Focus of work
This project from Transform Scotland took place in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2021, with the aim of encouraging political parties to adopt transport policies that have a measurable, significant impact on climate emissions, based on scientific evidence about what action is needed to be taken now.
The objectives of the project were:
- To raise awareness among politicians of the widespread benefits and support in Scotland for greener, cleaner transport.
- To raise awareness and understanding of what policies are required to meaningfully tackle climate change, improve health and reduce economic inequality.
- To get clarity from each political party on their transport policies.
- To raise awareness of how each of the main political parties performs on sustainable transport.
Impact
Transform Scotland’s project achieved the following:
- An analysis of the political parties’ manifestos was published in a report.
- Scotland’s major bus companies were brought together in a forum, ‘Vision 2030: Bus’, for industry leaders to develop, agree and articulate a vision for buses. Many
of the recommendations were subsequently taken up by the government. - Five well-attended election events were delivered, with senior representatives from each party attending.
- Media coverage was secured in The Scotsman and the BBC.
- Written and oral evidence was given to the Parliament’s transport committee on the Climate Change Plan.
- Meetings were held with senior figures from all parties.