FIGHT OF OUR GENERATION

FM calls for cross-party emergency climate summit | Tory party's culture war undermining net zero plans | Yousaf's Programme for Government out next week

- PAUL HUTCHEON

HUMZA Yousaf has called an emergency climate change summit to hammer out a consensus on the crisis facing the planet.

The First Minister reached out to fellow political leaders over fears the commitment to net zero is being undermined by a Tory culture war.

He said tackling climate change should "absolutely" be above party politics, adding: "It is the fight of our generation, and frankly, for future generations. And it's not a time for political abdication.

He also said there would be a "strong focus on tackling poverty in next week's legislative statement, with plans on childcare and boosting the pay of social care staff expected to feature.

Glasgow became the focal point of the fight against climate change when the city hosted COP26.

But Yousaf is concerned the UK-wide consensus has broken down after the Tories backed new oil and gas projects.

In an interview with the Record, Yousaf said political parties in Scotland must unite: "The climate catastrophe that our planet is facing has been evident to see over the course of the summer.

"We have literally had our planet on fire. We've had wildfires and we've also had extreme flooding.

You're absolutely right to categorise it as the biggest existential threat our planet faces.