Looking to the future

May 10th, 2009

There has been a wave of nostalgia and reflection at Holyrood these last few days as the Scottish Parliament celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Being elected as Greenock and Inverclyde’s first member of the Scottish Parliament was a proud moment for me and that first day will be one I will never forget.

While we have had our ups and downs in that time, I believe in the years since the parliament has made a significant impact on people’s lives and made changes for the better.

But I have never been one for simply drawing on the past and instead prefer to look to the future.

And what better way to do that than give consideration to a subject that could threaten our very existence and just happens to form the main piece of business in Parliament this week – climate change.

The current Climate Change Bill is a significant piece of legislation but unless you are an expert in this field you may find it tough getting your head round it all.

But it isn’t all about melting ice caps and greenhouse gases, there are parts of the bill that could impact on you and your household budget.

For instance, energy efficiency packages and home insulation won’t just help the environment; they will help you in the pocket by reducing your bills.

There are proposed incentives that will help people go green, such as tax breaks for those who embrace microgeneration.

And there is prospect of hundreds of green jobs if investment is made in renewable industries, a welcome response to these times of economic uncertainty.

To achieve all of this, we need less rhetoric on this subject and real political leadership.

That will mean constructive engagement between the parties and the parliaments.

When we see that, then we will know we have a Parliament worth celebrating.