There are those who argue that climate change isn’t happening, or that it is, but it’s nothing to do with human activity. Rubbish! As we see in this issue of SEPA View, there is extensive scientific evidence to show it is real, we do contribute to it and it is already causing major problems on a global and local scale. The only question that matters is, what can we do about it?

There’s no denying that one of the main problems, as anyone who has ever heard environmentalists argue with each other will know, is that when it comes to the environment there are no simple answers. Every potential solution brings its own set of problems. For instance, reduce the use of fossil fuels and you reduce pollution, but most sustainable energy sources can’t, as yet, fill the resulting energy gap, so what will?

Wind farms are ‘clean’ and renewable, but as we have seen in the news recently, objections to large-scale developments are raised because of visual impact, local disturbance, construction methods and implications. Energy from waste facilities have the double advantage of providing energy and making good use of materials that would otherwise be wasted, but there is public suspicion to be overcome about the environmental impacts of emissions from modern facilities – after all, some of the older technologies don’t have a great track record.

And what about nuclear power? Is that a viable option for Scotland? Should it be? Is it a ‘clean technology’ that could solve our energy problem, or a potentially lethal risk to human kind for generations to come? We air some conflicting views in our Forum for Debate.

Some of the simplest yet most important solutions lie with us as individual householders or organisations. Switching off your TV or your computer terminal and screen may not seem much, but imagine the impact if 50 million UK citizens were all to do it. As car users we can also make important choices in favour of the environment. Click here for information on converting your car to LPG and other ways we can be more considerate to the environment when travelling by car.

In SEPA we are doing what we can. As a mobile inspectorate we travel largely by car and we also rent buildings where landlords are often unlikely to allow modifications. We set ourselves challenging internal environmental performance targets to combat these issues and we report on our successes and failures in achieving them. Our regulation of business and industry includes promoting issues like waste minimisation and energy efficiency, both of which improve both the environment and profit margins.

When the movie The Day After Tomorrow came out there was a lot of publicity asking ‘is the day after tomorrow too late to take action?’ The answer is no, it isn’t, but we all need to take action, and we need to take it now. However in some ways, it would have seemed better to act the day before yesterday! What are you doing?


Campbell Gemmell

SEPA Chief Executive



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