If re-elected, an SNP Government will work to ramp up our efforts to become a Net Zero nation by 2045 with significant and wide-ranging investments which will not only reduce our emissions, but will significantly improve our quality of life in Scotland.
In Government the SNP has invested enormously in unlocking Scotland’s renewable energy potential. Last year, more than 97% of our electricity demand was met from renewable sources. By 2030 we aim to generate 50% of Scotland’s overall energy consumption from renewable sources, and by 2050 we aim to have decarbonised our energy system almost completely.
If re-elected, the SNP will aim to decarbonise the heating of 1 million homes by 2030, and ensure all new homes delivered by registered social landlords and local authorities will be zero emission homes by 2026.
The push for renewables and tackling the climate crisis more broadly has been at the heart of SNP Government for some time, cutting across all portfolios with, for instance, the Scottish National Investment Bank, having transition at the heart of its mission.
The SNP manifesto contains our full policy prospectus for securing net zero policies. Already, our Party Leader Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed the manifesto will include:
- a target to reduce the use of car kilometres by 20% by 2030;
- £120m investment in Zero Emission Buses;
- decarbonise our nationally run railways by 2035;
- work developing 5GW of hydrogen production by that year;
- increasing our targets for new woodland creation by 50%, from 12,000 hectares up to 18,000 hectares by 2025;
- investing £250m to support the restoration of 250,000 hectares of Scottish peatland by 2030 and;
- doubling our world-leading Climate Justice Fund to £24m over four years.
By giving both votes to the SNP on May 6th, the people of Scotland can elect a Government which is absolutely committed to tackling the climate emergency and ensuring that the recovery from Covid-19 is a sustainable one which will benefit future generations.
Fiona Hyslop