TODAY the Climate Emergency Response Group published a report calling for the Scottish Government to announce a Climate Emergency Scottish Budget that will support Scotland’s transition to net zero emissions by 2045 with rapid action required over the next decade.
The Climate Emergency Response Group brings together leaders and influencers from across different sectors in Scotland, spanning private, public sector, third sector, delivery organisations and membership bodies.
Their report estimates the public spend required to fund the twelve immediate actions and referred to in the government’s Programme for Government.
Mike Thornton, Group Director of Operations, Energy Saving Trust, commented on the proposals:“The global climate emergency should be at the heart of the Scottish Budget.
“The Scottish Government has already committed to ambitious climate targets – next steps must see funding put in place to realise these laudable goals.
“The Climate Emergency Response Group embraces the recognition of our 12 immediate actions in the Programme for Government and urges ministers to use this Scottish Budget to indicate substantial new funding, repurposing existing funds and working in partnership with private investors to fund the climate emergency response.”
The proposed figures provide an indication of the scale of public spending needed to kick-start projects, incentivise action, level the playing field, lever in private investment, and grow the low carbon market for jobs and manufacturing and ensure a just transition to net-zero by 2045.
The Committee on Climate Change concluded the UK would need to invest between 1-2% of GDP every year to reach net zero.
Placing this in the Scottish context, with GDP at about £180bn, this would mean between £1.8 and £3.6bn of public and private investment on an annual basis.
Highlights of Climate Emergency Response Group’s budget proposals
- Agriculture – A £100m Agricultural Transformation Fund for land use skills training, net-zero farm tool and business fund to purchase latest low carbon farming technologies.
Sarah Jane Laing, Chief Executive of Scottish Land and Estates, illustrated this goal: “Scotland’s land managers stand ready to continue playing their part in the transition to net-zero emissions by 2045.
“The Agricultural Transformation Fund will support farmers to improve nitrogen use efficiency, soil management, carbon auditing, energy efficiency and more.
“This will not only reduce carbon emissions, it will improve productivity, air and water quality, strengthen resilience, and grow the home and export markets for sustainable and climate-friendly food produce. “
2. Green Growth Accelerator projects – Support innovative co-funding arrangements involving local authorities, Scottish Government and the private sector to finance the essential place-based, multi-stranded infrastructure projects that will enable Scotland’s transition to net zero.
Sara Thiam, Chief Executive at Scottish Council for Development and Industry, commented on this point: “Investment now in the low carbon transition is not only the most cost-effective way to reach net-zero, it also places Scotland at the head of the queue to benefit from manufacturing and jobs growth, and tackle inequalities such as fuel poverty to ensure a just transition.”
3. Zero emissions cities – funding to support Scotland’s city centres to be vehicle emission free by 2030 through investment in public transport, walking, cycling, and electric mobility.
Daisy Narayanan, Director of Urbanism at Sustrans, explained this goal: “Our cities and towns have a critical role to play in the response to the climate emergency.
“Scotland’s emissions from transport have not decreased in the last 25 years and is now the biggest source of Scotland’s carbon emissions.
“Support is needed for town and city centre transformations, making walking and cycling the way to get around; the transition to e-vehicles, including public and commercial vehicles; bus priority measures, solar electricity generation on existing rooftops and more – the potential is enormous.
“These projects will improve health and well-being for residents, increase attractiveness for inward investment and migration, and remove barriers to the take up of low carbon heat and travel.”
4. Building retrofit – public investment to increase pace and scale of energy efficiency improvements to buildings, which offer the simplest and most cost-effective way to reduce emissions and reduce demand for heat.
Sam Gardner, Head of Sustainability and Climate Change at Scottish Power, explained this proposal further: “Transforming Scotland’s buildings from fossil fuels to renewable heat, delivered via electric heat pumps and heat networks powered by an expansion in renewable generation, needs to happen at scale across the next decade if we are to tackle the climate emergency.
“It is vital that public funding is available at the outset to help level the playing field compared to existing gas systems and help create the necessary scale to support innovation, drive cost reductions and expand the supply chain in Scotland.”
5. Heat pump sector deal – funding to provide clear long-term market signals for the accelerated installation of heat pumps and complementary technologies to reduce heat demand and increase its flexibility, creating and sustaining manufacturing and installation businesses.
Sam Gardner, Head of Sustainability and Climate Change, Scottish Power, explained: “Transforming Scotland’s buildings from fossil fuels to renewable heat, delivered via electric heat pumps and heat networks powered by an expansion in renewable generation, needs to happen at scale across the next decade if we are to tackle the climate emergency.
“It is vital that public funding is available at the outset to help level the playing field compared to existing gas systems and help create the necessary scale to support innovation, drive cost reductions and expand the supply chain in Scotland.”
The Group ‘acknowledges that these five immediate actions require substantial capital and revenue funding over multiple years to be realised.’
The remaining seven immediate actions require ‘vital resourcing for staff, research, and planning to accelerate processes, build capacity, and provide data and decision-support tools.’
Professor Dave Reay, Chair in Carbon Management, University of Edinburgh, added: “This budget will herald in a monumental year for climate change action in Scotland.
“The eyes of the world will be on us in 2020 as Glasgow hosts the most important United Nations climate conference in history.
“In every sector we have the capacity to show the way forward, to forge a transition to net zero emissions that is inclusive, sustainable and just.
“Our climate targets are already world-leading, now our climate action needs to match them.”
View the whole proposal and the estimated funding requirements here
