Protesters march outside Bute House as government scraps 2030 climate targets

Environmental activists took to Humza Yousaf’s doorsteps on Tuesday in a protest against the Scottish Government’s U-Turn on their 2030 climate change target.

It was announced last week that the Scottish Government would be backtracking on its goal to reduce carbon emissions by 75% by 2030.

The Bute House protest was backed by eco-campaigners from Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Landowners’ Alliance and This is Rigged among others donning placards and megaphones.

Caroline Rance, Friends of the Earth Scotland campaigner, said: “This is a shameful decision by the Scottish Government.

“It’s a huge betrayal for the people in Scotland whose lives have been made better by things like insulating our homes, creating better public transport and investing in good green jobs.

“But right at this crucial climate junction, instead of putting every effort into the action that we need, the government has decided to just scrap the targets and move the goal posts.

“So we’re here to make it clear we’re not going to stand for that.”

Tara Wight, policy and campaigns coordinator for the Landworkers’ Alliance, said: “It’s not about showing off on a global stage and it’s not just about rhetoric.

“It’s great to come up with nice phrases but they have to mean something, we need to see action.”