Scotland’s Winter Warmth Worries
Hollie Smith
- Alex Salmond meets Al Gore
As the battle over the effects of climate change rages on, the ultimate question on people’s mind is how the SNP government are going to ensure that last year’s winter chaos doesn’t ensue again this year.
It’s widely accepted that weather in Scotland is unpredictable, and that carrying an umbrella and sunglasses isn’t uncommon during the summer months, or the autumn months for that matter.
For instance, today – as predicted – the sun is splitting the sky the air is once again filled with a soothing heat and people are turned out in their summer finery. Our advice to them: keep that umbrella close by – and a set of wellies for that matter; for it is predicted, by weather experts, that October is to bring with it snow.
As previously reported, James Madden, of Exacta Weather, told the press that an early winter looks likely. He said:
“I expect to see the first signs of some moderate to heavy snowfalls as early as October or November in certain parts of the UK.”
Now is the time for MPs and MSPs to take heid. With the fuel poverty budget having being cut by 1/3 over the past 12 months, and the energy price hike of 20 per cent initiated by Scottish Power, what communities really want to know is how the SNP plan to protect the vulnerable.
Last year, over 3,000 people died of cold related illnesses, in Scotland. Not that it is comparable in terms of world atrocities, but the figure even outnumbers the amount of people who tragically died in the Twin Towers attacks.
Madden also commented, ‘I expect December, January and February to experience below-average temperatures, with the heaviest snowfall occurring within the time frame of November to January across many parts of the UK.’
As the Low Carbon Investment Conference rolls through town, prominent figures and researchers of climate change, including Al Gore, will be addressing the people of Scotland on the matter. First Alex Sammond has even said of the development of renewable energy in Scotland, that it is ‘a turning point like the discovery of a new world or the change from hunter-gathering to agriculture’.
Undeniably Scotland’s contribution to in adopting renewable energy is of critical importance for the future, however, perhaps instead of setting sights on developments of so far in future, efforts should be focused on the here and now.
There appears to be a lot of questions and a distinct lack of answers. In the meantime, the advice given by the Scottish government is to check on your neighbours during extreme bouts of cold. Today though, that won’t be necessary.
Radio Napier 
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