Scotland boosting funds to accelerate net-zero plans

Scotland is upgrading its financial climate commitments as Net Zero Secretary Michael Matheson has guaranteed public funding will be maximised for the delivery of climate crisis solutions.

A Resource Spending Review has been published this week and has committed to increasing funding for improving energy efficiency in buildings, active travel and peatland and woodland restoration.

Spending on environmental programmes will also increase by over £500m over the next three years, to help reduce carbon emissions and build climate resilience in Scotland.

Mr Matheson said: ‘This spending review comes at a critical point in the global challenge to address the climate crisis. Tangible global action is becoming ever more urgent, and Scotland is committed to playing its part with some of the most ambitious, legally-binding targets in the world.

‘That is why our future spending plans prioritise investment in the package of measures to tackle climate change and deliver a just transition – as set out in our updated Climate Change Plan.

‘But, as the Finance Secretary set out earlier this week, the challenging fiscal environment in the coming years means we must redouble our focus on efficiency, structural change and collaboration.

‘That is why I am committed to ensuring we maximise every penny of public investment, working collaboratively with the private sector and our communities to accelerate delivery of public policies that will reduce emissions, build resilience to the impacts which are locked in, tackle biodiversity loss and help to create a fairer, greener society.’

Key commitments include in the Resource Spending Review include £75m in funding per year to deliver the Heat in Building Strategy, £46m for the introduction of a community bus fund and a £150m investment in active travel.

The Scottish Government will also spend £150m on capital and financial investment for the North East and Moray transition Fund and oversee the rollout of the agriculture National Test Programme to enhance farmers’ awareness of their climate performance.

Photo by Serge Taeymans