be part of the Scottish Green manifesto for the Holyrood elections in May.



Page 1 of 1

 
1

Ted,

11/03/2007 01:19:56

Thank goodness at least one of the parties has a policy that's both fair and actually able to achieve reductions. The others talk a lot about the environment but have only got dodgy so-called "green taxes" and new roads to offer.

2

Bill, Dunblane,

11/03/2007 02:11:33

Whit a bunch o' numpties.

Back to the stoneage!

Scotland's population is FALLING - more roads CANNOT entice more travel, but CAN reduce pollution. A proper and complete motorway network would cut emissions dramatically. And reduce accidents.

But we SHOULD use more public transport - anyone tried to catch a train in the past few days?

3

Statsman,

11/03/2007 02:15:11

I wish these Green commies would shut up.

4

Androsthenes,

EDINBURGH 11/03/2007 02:28:11

This is also the plan of the Tories according to English newspapers.
The idea is that you should be allowed one short flight per year then bled with taxation on any other travel.
Naturally this favours London and the SE of England so it looks like a great wheeze - getting Scotland and North England to subsidise the so called "Home Counties" .....again.

5

Mallory,

11/03/2007 05:14:14

This is a sensible idea if you accept the connection between travel and CO2 emissions.

6

lisa,

perth 11/03/2007 07:39:30

I didn't know the Monster Raving Loony Party had changed its name.

7

Ted,

11/03/2007 09:17:18

OK, so what's a fairer way of reducing our emissions? Or Bill, etc, do you accept Mallory's strange idea that driving and flying might not actually emit carbon dioxide?

Would you rather something that just priced transport out of the reach of the middle classes and made it just for the rich? Or would you prefer to live in the ruined world that climate change will otherwise bring?

8

Cadgers,

Perth 11/03/2007 10:11:19

Does this mean I can sell what's left on my ration card to a 4x4 driver?

9

Hadrian,

11/03/2007 10:12:27

Face the facts, climate change happens -- with or without the human race and its stupid solutions.

Who gets the % rake-off for this doozey??

And apart from the unfortunate in Scotland who have to put up with this crap, who in the rest of this planet gives a damn?

Too many pigs in 'the global warming' trough getting research grants to expect honest science, a LOT of scientists dissagree; with evidence, but that aint scary, so they dont get publicity.

When the oil runs out (very shortly we are assured) the problem will solve itself. (Hope you all like walking!).

Like it or not, another ice age is in humanities future!
May be quicker than we think.

10

,

11/03/2007 10:34:08
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason: Scotsman Import, Original comment id: 434785, Article id was mapped to record!
11

11+failed,

the pans 11/03/2007 10:49:03

Should curtail attendance at "Global Warming" junkets!

12

Ted,

11/03/2007 10:56:09

#9, yes it does.. so those who don't pollute get subsidised by those who pollute more, and the national total available comes down gradually each year. I don't know about you, but I'd like to know I'd actually have a financial incentive to cause less CO2 emissions.

13

Stuart Doulgas,

Edinburgh 11/03/2007 10:56:44

What's the problem? The scheme doesn't punish people who are sensible and care about the planet and other people.

Aah, now I see the problem!

14

n/,

glenboggle 11/03/2007 11:12:38

Don't you just love that word "forced"?

That sums up the true colour of GREENS.

Want to know more. Get a copy of Channel 4's
The Great Global Warming Scandal" and all will be revealed. Wonder why the GREENS have been ever so silent since it was shown?
Too many INCONVENIENT TRUTHS I'll warrant!

15

Jack the lad,

11/03/2007 11:32:47

98% of the worlds pollution is caused by 2 countries China and the USA. The UK already has a smaller carbon footprint than most westernised countries. I agree we, in the UK and Scotland, should be concerned and do what we can to preserve the planet. However in the bigger picture what is being proposed is nothing more than extra taxation that would do nothing for the environment but increase the coffers of the government.

The Scottish Greens seem to be made up form a rather select group of English graduates who appear never to have had a real job. I imagine they saw the Scottish parliament as an easy way to get elected. If they stood for the UK parliament not only would they be very unlikely to get a seat they would most likely loose their deposits!!!

16

Ted,

11/03/2007 11:39:39

#16, Jack, that's Blair's line. "Look how well we're doing, we're going to be the first to meet our Kyoto targets, it's all the Chinese and the Americans".

What it ignores is that we closed down all our heavy industry and manufacturing, and offshored it to China. Labour's triumphalism is based on the closure of Ravenscraig, etc, not real cuts. Sure, the Chinese should be encouraged to use cleaner technology for power generation, but it's our demand for consumer goods that leads to their emissions, plain and simple.

17

Unbeliever,

11/03/2007 11:41:16

Fact, there are 33m cars in the UK
Fact there are 34m driving licenses in the UK
Fact the government's own predictions don't indicate a rise in the number of licenses.
Fact Any proposal for road tolling or rationing which is based on increasing road use is misleading; deliberately so by the government and out of ignorance by the greens.

18

Jack F.,

11/03/2007 11:46:50

This is a start by the Greens, but it doesnt go far enough to my mind. What about industry and government itself? Theyve got to take their share of responsibility too.

And all you mad b*st*rds who think climate change isn't happening because some industry funded bampots got a TV show, wake up and smell the dead polar bears!

19

Scaramouche,

11/03/2007 12:58:14

I never liked Greens on my dinner plate ..... and I ain't going to start now!

Eejits!

20

Phyl,

Edinburgh 11/03/2007 13:01:49

#20 - You are missing the most elegant and simple point of this scheme. The total number of 'carbon credits' allocated would be fixed, and reduced year on year gradually to decrease the UK's carbon dioxide output. It would be impossible for all the rich to buy enough credits to still produce as much carbon dioxide because they wouldn't be available. The demand would push the price up through market forces, meaning that those who chose a less polluting lifestyle would reap the awards by selling their credits to the rich.

In otherwords the scheme takes from the rich, (but while letting the rich still have the choice - they could choose not to use all their credits too!) and gives to the poor! While being the only real plan I think we have ever seen that would guarantee to reduce carbon emissions in a measurable way!

It is simply genius, it is totally fair, it doesn't take away choice, and it addresses social inequity into the bargain.

#19 - Think about it, there would be a huge incentive for businesses to try to run more 'greenly' and produce products with a smaller carbon 'footprint', because people would want to buy them, and so conserve their carbon quota. The system is as simply effective as a system of currency and we have been operating those for millenia. All market forces, supply and damand but with a capped supply because there needs to be when it comes to climate changing emissions. We also managed to use ration books just fine in war time, remember - well in a sense this is a war. A war against those of ourselves to stop us from wrecking the planet before it is too late. It justifies sacrifices far more than a conventional war does.

21

Ted,

11/03/2007 13:32:54

#19, you're right, this isn't the whole answer, but it is a necessary part of the answer. We've all got to do our bit, but I'm tired of Ministers saying it's all our fault too, while they continue to build ever more roads and airports.

22

Cadgers,

Perth 11/03/2007 13:36:36

#21 You'll have to start Scaramouche now you're no allowed the chips!

23

I'm no really here,

11/03/2007 13:53:46

Given that human beings breath out CO2 when they talk, gag all the politicians. When they breathe in, they're also stealing our Oxygen!!

24

Edward,

11/03/2007 14:24:49

The Green Party should have a reality check
especially about how much CO2 emissions come from Scotland
Its a fact that the UK as a whole has one of the lowest emissions in the world. Scotland is fractional of that.
If everyone in Scotland stopped driving, stopped flying and god forbid stopped breathing, the total effect on the planet would be absolute ZERO!
The fact is the political classes, notibly Labour and Tory see the 'Green' issue as a godsend to enabling free reign to garner more taxes

25

Stuart Doulgas,

Edinburgh 11/03/2007 15:04:16

The Bush Government has just introduced a Daylight Savings policy to increase summer by four weeks.

The reason? To cut energy consumption and, therefore, cut CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Now, all you cynics, answer me this? If a right-wing George W Bush led Government, heavily influenced by the energy companies are forced to take such drastic action doesn't it make you think that maybe, just maybe, human beings play a big part in global warming?

It's time we all started acting a bit more responsible and being less selfish. The Green will get my vote on May 3rd.

26

What's Up Jock?,

11/03/2007 15:27:48

Greens = environmental fascists

27

n/,

glenboggle 11/03/2007 18:32:54

#22.
What is it about Edinburgh that seems to attract misguided GREENS?

28

Dave From Barra,

Western Isles 11/03/2007 19:05:16

What utter bullsh*t. It is established that humans are NOT the cause of global warming but that big f*cking shiny yellow thing in the sky called the Sun.

Greens = covert Marxist.

Next greenie comes my way whining about global climate change are how bad we all are will get a right hook, which will hopefully take his mind off his own made up problems.

29

n/,

glenboggle 11/03/2007 19:15:34

If all the above comments are what is now seen as.
"The New Enlighenment"

bring on the Endarkment!

30

n/,

glenboggle 11/03/2007 19:20:23

oooooppppppps A glytch.

may be there should be a T !!!!!!

31

Itchy,

11/03/2007 19:58:11

All those who reckon that the greens are the new communists are spot on.

And as for:"8. Or would you prefer to live in the ruined world that climate change will otherwise bring?"

This is rubbish. The idea that communism, recycled by the Green party, will somehow save the planet is false. State planning and rationing is not he answer to any problem and never will be.

32

Richard Lionheart,

edinburgh 11/03/2007 20:43:30

Scotland on Sunday, the year 2224.

" Scottish Greens announce rise in Carbon Credit Tax"

People are gradually realising that this is the biggest con in the world's history!

#15 Well said!

#20 "Bedridden OAPs will suddenly become popular with their younger relatives, at least until they hand over their carbon card."


Suject to Living gift tax, Carbon Credit Gift tax, Environmental Levy, Death Duties and VAT!

33

Karin,

11/03/2007 21:06:52

This scheme will penalise those who live in the far North, where public transport is scarce and most people rely on private cars to get them to and from work, to and from the shops etc. And where domestic flights aren't a luxury but a lifeline.

The Greens won't be getting my vote. I'm sick of being threatened with extra taxes because the biggest polluters, ie industry, aren't being taken to task. My carbon footprint is negligible compared to what the average corporation chucks out year after year.

34

n/,

gle 11/03/2007 21:11:43

#30
You are perfectly correct Dave from Barra but watch that blood pressure.

35

Dave From Barra,

Western Isles 11/03/2007 21:23:46

Cheers n/ fae glenboggle. Gonna have a wee dram and watch my mad mate fae benbecula on Castaway!

36

guero gringo,mexico,

11/03/2007 23:18:56

#19 ´...wake up and smell the dead polar bears.´ According to the indiginouse people who sleep and live beside the polar bears, the polar bear opulation has risen dramatically in the past couple of years. If you´re going to use smart phrases to support your agenda, use smarter ideas.

37

Frodo the Scot,

middle earth 12/03/2007 00:48:10

2 comments....No 1 Mr green....the U.S.'s al "the bore"gore wastes 30.000 dollars
of electricity monthly but he says he buys green credits to offset use.

Scientists claim the BIGGEST contributor to global warning is Cow sh-- seems the patties are toxic

ME...I'm just the lawnmower........

38

brandonbeaches,

wycombe 12/03/2007 01:07:33

do the green patry ride bikes eh ration cards for travel who think that daft, they need to think it through eh they drive big fancy 4x4 and big cars like jag's and expensive cars eh they dont ride bikes to work eh.

39

Big Eddie,

Edinburgh 12/03/2007 09:25:19

brandonbeaches #40 - a fairly typical post from the regular Scotsman flat-earthers on this thread. Thank you all for your articulate and intelligent contributions...

But seriously, if we accept (as the overwhelming majority of the world's climate scientists do, notwithstanding that ridiculous comedy that Channel 4 put on the other night) that carbon emissions must be curtailed, we can go about it in one of two ways.

Firstly, we could slap a whacking great tax on carbon. That's what the Labour party wants to do. It would hit the poorest hardest and leave the rich untouched. Any takers?

Secondly, we can work out how much carbon we, as a nation can afford to emit and then allocate that out among the population. Those living a less carbon intensive lifestyle can sell their excess quota to the fat cats with their 4x4s and holidays in the Maldives. Seems very fair to me.

Or we can stick our heads back in the sand, put our fingers in our ears and pretend the problem will go away all by itself. Because it's all caused by sunspots. Or aliens. Or evil pixies. Anyway, it wasn't us, honest ...

Think back to 1940. The UK faced food shortages. What did the government do? Did it put a tax on food? No - there was rationing in a fair and transparent way. We were all better off for it.

40

Dod fae Orkney,

North Sea 12/03/2007 12:17:04

Where do these to$$ers get all this rubbish they spout? Go and live in the real world.

41

n/,

12/03/2007 12:51:30

#41 "Think back to 1940" !!!!!!!!!!
Big Eddie, there was a war on,or were you not around at the time? Better off were we?
Well there's a thought!!!!!!!!!!
When do you intend taking your own advice and posting a few articulate and intelligent comments?
"We can allocate" can we?
Who precisely is WE?

42

Stuart Doulgas,

Edinburgh 12/03/2007 13:58:02

It's noticeable that the only sensible comments come from those who are concerned about the environment and the future of the human race. Thank God there are enough of them to make a difference and not it leave it up to those who can't even put forward an argument without resorting to using inappropriate and childish language.

Of course, climate change cannot be cause by humans - a documentary on the wonderful Channel 4 says so. Let's forget for a moment this is the same quality channel that brought us Racist Big Brother or the fact that some of the people who took part in the programme are now complaining about their views being misused. I should also point out that the person who put this programme together has previously got int trouble for misleading the public in his documentaries.

Roll on 3rd May and get rid of the same old, same old in-it-for-themselves parties and replace them with Greens who care about this country and the rest of the world.

43

n/,

12/03/2007 14:34:50

#45Now which particular GREENS might you be talking about?

The sensible ones such as the environmentalist Patrick Moore the co-founder of Green peace who now supports Nuclear as part of the energy mix to deal withthe planets ills,or those such as Robin Harper and Shiona Baird who "dream" of a wholly renewable Scotland from WIND WAVE and whatever slese may appear sometime in the future but as yet remain un developed and worse not even dreamt of, not least in light of the latest from the EU!

44

Stuart Doulgas,

12/03/2007 14:43:01

#46

I don't wish to be rude, honestly I don't, but it's very difficult to understand what your saying.

Anyway, the point I was making is that many of the comments above are childish and illogical. I have no problem with people having a differing view on climate change - I would only ask that they give their views in a way that is not offensive and doesn't resort to inarticulate blethering.

45

,

12/03/2007 15:15:17
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason: Scotsman Import, Original comment id: 438174, Article id was mapped to record!

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.