Strange as it may seem the meetings about Climate Change in the Scottish Parliament recently, have been held in private. Could it be there is something that they might not wish us to know? After looking at the Scottish Government’s document 'Scotland and Climate Change, Getting It Right' published on 27th March there may well be.

Here is an extract from Mike Passway (University of Edinburgh Carbon Management Masters Programme) he said “Scots welcome the prospect of global warming after all, a rise of a couple of degrees centigrade is welcome, particularly on a nippy morning like today. However, the bigger picture is far from benign and we have already seen very damaging effects of climate change in Scotland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.”

He added “For example, several severe landslides have occurred in the Highlands and it has been worked out that it would be too expensive to try to mitigate the effect of those landslides as the cost would run into billions of pounds”.

“Coastal erosion is another major problem. For example, the rising North Sea could completely inundate the Old Course at St Andrews, the home of golf, giving a whole new spin to the expression ‘water hazard’ ”.

“Landslides, floods and other horrific aspects of climate change have occurred regularly around the UK in recent years. My colleagues have highlighted the international significance of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill, but it clearly has great meaning for all of us in the UK. In the pivotal year of 2050, I hope to be a sprightly 89 year old, but I also hope that my nine lovely nieces and nephews, who will then be about the age that I am now, will be even more involved in the fight against climate change”.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we face a global and complex challenge but, with brave hearts, focused mind's and strong international co-operation, we can overcome it.”

(Article by Charles Litster)