Copenhagen – the cycling city

(posted to blog at 11am)

I went with Rob Gibson MSP and Alastair Macfie, our committee Clerk, to the Climate Change Forum and a few other events. We had an opportunity to speak to people from other countries to hear their concerns and plans to combat climate change. From farmers from rural Argentine to folk from small organisations with real vision and hope for the future.

In spite of cold and heavy snow we made our way to meet the national cycling organisation. They told us about the work being done in kindergarten with children to teach them to cycle, using small bikes without pedals to help them with balance, and teaching them safety awareness to prepare them for the future. Learning through play was the ethos throughout.

We went on to meet representatives of the local council. They told us that a third of Copenhagen folk cycled to work, and about the involvement of communities in the development of new cycle routes. The state government has made large amounts available for local authorities to develop infrastructure – real money to make a real difference. The visits were well worth the walk through the heavy snow.

The conference talk is still of stalemate. Poorer countries have been told of the importance of making changes but not to expect enough money right now to make these changes. The word is that as usual in talks these days the UK government are much more supportive towards the poorer countries. The talks continue with world leaders gathering here for the last few days, while the world watches and hopes for a positive outcome.

For me, it’s back out into the snow, back to the climate change forum. I hope Patrick and Graeme get into the centre today.

Copenhagen blog – Good News

(posted to blog at 10am)

Good news today: The African Countries appear to have gone back into the talks.

More good news: After queuing since 6am, Graeme Cook has finally got into the ‘Bella’ centre. Patrick is now about to try to get in. I am off to an activist forum, and after that I am scheduled to meet a cycling organisation.

Our hotel is in Malmö. The public transport here is amazing. Many people go to work by bike or on foot, taking children with them and dropping them off on their way to work. Everyone looks so calm – not at all like the stressed folk one sees rushing out of Waverley station in the early morning!

The most striking thing in Copenhagen is the pure enthusiasm of the folk who have travelled here for the conference. Regardless of exceedingly long lines of folk trying to get into the conference centre, and the distance between venues, there is a ‘common bond’ here. People want the conference to be success.

Read more in the Graeme Cook’s Scottish Parliament Copenhagen 2009 blog

Copenhagen blog – Africa walks out

(posted to blog at 7pm)

Blame the computers. That’s why it is taking so long to get into the conference centre. Graeme Cook stood in line all day, and was near the front when they closed the desk. But while thousands were queuing to get in, the African Countries that were round the table walked out!

The ‘rich’ countries need to do better. If the poorer countries of the world get nothing from this Summit then we are wasting precious time. Time that we can’t afford to waste. Hopefully, their issues can be addressed and they will return to the table.

At the Scotland Day, there were lots of men in grey suits talking about Climate Change and the Scotland Act, followed by the business perspective, and then in relation to human rights. There was a speech from Mary Robinson at the start of the Human Rights session. She spoke about women in poor countries and the effect of climate change on them and their families.

I could sit on my hands no longer and asked her a question about womens representation and the lack of women on the panel all day. She spoke of grassroots women working to ensure there was reference to women in climate change reports. There had been some success, but she regretted that there was no mention of gender in the report leading up to COP 15.

Climate Change action needs to work alongside action on gender, international development, human rights and other issues. Clearly activists will still find plenty to campaign on, whatever is agreed here    

Copenhagen blog – Scotland Day

(posted to Blog at 3pm)

Update on the queues for the main event: Graham Cook is still in the queue after more than five hours. I think the UN have lot to learn about organising a conference.

Scotland Day is quite interesting. The seminars feature speakers from Scotland and around the world. People are impressed with Scottish Act. They also appear to understand that this Act is strong because of the support of the full Scottish Parliament. As well as the “42% for 2020″ objective, they single out the provisions on Public Engagement and Public Duties. All of the issues that they highlighted favourably were areas promoted by Labour and other opposition parties, where the Scottish Government bowed to pressure or unsuccessfully opposed amendments.

I have never seen so many people from all parts of the world in one place. There are many hopes pinned on this conference. People are united on the need for change, but I guess they all know we are on an uphill journey.

We have been invited to the Scottish Government dinner tonight. Only about 30 people will be there, First Minister included. I will let you know how it goes …

Copenhagen blog – Active Travel

(posted to blog at 11am)

Up early, we walked to the station (not too far), where they have large bike parks. Very large. I have never seen so many bikes. We saw women with what looked like prams on the front of their bikes. We have a long way to go in Scotland!

At the main conference centre, there were what looked like thousands of folk waiting to register, after which you had to join another line with more thousands of people waiting to get in. After around an hour of queuing in the freezing cold, we decided that we would be better going straight to the Scotland event, where we have managed to get a coffee and warm up enough to file this first post of the day.  I’ll let you know how the event goes in my next post.

The Copenhagen Blog begins

As Deputy Convener of the Scottish Parliament Climate Change committee, Cathy is in Copenhagen until Wednesday for the International Climate Change Conference. This is the first of a series of posts on the Conference.

As I drove to Edinburgh airport in dense fog, there was a report on the BBC that 900 people had been arrested in Copenhagen. The report said that these people were forced to sit on the ground for four hours in the cold and then released. Thousands of folk looking for change, police overreacting, no arrests, all released. I wondered how much we could really change, when the news seemed to be telling us that nothing much had changed.

The first thing I saw when I arrived at Copenhagen was a billboard with a man saying “We wanted to deal with Climate Change, but we didn’t. Sorry.” I think the man might be a Danish politician. Maybe I will meet him during the next three days.

So much riding on this summit, so much riding on the need for change. In my heart, I know we need change. In my head, I fear that we will say it is just too hard.

Carers Centres need more support

Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie has paid tribute to the work done by hundreds of thousands of unpaid carers in Scotland, and called for additional resources to be made available to support the implementation of a new Scottish Government Carers Strategy.

Domestic Abuse: more support needed

Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie has called on the Scottish Government to provide more secure funding for Women’s Aid.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament she highlighted the “huge pressure” on Women’s Aid refuges and other services as a result of the removal of ring-fenced funding, and the increased funding pressures that local authorities face due to a shrinking share of Scottish Government finance coupled with the freeze on Council Tax.

Keep warm this winter and cut bills

Keep warm this winter and cut bills
Bo’ness Journal
A WARM welcome was given by Bo’ness resident Andrew Wright to MSP Cathy Peattie, when she popped in to hear about how he’s made his home cosier and cut energy bills this winter.

keep reading

Rethink Needed on Alcohol

Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie is calling for a fresh look at measures to tackle alcohol abuse.