Commenting on the climate change section of the Scottish Government's Programme for Government, Hanna Wheatley, Senior Economist at the think tank Future Economy Scotland, said:

"The Programme for Government includes some welcome climate change policies. The long-awaited Heat in Buildings Bill is due to be introduced after two false starts, and the £2 bus fare cap is being extended to the west of Scotland, marking a step in the right direction to make public transport more accessible. These are exactly the kind of win-win policies that cut emissions and cut costs for households at the same time.

"But ambition keeps outrunning delivery. Peatland restoration is funded at a rate that would take decades to hit Scotland's own 2040 target. The Programme for Government still leans on unproven carbon capture technology which is dependent on Westminster cooperation to deliver. There's a Private Jet Tax but no frequent flyer levy – taxing the smallest slice of aviation emissions while leaving the largest untouched. And despite some positive rhetoric, there's still no serious plan to mobilise investment to create green jobs on the scale needed. The geologically and economically challenging basin means sustained economic prosperity, jobs and energy security will only come from a green transition. Absent from the Programme for Government was a revamped, mission-oriented green industrial strategy to deliver this.

Concerningly, plans to merge SEPA, NatureScot, Zero Waste Scotland and potentially Scottish Forestry into a single body sit alongside a raft of new duties for these organisations. Restructuring on this scale takes years, and ministers need to be honest about the capacity and resource risk this creates just as delivery needs to accelerate. Despite containing some welcome measures, the programme represents a familiar pattern in Scotland: it is long on ambition, but too often short on delivery.”

[1] The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government was published on 1 September. 

[2] To request an interview with a spokesperson or for any other questions please email hanna@futureeconomy.scot or call 07763806859

[3] Future Economy Scotland is a non-partisan think tank that aims to create a new economy that is democratic, sustainable and just. The organisation does not have a formal stance on Scotland’s constitutional future, and is not aligned to any political party or any politician. The organisation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee operating with charitable principles. For more information visit: www.futureeconomy.scot