This week will see the publication of the draft Scottish Budget with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) calling on the Scottish Government to use the opportunity to set out how it’s going to fund action to meet its climate change targets.
Gina Hanrahan, Head of Policy for WWF and SCCS spokesperson, said:
“We’ve recently had Scotland’s greenest ever Programme for Government. That vision needs to be matched with clear priority spending on actions to reduce emissions in the forthcoming budget to ensure Scotland’s climate goals are met. When it’s deciding how to spend its budget – our money – we need to know that the Scottish Government is strategically investing in our zero-carbon future. We can’t afford to be short changed.”
“SCCS is calling on the Scottish Government to use the opportunity of the forthcoming Climate Change Bill to comprehensively align the financial budget with climate change targets. This was supported by over 19,000 people across Scotland.”
“The Climate Change Bill should also legally link the Scottish Budget legally to the Climate Change Plan so that the cabinet puts the low carbon economy at the heart of its decision making. We also need better transparency and to tighten up a legal loophole where the new Queensferry Crossing looks like it’s better for the environment than the new Borders railway line because it used less steel and concrete. The fact that one took cars off the road and the other will lead to more should be the common-sense consideration.”
“SCCS would like to see the Climate Change Bill establish an independent watchdog to advise the Government on what sort of new infrastructure projects should be built, ensuring that it’s investing in a low carbon future. We’d also like to see investment in energy efficient homes, new district heating networks, more walking and cycling paths, and new public transport infrastructure”.
