ON FRIDAY, people across the world showed their solidarity with the planets young people by joining them in the Youth Strike for Climate.

More than 300 people gathered in Stirling, a huge swell compared to the strike back in Spring when I was joined by only two, deeply inspiring, primary school children.

A movement which has the potential to change the world for the better will be built on the back of their dedication.

They recognise that time is short, but they haven’t given up the belief that something can and must be done now to build for a better tomorrow.

The power of that belief, focus, and energy must not be underestimated. Or worse, wasted.

The climate emergency represents a real and present danger to all of us and tinkering round the edges is no longer a viable or sane option.

A climate emergency demands an emergency response.

We need to move away from the mode of thinking that suggests environmentalism is about sacrifice. It isn’t. Instead its about building a better, cleaner and more sustainable world for us all.

That’s why my party recently published its proposals for a Scottish Green New Deal which would bring about the radical transformation needed to transition to a zero-carbon economy while ensuring that no one is left behind.

That’s why, in the Scottish Parliament, Greens are working hard to strengthen the Climate Bill and have pushed for a target of 80 per cent carbon reduction by 2030.

Its important to remember that the climate emergency isn’t some distant scenario. It’s doing real damage already and the steps we take to address it will have tangible benefits on our lives in the here and now.

Take public transport for example. We have the resources to make public transport reliable, clean and cheap but that’s fat from the reality experienced by most people.

I’ve been working hard to push for the reopening of the Alloa to Dunfermline rail link and while that’s primarily a local issue, improving public transport links throughout Scotland will play a central part in an successful Green New Deal.

The same applies to busses, which provide vital links for people throughout Clackmannanshire, but to often they’re substandard services which cost a high price.

It;s not just urban issues that need addressing, but rural ones as well. Grouse moors cover up to a fifth of Scotland’s land.

In other European countries the average land area covered by forests is around 40 per cent, but because of the bio-diversity deserts that are grouse moors we fall well behind that target.

Efforts to propel us up to parity with our European neighbours would create secure rural jobs and make a significant dent in carbon emissions.

It would be wrong to downplay the gravity of the climate emergency, but we should take heart from the young people on strike who haven’t given up hope.

We owe it to each and everyone one of them to take urgent, radical action to make sure the world we leave them is the best it possibly can be.