The Edinburgh Reporter November 2021

14
FEATURE COP26
By repairing, reusing, valuing, and sharing what we
already have, we can prevent pollution, reduce carbon
emissions, and create a greener Scotland with circular
economy at its heart.”
Activism in
Balerno
JEREMY BALFOUR MSP
CONSERVATIVE MSP FOR LOTHIAN
THERE IS an old Scottish saying “Mony a mickle
maks a muckle”. This of course translates to “Many
small things make a big thing” which is the approach
that I believe we should model our climate strategy on.
An accumulation of small decisions that are made by
individuals will add up to large scale societal change. If
each individual does what they are able to lower their
carbon footprint and cut back on waste, that can
translate into a huge global effort.
These small-scale actions have been brought to
the forefront of our minds in the run up to COP26.
Any time a conference like this comes up it should
lead us all to search ourselves and consider changes
that we can make in our life in order to lessen our
carbon footprint.
For me as a disabled person who cannot drive, I
have been taking the bus all over Edinburgh my whole
life which is a lower carbon mode of transport than
cars. However, I have been trying to be more
thoughtful about the bus journeys I take.
On shorter journeys I will now often walk which
is a small way that I can control my footprint. It is
definitely inconvenient at times, but it is an individual
choice that when added up across the whole
community will make a large difference. Even though
a seemingly small sacrifice, if everyone in Edinburgh
committed to walking for all small journeys, it would
make a giant difference.
BETSY WILLIAMSON
FOUNDER CORE-ASSET CONSULTING
I HAVE SEEN first-hand the cumulative effect of
individuals taking a principled stance to force the
hand of some of the world’s most powerful
organisations.
As a major recruiter for Scotland’s investment
sector, we have continually reported that job hunters
are seeking out organisations who place
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors
at the centre of their processes, with a commitment to
climate change, not just to words.
ESG is no longer a box ticking exercise where
investors can take the path of least resistance. Clients
expect green, renewable and climate-based issues to be
addressed throughout the stock selection process.
The days of only questioning the CFO on the
company’s financial considerations have passed. ESG
is expected to be an integral part of the investment
process and business leaders at board level and
below are expected to be accountable for their
corporate footprint.
Responsibility for the climate lies with all of us,
both individually and collectively. Ultimately the
power to keep the tide turning at pace lies with the
mammoth global investors who have trillions of assets
under management. These businesses are too big to let
the planet fail. Global asset managers are collectively
invested in multiple asset classes, across
numerous sectors and regions. A global
failure would be catastrophic on
investment portfolios, surely
this alone instils panic into the
heart of the most hardened
fund manager.
There is no hedge for the polar
icecaps melting overnight, or the
temperature in Australia rising to
50 degrees at the coast, while
America and Asia are being
ravaged by forest fires and
Betsy Williamson
hurricanes. We have to hope that,
COP26 should lead us all to
consider changes we can make
to lessen our carbon footprint
as reality bites, investment giants will be able to
achieve what governments, scientists and campaigners
have so far failed to do.Turn the tide.
PESTICIDE FREE BALERNO
COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP
Starbank Park blooms
throughout the year
JEREMY BALFOUR MSP
IN 2015 the World Health Organisation named
Glyphosate, the main ingredient of most weed killers,
as a ‘probable carcinogen’, linking it to many serious
human and animal health issues. Concerned
individuals in Balerno began petitioning for Balerno
to become pesticide-free for weed control.
In 2020 Balerno became Pesticide Free, we
launched our volunteer weeding group to manually
remove the weeds on the streets and pavements
involving the whole community, keeping the
harmful unnecessary chemicals out of Balerno to
support health and well-being. We hope that by
sparking a passion for protecting biodiversity and
the environment in young generations, it will open
up conversation and instil confidence in their
abilities for proactive change. In 2020 when Balerno
became Pesticide Free more than 80% of
Balerno residents reported seeing an
increase in the number of bees and
butterflies and many other kinds of
biodiversity. The biodiversity crisis
is a crucial component in climate
change and ecosystem collapse
threatens human existence. The
catastrophic decline in insect
numbers - an 80% drop in 30
years is almost certainly in a
large part due to pesticide
use. Biodiversity are
fundamental to the planet.
Mammals could disappear and little would change.
Without invertebrates, all life is threatened. It’s no
exaggeration to say that Glyphosate, if continued to be
used in this irresponsible way, is helping to destroy the
natural world.
EDIBLE ESTATES
COMMUNITY FOOD GROWING PARTNERSHIP
WORKING IN many communities but especially in
social housing estates, Edible Estates (EE) is a
partnership of organisations which promotes
community food growing projects. Food growing is a
tool for urban regeneration and EE has established
projects at Magdalene Neighbourhood Garden,
Lochend Secret Garden, Sunshine on Leith Garden,
Clovenstone, Bingham, Murrayburn and Hailesland
and Calders. This core activity brings people together
in a common place with a common purpose. EE
explain the many ways in which their projects tackle
climate change, and that Nature-based Solutions such
as theirs will be a key focus for COP26. EE say that
their projects enable effective management and
development of green spaces, focus on disadvantaged
communities reducing health inequalities caused by
inadequate access to the outdoors, facilitate active
Stunning Starbank