WE can learn from the last year that speaking up, not being a bystander, offering a helping hand and speaking truth to power is more important than ever.

What you have to say and what you do over the next year can inspire and bring about meaningful change.

The collective voices of many campaigners and supporters helped elect ten Scottish Green councillors in Glasgow in 2022, and those are the same voices that can take us forward on many issues during 2023.

Like the voices of women who have never wavered in the face of intimidation at abortion clinics; they will drive forward not just to win the campaign for buffer zones, but to get the legislation passed as soon as possible in order to make protection a reality.

Standing up for trans rights has helped to win stronger equal rights for trans people, in the face of a frighteningly abusive and radicalised campaign of hatred against them.

At times this has been worse than anything from the days of Section 28. But the backlash of prejudice failed then, and it will fail again.

The introduction of a rent freeze and more protection against evictions was action in response to the impact of the cost of living crisis.

It was to prevent even more people being left facing the threat of losing their homes at this incredibly challenging time. Housing campaigners can be proud of that.

There is so much more to do in 2023; continuing to win the case for progressive taxation, land reform, investment in housing and education and building a fairer and greener economy.

We all have a voice. And this year – more than any other – you should never be afraid to use it.

Scottish Green Councillors are using our voices to deliver changes for our climate and nature, and communities across Glasgow.

We will continue to support the urgent action needed to promote alternatives to private car use, such as active travel and public transport, and will put in place measures to make journeys by car a less attractive option. We are seeking to expand free public travel.

We want to roll out improvements to the heating and energy supply in our city’s homes.

And we want to ensure there is a coordinated effort to retrofit and insulate homes to meet Glasgow’s Climate Plan targets, but which also addresses the cost of living crisis.

Also, we want to provide more investment in nature and biodiversity restoration. Scottish Green councillors support efforts to expand woodlands and restore peatland in Glasgow.

There is a need to make a significant shift to lower carbon diets and deliver on Just Transition Plans.

More resources must be given to support local authorities and council services in their role to deliver the actions needed to reduce our emissions from transport, buildings and land use.

Glasgow’s local councillors need to take bold, decisive and immediate action to reduce emissions.

In the year ahead, we can use our voices to enable more collaboration across our communities to achieve net zero emissions.

We need to work together to create new opportunities whilst reducing rather than increasing inequalities across Glasgow.