Every election is an important moment in our national story, but when we go to the polls on the 6th May this truly will be an unprecedented vote.
Not only will recovery from the pandemic require a truly ,collective effort, but we're also rapidly running out of time to address the climate emergency before the effects become truly ,devastating.
The challenges facing us are great, which is why the Scottish Green Party has the ambition to match the scale of the problem. Our plans are bold and transformational.
They will put us on a new path to help us emerge from the chaos of the pandemic. They will help us build a better, greener and fairer Scotland.
We don't pretend that the road ahead is easy, but we can't afford to be daunted now.
Since 2016 Green MSPs have had significant impact and delivered material benefits for the people of Scotland. In budget negotiations we've secured more than £5m additional funding for
Clackmannanshire Council, we've helped reform taxes, so most people pay less while those who can afford to spend more and guaranteed more funding for green infrastructure like renewable energy.
We've already secured free bus travel for everyone in Scotland 21 and under, and in the next term of parliament we want to extend this to people 26 and under. This will open enormous opportunities for young people to access work, education and leisure.
We also want to provide support for local government to establish their own bus companies, replicating the success of Lothian Buses in Edinburgh.
Last year, using the pretext of the pandemic, Stagecoach cut the 23 service leaving rural parts of the Wee County isolated and cut off from public transport. I was proud to work with the community and campaign against the cut.
In response to that pressure, First Bus picked up part of the route by introducing the new X53 service. The community won on that occasion, but as long as public transport is run for private profit situations like that will happen again and again.
We also want to see significant improvements to rail infrastructure. Our fully-costed Rail for All programme would see the network upgraded and expanded to make it fit for the 21st century. During my time in Holyrood, I've championed the reopening of the Alloa to Dunfermline railway. It's bizarre that the two towns are already linked by a railway but it's sitting unused. Reconnecting Fife and the Wee County via rail, while establishing new stations at places like Clackmannan and Kincardine, would create new economic opportunities for the region while also proving quick and low carbon commuting across the region.
Tackling the climate emergency means change but it needn't mean sacrifice. Shifting to a green economy means 100,000 new jobs and creating a fairer society for everyone.
The Scottish Greens have the plans needed for our recovery and a track record which shows we can deliver.
That's why on May 6th we're asking everyone to vote like our future depends on it and vote for the Scottish Green Party.
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