The Scottish Parliament has recently passed a revised Climate Change Bill, marking a significant shift in the nation’s approach to tackling greenhouse gas emissions.
The new legislation, which garnered overwhelming support in Holyrood, has done away with the annual targets and the interim goals for 2030 and 2040.
However, it maintains Scotland’s ambitious aim of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.
This legislative change comes in the wake of the Scottish government’s acknowledgement that it would not be able to meet its previously set target of slashing emissions by 75% by 2030.
Nicola Mahmood, Head of Region (Scotland), Aira UK, commented: “The result of the vote on the Climate Change Bill in Holyrood highlights the critical need for Scotland to significantly expand its climate action efforts if it is to meet the ambitious target of net zero by 2045.
“A renewed plan for net zero must place the decarbonisation of Scottish homes at its heart.
“Our homes are one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in the country, accounting for a substantial portion of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
“Transitioning to energy-efficient, low-carbon homes will be a cornerstone of achieving the net zero target.
“This will include measures such as adopting low carbon solutions like heat pumps, ensuring that new buildings are energy-efficient from the outset, solar panels and improving insulation.
“The technology to reach net zero is market ready, the emphasis is now on Ministers to ensure that Home Energy Scotland has the tools and capacity to help people make the shift to low-carbon heating, renewable energy systems, and greater energy efficiency, particularly for those who may face financial barriers to making these changes.”
