A version of this article was published in the Scotsman here on 21st December
Climate campaigners have delivered a damning verdict about Scotland’s climate action in 2024, and given an assessment of what needs to happen to get back on track in 2025.
The past 12 months saw a series of high profile climate rollbacks, including the removal of Scotland’s key target to cut pollution by 2030 and ending the scheme to scrap peak rail fares.
Becky Kenton-Lake, Coalition Manager at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said:
“Despite declaring a ‘climate emergency’ several years ago, the Scottish Government has failed to deliver action accordingly. Ministers continue to state that addressing this emergency is a priority, but this year many promising commitments or policies have been watered down or delayed.”
“This is not a new trend for 2024 – lack of action since setting climate targets in 2019 led to the Scottish Government being in the unconscionable position of having to scrap these to avoid breaking the law, as it could no longer meet them. Ironically, passing this legislation is one time they have acted with urgency to deliver climate policy in recent years.”
“At this pivotal point in Scotland’s climate journey, fast and fair action must be taken in 2025. There is no need to wait for the new Climate Change Plan, due next year, to deliver action and turn around this failing record on climate – long overdue policies and laws to reduce emissions from our energy, transport, food and heating systems in particular, must be taken.”
The public consultation closed on the critical Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan in May 2023 with Scottish ministers repeatedly claiming it would be published soon. The Plan was first announced in 2021, and originally supposed to have been published in Spring 2022.
Campaigners say it must now be published urgently and deliver a clear pathway to ending fossil fuel use and building a renewable-powered energy system that is run in the public interest.
Friends of the Earth Scotland just transition campaigner Rosie Hampton commented,
“Key plans that have the potential to make Scotland fairer and greener should not be allowed to disappear under the leadership of John Swinney and Kate Forbes. The impending closure of Grangemouth starkly illustrates the human cost of the political failure to properly plan for a transition.
“We know that the Scottish Government has been lobbied fiercely by oil and gas companies who are pushing Ministers to rollback their opposition to new fossil fuels. Workers, communities and people who want to see a just transition have engaged in these processes in good faith and they will be seriously questioning the Government’s commitment to the transition away from fossil fuels, especially considering the lack of investment or resources to deliver.”
Campaigners also criticised Ministers’ failure to commit to taxing private jets in the recent Scottish Budget with no sign of progress towards operationalising the Air Departure Tax – despite passing laws to enable this back in 2017 – nor of the promised “high-level principles” on how they plan to use it to cut emissions.
Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “There’s an alarming lack of urgency, imagination, and political bravery in Scotland’s approach to tackling climate change. Instead
of landing a fair tax on pollution spewing private jets to help fund green initiatives, we remain locked in a damaging holding pattern. The longer Ministers refuse to act, the longer we let the ultra-wealthy soar through Scottish skies while our planet pays the price.”
Action to make cleaner, greener travel easier and more affordable is also long overdue. Jim Densham from Cycling UK said: “In January 2022 the government asked the public for their opinions on a Route Map to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in car kilometres by 2030. Three years on we are still waiting for Ministers to publish the final route map.”
“Transport is the most climate-polluting sector in Scotland so the Route Map is essential for cutting emissions. People genuinely want green travel options so they can do their bit for the planet – it’s the Government’s role to enable people to be able to make these choices.”
“In 2025 it is vital that we see the Government make it a mission to support and promote cleaner, greener and healthier ways to travel for everyone, wherever we live in Scotland.”
Claire Daly, Head of Policy and Advocacy at WWF Scotland commented on the delays to action that will not only reduce emissions, but make our homes warmer and reduce energy bills: “We need a Heat in Buildings Bill introduced early next year to put Scotland on the path to cleaner heating and warmer healthier homes – we cannot afford for timelines to slip any further.”
“Lack of action in changing how we heat our homes has left too many people struggling with high energy bills and living in cold, draughty homes. Households and industry need clarity about the future of home heating and the confidence to invest. By fitting better insulation, heat pumps and rolling out heat networks we can make the most of Scotland’s abundant renewables to lower energy bills and cut carbon.”
“It’s frustrating that political delays have seen key deadlines pushed back time and time again, making our climate targets harder to reach and meaning households will wait longer to feel the benefits.”
Becky Kenton-Lake concluded
“We are approaching the end of another year that will have the unwanted accolade of being the hottest ever recorded. In 2025 Scotland’s climate journey must get back on track so that we can enjoy the benefits of climate action and play our fair part towards global efforts to limit temperature rises.”
“Research shows that both the public and businesses overwhelmingly support climate measures – there can be no more delay in delivering these.”
Notes to editors
Further information on policies or legislation referenced in the article:
- Energy – In June 2021 the Scottish Government announced that a draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP) would be published in spring 2022. This was then delayed in autumn 2022 before eventually being published for public consultation from January to May 2023 https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20031394.snp-government-delays-publishing-updated-energy-strategy/
- Route map to reducing car use by 20% by 2030 – the Scottish Government’s climate change plan published in 2020 included this commitment, they consulted on in it in January 2022, and the 2024/25 Programme for Government included a commitment to publish in autumn 2024 https://www.transport.gov.scot/our-approach/environment/20-reduction-in-car-km-by-2030/
- Air Departure Tax – the Air Departure Tax (Scotland) Act 2017 made provision for this, and two public consultations were held in 2016, 2024/25 budget said they ‘remained committed’ https://www.gov.scot/policies/taxes/air-departure-tax/
- Heat in Buildings Bill – Heat in Buildings Strategy published in 2021, consultation took place in 2023 https://www.gov.scot/publications/heat-buildings-strategy-achieving-net-zero-emissions-scotlands-buildings/
Additional examples of policy commitments not delivered:
- Agriculture – since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU in 2020, we have needed to develop a new system for farm support payments. New framework and information on the purpose of the different tiers was first announced as part of the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill in August 2022 https://www.gov.scot/publications/agriculture-rural-communities-scotland-bill-islands-communities-impact-assessment/
- Just Transition Plans for transport, built environment and construction – consulted on in June 2023, with a commitment to publish a ‘draft targeted engagement and action plan and route map (late 23/24)’ https://www.gov.scot/publications/transition-transport-sector-discussion-paper/
- Just Transition Plan for Grangemouth – At an Economy and Fair Work Committee evidence session in December 2023, the then Cabinet Secretary stated that the Scottish Government intended to publish the Grangemouth Just Transition Plan in Spring 2024.
- Ending the sale of peat in horticulture – pledge ‘through our 2021-22 Programme for Government, to take forward work to develop and consult on a ban on the sale of peat-related gardening products’ https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/ending-the-sale-of-peat/
- Marine – under post-Brexit UK Fisheries Act 2020 there is a binding Objective on Scot Gov to minimise ‘the adverse effect of fish and aquaculture activities on climate change’. A blue carbon action plan was promised in the 2023/24 Programme for Government https://www.gov.scot/publications/programme-government-2023-24/pages/9/
- A national integrated ticketing system for public transport – first promised in the 2011 SNP manifesto https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-13083953
- Carbon emissions land tax – commitment to consult in summer 2024 https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-18-04-2024?meeting=15804&iob=134937#orscontributions_M16190E445P781C2578052
- Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill – consulted on the idea in December 2023 and published a summary of responses in July 2024. The 2024-5 Programme for government uses the language of a ‘wellbeing economy’ but the Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill is not among the proposed Bills.
- Human right to a healthy environment in the Human Rights Bill – The Scottish Government committed to pass a Human Rights (Scotland) Act in this term of Parliament. However a Bill is not proposed in the 2024-5 Programme for Government, which says only that “we remain committed to legislation to incorporate international treaties into Scots law, developing proposals and engaging with stakeholders” and “we will consult on and publish a framework to embed equality and human rights across the Scottish Government and the wider public sector.“
Research showing the public support for climate action:
- Climate Outreach research showing the strong public support for climate action in Scotland: https://climateoutreach.org/britain-talks-climate/climate-big-picture-2024/scotland/
- Uplift research showing business leaders support the phase out of fossil fuels: https://www.upliftuk.org/post/majority-of-uk-business-leaders-back-an-end-north-sea-oil-and-gas-licensing
