Ishan Crawford

The COP28 climate change summit in Dubai has been widely criticized for its lack of ambition and action, as the world remains far from meeting the goals of the Paris agreement. However, some experts and commentators have argued that there is still hope for the planet, and it might come from an unexpected source: the hard-headed capitalists who are investing in green technologies and solutions. The failure of COP28 The COP28 summit, which ended on Tuesday, was supposed to be a crucial moment for the global community to ramp up its efforts to tackle the climate crisis and limit the…

The Scottish government’s scheme to provide free bus travel for under-22s could be withdrawn if the rise in anti-social behaviour on buses and in shopping centres continues, according to bus operators and local authorities. Scheme launched in January 2023 The free bus travel scheme was launched in January 2023 as part of an SNP-Green budget deal in 2020. The scheme aims to reduce carbon emissions, increase social inclusion, and support the recovery of the bus industry after the Covid-19 pandemic. About one million young people aged five to 21 are eligible for the scheme, which allows them to apply for…

The UN climate summit COP28 in Dubai has witnessed a historic agreement on the role of food and agriculture in tackling climate change. More than 130 countries, representing 75% of global food emissions, have signed the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action. This is the first time in three decades that food and farming have featured prominently in a COP. Why food matters for climate Food production and consumption account for a third of the greenhouse gases that are increasing global temperatures and causing extreme weather events. The food system is also highly vulnerable to…

The murder of 14-year-old Caroline Glachan, whose body was found on the banks of the River Leven in West Dunbartonshire, has finally been solved after 27 years. Three people, Robert O’Brien, 45, Andrew Kelly and Donna Marie Brand, both 44, have been found guilty of killing the schoolgirl in a brutal attack on August 25, 1996. A long-awaited verdict The trio were convicted at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, following a trial that lasted for four weeks. The jury heard how O’Brien, Kelly and Brand had assaulted Caroline near the Black Bridge in Renton, after she had left…

Mystery surrounds the death of a man whose body was discovered on the Isle of Arran The body of a man was found on the Isle of Arran, a remote Scottish island, on Thursday morning. The police have launched an investigation into the “unexplained” death and are appealing for witnesses. The man, who has not been identified yet, was discovered near the shore at Pirnmill, a small village on the north-west coast of the island, around 8.30am. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The police have cordoned off the area and are conducting inquiries to establish the…

The UK government’s Agriculture Bill, which aims to reform the farming sector after Brexit, has faced criticism from farmers and environmental groups who say it lacks proper oversight and accountability. They have called for an independent body to monitor and enforce the standards and targets set by the bill. What is the Agriculture Bill? The Agriculture Bill is a piece of legislation that will shape the future of farming in the UK after it leaves the European Union. It will replace the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which has governed the sector for decades, with a new system of payments and…

The discovery of round-leaved bryum at a reservoir near Edinburgh sparks hope for its conservation A critically endangered moss species, known as round-leaved bryum, has been found growing at a reservoir near Edinburgh for the first time in 13 years. The moss, which has a distinctive round shape and forms dense cushions on wet rocks, is one of the rarest plants in the UK and has only been recorded at four other locations in Scotland. The moss was spotted by Dr David Long, a bryologist and honorary research associate at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), who was conducting a…

The Scottish Government’s ambitious plan to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025 is in jeopardy, as new documents reveal that ministers were warned of the risks of missing the deadline as early as 2018. Budget cuts and Covid-19 impact the project The A9 dualling project is one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in Scotland, aiming to improve road safety, reduce journey times, and boost the economy of the Highlands and Islands. The project involves upgrading 80 miles of single carriageway to dual carriageway, at an estimated cost of £3 billion. However, the project has…