14.10.2019
Assurances are needed to make sure that the Scottish Government focuses spend on low carbon projects. This is according to a new report published today by Holyrood’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.
In its pre-budget scrutiny, the Committee noted the strong commitment from the Scottish Government to address the climate and biodiversity crisis. However, the Committee is gravely concerned about the impact of the loss of EU funding streams on Scotland’s environment.
The Committee has also called for further commitment from the Scottish Government to ensure climate action is embedded in, and funded across, all Scottish Government portfolios.
Committee Convenor, Gillian Martin MSP, said;
“A climate emergency has been declared and Scotland has committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
“To do this it is essential that the Scottish Government prioritises funding now for low carbon and carbon neutral action and ensures spending does not ‘lock in’ carbon emissions for years to come.”
“We need to significantly step up to the climate and ecological crisis and make sure we increase our investment in natural capital, biodiversity and climate change action. There are huge opportunities of early action and significant potential costs of inaction or delayed action.”