World Summit on Sustainable Development
Talking of the First Minister, I call on him to make a statement on his visit to Johannesburg.
In June 2001, President Thabo Mbeki spoke in this Parliament. He said:
"I should like to believe that the Scottish Parliament respects the history of South Africa and wants to sustain the tradition and that those who represent the Scottish people will raise their voice and say, ‘We cannot have an extraordinary situation of enormous wealth in one place and extraordinary poverty in another.'"
It therefore gives me great pleasure to report to Parliament today after representing Scotland and the United Kingdom at the world summit on sustainable development in South Africa. I had a clear set of objectives in mind when I decided to attend the summit, objectives that had a real relevance to our devolved powers and to Scots.
First, I wanted to embed our devolved Government's renewed emphasis on sustainable development. We have made progress in recent months. We have made sustainable development an integral part of this year's spending review, have massively increased our ambitions for the generation of electricity from renewable resources and have stated our intention to increase significantly the proportion of waste being recycled. That is important progress, but we must keep up the momentum. Scotland's engagement in the world summit helps us to do that.
Our second priority was to use the summit to further engage with South Africa on schools. Thirdly, we wanted to promote business links with South Africa, particularly on energy issues.
I am pleased to report to Parliament that, contrary to the predictions of complete failure, important international agreements were reached. I am particularly encouraged by the agreement on water and sanitation to halve the number of those without access to clean water and sanitation by 2015. Two million children die each year in developing countries from water-borne diseases. Delivering that target will be a huge undertaking, but one that is likely to make a significant contribution to reducing that appalling and avoidable death toll.
Progress was also made on promoting sustainable patterns of production and consumption, which is perhaps the most important element of global sustainable development policy. In Scotland, we will firm up our commitment in that area when we announce our spending decisions on recycling. I was also encouraged by developments on adjusting the status of international environment treaties to give them equal status with World Trade Organization rules.
The biggest disappointment for me was the lack of clear targets on the promotion of sustainable energy. However, we will not let that discourage us from pressing ahead with our own ambitious target, announced by Ross Finnie only a few weeks ago, of 40 per cent of Scottish electricity generation coming from renewable resources by 2020.
When I attended the summit sessions, I heard the address of the President of Tuvalu, which is a small island state in the southern Pacific. It is perhaps the most exposed state in the world to the threat of global warming and the associated sea level rise. They are already feeling the effects. The President told us that, a few months ago, 10m waves swept across the main island in calm conditions and at low tide.
That brought home to me how important it is to drive forward with our renewables policy. We must do that not only because of the benefits for the people of Scotland and our economy, but because of our duty to take part in the collective effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help people who are much more immediately exposed than we are to the threat of global warming.
To maximise the benefits to Scotland of attending the summit, I took the opportunity to pursue a number of educational initiatives. I met again the South African Minister of Education, Kader Asmal, to follow through on our commitment to a pilot teacher interchange project. We agreed the basis for the initiative, the details of which will soon be announced by Cathy Jamieson. I also had the opportunity to address a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization conference on educating for a sustainable future, at which I set out our vision for Scottish education in that area. Those contacts are extremely valuable. They build on our strong links with South Africa through the interchange on our examination systems and other issues. Those links will continue and be strengthened as a result of our discussions.
The absolute highlight of my visit to South Africa was a visit to Banareng Primary School in Atteridgeville township in Pretoria. I met an outstanding and inspirational head teacher, Pauline Sethole, who has almost single-handedly turned around pupils' attendance and health by creating an edible curriculum, as she calls it. In this extremely poor area, the hot meal that the school provides is grown by the children in the school garden and is often the only meal that they get. The school is a real example of an eco-school. I hope that the e-mail link-up with the Royal School of Dunkeld will be only the start of Scottish support for Banareng and other schools and that it will be a further boost to Scotland's important role in the development of eco-schools worldwide.
We made real progress with my proposal for Scottish Power, the Department for International Development and the Government of the Eastern Cape to explore the potential of a green energy project in the Eastern Cape. The aim would be to assist with access to new electricity supplies, to show local people the potential of renewable energy and to develop their operation and maintenance skills. As the United Kingdom's biggest developer of renewable energy, Scottish Power is well equipped to export its skill and expertise in developing and operating wind farms to the Eastern Cape.
I am grateful to the chief executive of Scottish Power, Ian Russell, for his personal commitment to the project. I had a positive meeting with Enoch Godongwana, the Minister for Provincial Treasury, Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism in the Eastern Cape, who was enthusiastic about the project's prospects.
In Sasolburg yesterday, I saw at first hand an example of the existing links between Scotland and South Africa. I toured the Sasol plant, in which the products from the collaboration between the company and the University of St Andrews will be applied. I know that Sasol is hugely impressed by the talent and skills that are available in Scotland. I also made a point of meeting and listening to the local community in Sasol. Business and industry have historically been part of the environmental problem, and it is vital that we involve them in becoming part of the solution. In the long run, healthier communities benefit business too.
One of the things that has most impressed me about the past few days is the way in which the main Scottish players have a common agenda. I would like to place on record the excellent contribution of the Scottish civic delegation in sharing Scottish ideas and in learning from others. Our young earth champion, Stephanie Wiseman from Shetland, has learned a great deal from her experience and she has represented Scotland's schoolchildren extremely well.
The UK delegation worked together effectively. They kept us involved in the discussions and were open to our ideas. I pay credit to the British High Commissioner in South Africa and her staff. In particular, my thanks go to Brigadier Mike Raworth and Staff Sergeant Tony Myers, who guided the Scottish team smoothly through our busy three-day programme. That involved participating in the UK delegation and the summit; three meetings with South African ministers; three visits, which were educational, environmental and economic; the development of three links, which were educational environmental and economic; and three speeches at major events. That was a worthwhile investment of time and it was extremely well organised.
The outcome of the summit will not generate the excitement of the Rio de Janeiro summit of 10 years ago, but no one should underestimate the challenge of reaching agreement among many nations with differing and sometimes conflicting aspirations. When I spoke as a guest speaker at the closing session of the youth earth summit in Soweto on Sunday, the passion of young people for a sustainable future was clear and unambiguous.
I hope that members will join me in affirming that we in Scotland will not shirk our responsibility. Within our devolved powers, we will take action to assist the UK in meeting its obligations. However, we must not see the targets and ambitions of this summit as maximum standards. I am determined that, here in Scotland, we will see them as the minimum contribution that we can make to achieving sustainable development at home and abroad. We can, we must and we will do more.
I am going to have to turn a blind eye to the clock to allow members to speak on this statement.
Despite the disappointments of the summit, I am glad that the First Minister has been promoting an educational link in South Africa with the Royal School of Dunkeld, which is in my constituency. I know that it will be contributed to well by the pupils at that school.
I compliment the First Minister on the generally positive statements that he has made on the protection of the environment and on renewable energy. I have two questions for him on turning those statements into practical action.
First, should it be assumed, from the First Minister's support for ambitious targets for renewable energy, that the Scottish Executive is hostile to the construction of further nuclear power stations in Scotland?
Secondly, given the First Minister's obvious concern for the environment, will he confirm that the Scottish Executive will refuse the current applications for field trials for genetically modified crops?
We will base both those decisions on the scientific evidence that we collect, not just through the appropriate trials for GM crops, but through the evidence that we need about the future use of nuclear waste. I hope that, in asking interesting questions, Mr Swinney is not seeking to move away from the considerable and important issues that were identified and agreed on at the summit, issues which the Parliament has some responsibility to tackle.
I was extremely disappointed yesterday—and I do not make this point lightly—to see in the Daily Mail Scotland's supposed national party criticising Scotland's attendance at the summit. If we are to grow as a nation with a devolved Parliament, we must stand up in the international arena as well as at home. I assure members that the parties in the partnership Government are determined to do that.
I have two questions for the First Minister. First, much of the progress that was referred to in the opening section of the First Minister's statement is simply a list of aspirations, ambitions, intentions and targets. It is apparent that the target of providing 40 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020 is not intended to include a contribution from nuclear power, to which Mr Swinney alluded. How can the Executive set a realistic target of 40 per cent—which the First Minister says is an ambition or intention of the Executive—before we have completed the nuclear energy review that will determine overall energy production in the UK?
Secondly, according to another target, it is the Scottish Executive's intention that, by 2006, 25 per cent of waste will be recycled. How does the Scottish Executive intend to compel local authorities, which provide collection and disposal services, to achieve that target? Will the Scottish Executive seek to override planning decisions that are made by local authorities that are adjudged to be hostile to renewable waste disposal projects? Will the Scottish Executive consider the national planning guidelines in relation to such projects and the way in which they are dealt with by local authorities? Does the First Minister believe that changes to the planning system are necessary if we are to achieve the ambitious targets that he is talking about?
Finally, I congratulate the First Minister on making a prompt report to the Parliament on his visit to the earth summit. It sets an important precedent that he has come back and accounted to a democratically elected Parliament for what he did in representing our country at that summit. Does he share my disappointment that there is little in the report of the summit on the importance of democratic institutions, free elections and good governance to achieving sustainable development and the alleviation of poverty?
I make it clear that the Executive decides its approach to the planning applications that it must determine on the basis of the evidence that it is presented with in each situation. We will continue to deal with such matters in that way.
The new renewables target for Scotland of 40 per cent was set following extensive discussions with the industry, among others, to ensure that the target is achievable and realistic, so I am certain that it is. We started from the premise that we want the maximum amount of renewable energy generation in Scotland. That is why, regardless of decisions about other forms of energy, achieving the 40 per cent target for renewable energy generation is important for Scotland. If we could go higher, I would be delighted, but 40 per cent will be an excellent target for us to move towards in the next 18 years.
As Mr McLetchie knows, we collected local waste strategies from all Scotland's local authorities early in the year. The local authorities have bought into the national waste strategy that we have been compiling. That will be a realistic but ambitious examination of our need to recycle much more of our waste. Again, we will discuss that with the industries that are involved and with local authorities, which must do much of the work. I want local authorities across Scotland to achieve best practice in recycling policy and not simply to achieve the average.
Mr McLetchie's first point was on aspirations. There were many aspirations in the overall summit but, at the weekend, there was also much despair about the potential for not reaching an agreement. That despair was cast aside by those who worked hard on Sunday and Monday to reach final agreements, and that is to be welcomed, even if the agreements do not please everybody. In connection with the summit, our Prime Minister made important statements. When he announced new aid and confirmed existing aid for Africa on Sunday and Monday, he made it clear that he will pursue, with Thabo Mbeki in South Africa and with others, the importance of democratic reform throughout Africa. That is an important engagement by the British Prime Minister that has my full support.
Will the First Minister's personal attendance in Johannesburg and his interaction with other delegates facilitate Scotland's participation in sustainable production and consumption initiatives? Will he cite any areas in which that might happen?
In my statement, I mentioned one or two such initiatives. It was important that the First Ministers of all three devolved Administrations—even if our badges described us as First Ministers of the United Kingdom, which was a bit of a slip by the conference organisers—formed part of the UK delegation to the summit. We all have environmental responsibilities and other related responsibilities, and it was right and proper that we were involved in the decision making.
When in Johannesburg, it was important to take the opportunity not only to be at the conference and to engage with the UK delegation, but to follow through other initiatives. The schools initiatives, the development of links with the Eastern Cape and the ability to use Scottish technology, expertise and experience to good effect in South Africa, to learn from people there and to build the links that will educate our schoolchildren and schoolchildren there were important. The work that we—not just me, but other members of the delegation from Scotland and others—did in the past three days will make a serious contribution to sustainable initiatives in Scotland in the years to come.
I welcome the First Minister's statement on sustainable development and Scotland's contribution to that through the recently announced increased targets for the use of renewable energy. Does the First Minister agree that, to achieve those targets, the oil and gas industry, for example, should be encouraged to invest in developing new renewable energy industries that would provide Scotland with new industries and open up huge export opportunities for Scotland in countries that require access to renewable energy technologies?
I am very keen that all the companies that operate in the energy sector in Scotland should become involved in the development of renewables and in the safer and more sustainable production of other forms of energy. That is particularly important in the electricity generating sector, but it is also important across the board. Significant improvements have been made in recent years. Companies such as BP and Shell have engaged well with initiatives worldwide. Scottish companies and multinationals that operate in Scotland provide examples of good practice that we can use elsewhere to show what can be achieved.
Some companies that operate in Scotland and elsewhere have a bad record on the environment. Some do a minimum of partnership working with local communities. However, other companies set a good example. I want us in Scotland to shout from the rooftops about the good practice that exists here.
In his statement the First Minister concentrated on the environmental side of the earth summit. The other major issue that was addressed at the summit was world poverty, which should concern all of us. World poverty is not a reserved matter, but a matter for all of humanity.
I have three questions for the First Minister. First, will he consider the proposal by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to establish the equivalent of a Scottish know-how fund, so that we can assist more directly those poor people of the world whom we can help?
Secondly, does he agree that it was disgraceful that the head of Government in the United States boycotted the earth summit, given that the US is responsible for 25 per cent of the world's pollution?
Thirdly, does he not think that the worst thing that could happen in relation to world poverty would be a US attack on Iraq?
Alex Neil referred to the establishment of a know-how fund. There are countless other possibilities. No matter what difficulties exist in Scotland and what challenges we face in our economy and society, we have a responsibility—especially in parts of the world in which historically we have played a mixed role in regard to development—to exchange know-how, experience and skills. I hope that we will continue to do so. Some of the initiatives that I have outlined today will contribute to that process. I welcome any other initiatives, from whatever quarter those come.
Before I went to the summit, I said clearly that I was disappointed that George Bush would not attend. However, I did not think that the absence of any world leader should stop the summit making progress. I am delighted that at the summit the other heads of states—and the representatives of the American Government who attended—got on with the business and ensured that targets were set, new initiatives were taken and an agreement was made that can take us forward. It would be wrong to assume that a summit must be perfect to be successful. This earth summit has taken us forward, and I hope that the next one will be even better.
I welcome the commitment that the First Minister has given on behalf of the Scottish Executive to achieving environmental justice internationally as well as domestically. It is clear that individuals, communities and Governments all have a role to play in pursuing that agenda.
The First Minister has indicated that businesses also have a role to play, particularly in relation to renewable energy. How does the First Minister intend to engage with the business community in Scotland to ensure that business is always part of the solution, rather than part of the problem?
We need to use the examples of best practice—not just in the energy sector, but elsewhere—to which I referred earlier. We are sponsoring research by Friends of the Earth Scotland into good neighbourhood agreements that may improve relationships between companies and local communities. In the months to come we hope to make progress in that area.
One lesson that is as applicable to Scotland as it is to other countries is that community participation is central to sustainable development and environmental improvements. That point was made to me very strongly in South Africa. On Sunday, I was particularly impressed to meet a community leader in Soweto who has turned a wasteland that was a haven for crime, vandalism, drug taking and all kinds of other activities into an conservation area that is used for the voluntary support of 200 young people. He is keeping them off the streets, away from a life of crime, and involving them in a community regeneration project. Initiatives of that sort, which help young people to take responsibility for their community, augur well for the future both at home and abroad.
Does the First Minister agree that a key element of sustainable development is the work of community groups, particularly women's groups, on projects for clean water, sanitation, public education and income generation? Will he therefore endorse and support any proposals by the development agencies in Scotland and Scottish churches and schools for a sustained programme of assistance to the people of the Eastern Cape, which in turn might be an important element in development education in Scottish schools?
Without committing myself to any proposals, I would welcome and be prepared to consider them. One of the things that I learned about when I was in South Africa was the potential that there appears to be in many rural villages for increasing dramatically their productive capacity and therefore their economic viability by ensuring that women do not spend hours every day carrying water to and from sources and milling crops.
There are interesting small-scale examples of technologies being used in the production of local goods. That releases women in the villages so that they can get involved in the education system and it increases substantially—sometimes by three or four times—the amount of butter, for example, that comes out of the village and is sold elsewhere in the region.
A lot of interesting projects are being carried out there, and although it is not one of our devolved responsibilities, I encourage Scots to become involved actively in those projects on a voluntary basis. They are making a difference and the aid agencies and voluntary organisations that are pursuing the projects throughout Africa and elsewhere are doing a fantastic job.
I am sure that I reflect the views of the majority of members in the Parliament when I congratulate the First Minister on his attendance in Johannesburg. Delivering on sustainability depends on interdepartmental working, but also, very importantly, on leadership from the top, which we have seen.
I want to ask about eco-schools specifically. I was interested in the First Minister's report on visiting schools that were involved in such projects near Johannesburg. Would it be possible to get in writing a report on the development of eco-schools projects in Scotland? I am sure that other members would be interested to hear about that and about how we as MSPs can make a contribution to such projects.
One of the reasons that I attended Banareng Primary School was that, at the same time, Cathy Jamieson was launching the eco-school in Dunkeld and announcing our acceptance of an invitation that we had received to take part in the international eco-schools initiative because of the work that has been done in many Scottish primary and secondary schools.
Stephanie Wiseman from Shetland, the young earth champion who is 12 years old, was in Johannesburg with me over the past three days. Her school was one of the early eco-schools in Scotland and, interestingly, it has arrangements for growing vegetables in its garden that are similar in principle to those in Banareng Primary School, although the weather and ground conditions are very different there. I have to say that her dancing was better than was mine.
It was clear to me this week that teaching young children, particularly in primary schools, about how they can ensure that their community becomes more sustainable, how they can make a difference in their community and worldwide and how they can learn skills that they can continue to use throughout their lives is possible not just in Scotland and South Africa but everywhere. I am sure that Cathy Jamieson would be delighted to submit a report to the Scottish Parliament information centre that would outline some of the initiatives that are taking place throughout Scotland today.