CHAPTER 4 SCOTLAND’S SEPARATISM IN THE CONTEXT OF
4.1 Argumentations Presented by SNP
4.1.6 The Environmental Case
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sector if independence did transpire. A “vibrant film industry, a flourishing dance scene, a dynamic architecture and a world-beating publishing and video games sector”302 cannot be anticipated to be developed overnight and it by no means can be compared to the capital of London, considering the funding and reputation for London and Scotland differ drastically.303 Under the cultural case, Scotland can only hope to prevent London from gaining more power than it already has and to avert London from governing over Scotland’s territory and population.
4.1.6 The Environmental Case
One of the claims which the SNP contend for the environmental case is that since Scotland will have direct representation in Europe, it will have a full voice in negotiations affecting key Scottish sectors and can reflect the priorities and benefits for the rural and coastal communities in the fields of agriculture, fishers and aquaculture.304 In addition to this, the fishing quota will be pertained to Scotland as a national asset, this ensures that more funding from the EU will flow to Scotland considering currently, Scotland only received 1.1 per cent305 of the European fisheries funding despite catching 7 per cent306 of the EU’s wild-caught fish and accounting for more than 12 per cent307 of EU aquaculture production. Another commitment the SNP offer to the public if that there will be new investment in energy and the SNP does not intend to increase the overall tax burden on the oil industry.
The environmental case for independence presented by the SNP is less developed than the other five cases discussed above. There are reasons behind this and it is due to the fluctuating
302 Maxwell, S. (2012), Evidence, Risk and the Wicked Issues: Arguing for Independence, Edinburgh: Luath Press (Viewpoint), p. 141
303 Freeman, A. (2008), London: A Cultural Audit, London: Greater London Economics
304 White Paper, Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, p. 276
305 55 million euros of a total EFF budget of 4.3 billion euros
306 Total EU landings in 2010 was 4.9 million tonnes (source: Eurostat); total landings by Scottish vessels in 2010 was 367,400 tonnes (source: Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics): 7.48 per cent of EU total
307 Total EU aquaculture production in 2009 was 1.3 million tonnes (latest figures, source: Eurostat); total Scottish aquaculture production in 1009 was 158,000 tonnes (source: Marine Scotland): 11.9 per cent of EU total
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issues in the environment, figures are unpredictable and it is a highly technical field. If we considered global warming, nuclear power or renewables, and peak oil, just by hearing these terms, we know how problematic it is to predict and produce specific numbers for the public to view as they are all very volatile, whether it be in the state they are in or the prices placed upon them. Despite this fact, Scotland appears to be growing in potential for their alternative energy as it is responsible for generating energy from offshore wind and tide accounting for a quarter of Europe’s capacity and one-tenth of Europe’s wave power capacity.308 Additionally, Scotland has created its expertise in energy production and marine engineering from its 30 years of involvement in the oil production industry.
Conversely, opposition has already risen against the Scottish Government’s ambition to revive the Scottish economy using renewable solutions. Despite the unanimous support from the Scottish Parliament for the Climate Change Act, locals which are affected by the wind turbines and transmission pylons are progressively becoming agitated and has resisted the environmental changes which the Scottish Parliament seek to make.309 Criticisms have broadened at the proposal of renewable resolutions. One of the arguments that prove the renewable resolutions claim from the SNP to be overextending and contentious is that there are severe shortfalls in the supply of renewables, not only this, but there are a lack of skilled engineers, manufacturing capacity, transmission infrastructure and the capacity of renewable technologies as well.310 The cost of such a project is debatable as well considering it is still unknown how the estimated capital requirement of 46 billion pounds is to be divided between Scotland and the rest of the UK and whether Scotland will be able to handle the cost divided to them.311 Another factor to be taken into account with environmental claims is the possibility of discovering new fossil fuel or there may be an unprecedented technological breakthrough which could lower the energy prices
308 Scottish Government (2010), Towards A Low Carbon Economy in Scotland, Edinburgh
309 Maxwell, S. (2012), Evidence, Risk and the Wicked Issues: Arguing for Independence, Edinburgh: Luath Press (Viewpoint), p. 158
310 Scottish Energy 2020 (2011), Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London
311 Citibank (2011), An Independent Scotland? Stranded Asset Risk for Utility and Renewable Investors, London, reported for the Labour Party by Tom Greatrex MP
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worldwide and this could present a problem as governments will have to adjust and justify the cost of current renewables to their people.312
Therefore, with the future of global matters being hard to predict, the SNP’s environmental case will rest on four judgments:
1. Low carbon energy will still be in demand due to continued global warming;313
2. Fossil fuel prices stay on the upward trend caused by more demand from rapidly industrializing economies with larger populations;314
3. As technologies mature, the price of renewables will fall;315 and
4. Public concern over nuclear option and government concerns over the total costs of nuclear options including insurance, waste disposal and dismantling are still at the forefront of environmental issues.316
Under these situations, Scotland will be able to display her potential and the SNP will be able to succeed in their environmental case. With the North Sea Oil revenues providing for a source of funding for the environmental ventures, the long-term benefits of this project would be difficult to ignore and Scotland may succeed in their environmental case if all the right pieces of the puzzle fit.
Scotland would still face many problems as climate change will keep occurring and in an unpredictable manner as well, however, despite this, Scotland has already established herself to be a world leader and an effective partner in the fight against global warming and with
312 Maxwell, S. (2012), Evidence, Risk and the Wicked Issues: Arguing for Independence, Edinburgh: Luath Press (Viewpoint), p. 159
313 Edie Newsroom, “Low-Carbon Energy is ‘Most Cost-Effective’ Way to Meet UK Demand in 2020s,” Edie.Net, October 22nd 2015, http://www.edie.net/news/6/CCC-Low-carbon-energy-is-most-cost-effective-way-to-meet-UK-demand-in-2020s/ [Last Accessed: December 11th 2015]
314 Khan, S. (2013), Electrical Energy Systems, Bangladesh: Dhaka, p.245
315 “The Experts: What Renewable Energy Source Has the Most Promise?” Wall Street Journal, April 17th 2013, http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324485004578424624254723536 [Last Accessed: December 11th 2015]
316 Maxwell, S. (2012), Evidence, Risk and the Wicked Issues: Arguing for Independence, Edinburgh: Luath Press (Viewpoint), p. 159
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Scotland’s contribution to the reduction of global carbon emissions, independence could give Scotland a voice in international forums and present its findings and advice on counteracting global warming. The above six main arguments established by the SNP and analysis detailed by this thesis illustrate that independence would not be impossible for the SNP to achieve for Scotland if they took note of the factors in which they will need to tread with caution. A strong case is advocated by the SNP and for the first time in centuries, it seemed possible that a separatist uprising was going to break away from its nation-state and become independent. But, how does the separatist movement of Scotland fare when placed in the face of globalization?