The Alliance welcomes the Scottish Government’s 2021-2022 Programme for Government (PfG) A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot) which recognises the importance of Scotland’s role in fighting the global challenge of climate change, including in sharing key knowledge and research on renewables with development partners.
The Alliance particularly welcomes the continued commitment to uphold the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to bringing forward a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development bill that will take into account the impact of local decisions on sustainable development in Scotland and internationally. To promote Scotland’s place in a fairer world it is also encouraging to see a commitment to developing the concept of participatory budgeting in Scotland and abroad.
The Alliance welcomes the relative importance given to international development within the agreement between the Scottish government and the Scottish Green Party which set out important commitments to:
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promote sustainable solutions, human rights, and peace; and encourage and enhance advocacy by and in support of, the Global South, including the poorest and those living in vulnerable situations.
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make strong representations to the UK Government to reinstate International Development funding to at least 0.7% of UK gross national income
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embed a human rights approach in all their international development work
Importantly, the PfG also commits to further action on policy coherence for sustainable development (PCSD), building on a recommendation made by the Alliance in 2019 to establish a ministerial working group on the issue.
You can read about the Alliance’s position on a future Wellbeing and Sustainable development (Scotland) Bill here.
Frances Guy, Alliance CEO, said:
“I am pleased to see this renewed commitment from the Scottish Government to increase its International Development Fund and to help improve the wellbeing of women and girls in partner countries. The recognition of Scotland’s role in an interconnected world working together and learning together to deal with the climate emergency is very encouraging. “