Environmental action begins on home shores

THE recent talks in Bali to map out a successor to the Kyoto Treaty have shown once again that environmental issues are now at the top of the political and news agendas.

But protecting our environment is not just a matter for international concern, because we need action at local and national levels, too, in order to protect the beauty and diversity of our natural habitat.

To protect our natural environment, we obviously need action on a UK and international level but we also need this protection to be accountable to local communities.

The recent controversy surrounding proposed ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth highlighted the degree of public anxiety at the prospect of the transfer of oil offshore but also at the lack of control over the process of regulating such transfers. While there were welcome moves in June to hand new powers to Scottish ministers to control developments such as oil transfers, this only extends to sites where wildlife is protected under European law, meaning that the environment outside designated areas remains at risk.

To safeguard the richness of our marine environment, we need to close this loophole and ensure the coastline around all of the UK is adequately protected. This requires action at Westminster and this is why I am bringing forward a Private Member's Bill in the UK Parliament in the New Year to make sure this type of oil transfer can only take place in a safe manner at safe locations. I believe it is essential that there are proper regulations which can be enforced by an independent authority which can control, monitor and prohibit such transfers if necessary.

My Bill is seeking to safely regulate ship-to-ship oil transfers, not to ban them. There should be no complaint if transfers are carried out where the infrastructure and pollution prevention expertise exists to carry out these operations safely. Scapa Flow is one such example, but there are also a number of other facilities around the UK where there is the equipment and know-how to operate transfers safely. There should be a level playing field for all potential sites around the UK coastline and my Bill is designed to introduce transparent regulations to ensure this is the case.

The Firth of Forth is a stunning habitat of rich ecology and home to a diversity of marine wildlife. The prospect of ship-to-ship oil transfers worried many local residents and local communities. But this isn't just an issue for concerned communities in the Lothians and Fife, for there are many other offshore areas around our coast which could be at similar risk. I hope that these communities of interest will rally to support this Bill and that our marine environment can get the protection it deserves.

• Mark Lazarowicz is the Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith