WWF Scotland says poll is evidence of appetite for bold action on carbon emissions
A POLL commissioned by the environmental group WWF Scotland has found that 61 per cent of Scots believe the country should commit to a low carbon future.
The results come as the environment, climate change & land reform committee (ECCLR) in Holyrood will today begin hearing evidence from academics and campaigners on a low-carbon Scotland.
WWF Scotland has also called on the Scottish Government to provide greater investment in projects that will lower emissions and create a low-carbon economy.
"It’s great that Scotland has met its 42 per cent emissions reduction target six years early, but we know bolder policies are needed." Lang Banks
Commenting on the poll results, Lang Banks director of WWF Scotland, said: "With the majority of Scots supporting a low carbon future for Scotland, Ministers should feel confident in bringing in policies which will help us to meet our challenging climate targets while also creating new jobs across the country.
"It’s great that Scotland has met its 42 per cent emissions reduction target six years early, but we know bolder policies are needed. The Scottish Government’s forthcoming climate action plan needs to bring forward ambitious new policies in sectors such as heat, housing and transport if we’re to continue to bring down our carbon emissions and reap the economic and social benefits of doing so."
The polling data found 61 per cent of Scots either "strongly agree" or "agree" that "the Scottish Government should invest in projects that reduce emissions, like public transport and affordable heat networks, to create a low carbon Scotland."
"The Scottish Government’s forthcoming climate action plan needs to bring forward ambitious new policies in sectors such as heat, housing and transport if we’re to continue to bring down our carbon emissions." Lang Banks
The figures follow the opening of the new Statoil headquarters in Aberdeen yesterday by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, with assurances of a "bright future" awaiting the oil and gas industry.
The First Minister emphasised that the retraining programmes to convert rig workers' skills to renewables as well as renewable technological investment from the Norwegian energy giant would contribute to stability and sustainability.
The Scottish Government will publish its Climate Action Plan required under Scotland’s Climate Change Act in January of next year, which will set out the policies needed to ensure targets in the legislation are met.
"With the majority of Scots supporting a low carbon future for Scotland, Ministers should feel confident in bringing in policies which will help us to meet our challenging climate targets while also creating new jobs across the country." Lang Banks
Recent reports from 2014, 2015 and 2016 published by the climate change committee (CCC) have shown that the Scottish Government has missed its climate targets repeatedly, however the 2014 publication did show a 45.8 per cent reduction.
A suggested reason for this is that Scotland’s progress on carbon emissions to date is too heavily dependent on progress in the electricity and waste sectors and the CCC has stated that "the remaining potential for emissions reduction in these sectors is exhausted."
This means that further reductions would have to come from other parts of the economy, such as transport and housing, both to meet targets and ensure that Scotland remains at the forefront of climate action.
The survey commissioned by WWF Scotland was conducted by nfpSynergy and used a sample of 1,000 people living in Scotland in April of this year.
Picture courtesy of Nick Bramhall
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