With the publishing of the Resource Spending Review by the Scottish Government, they have committed further to guaranteed public funding to deliver climate solutions.
As local, devolved, and central governments continue to push the agenda of achieving net zero carbon emissions, Scotland have increased their funding for energy efficient buildings and active travel, as well as other nature restoration programmes.
Michael Matheson, Net Zero Secretary, 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.
An increase in spending on environmental programmes is set to be implemented as well, with £500 million of extra funding over the next three years, in order to not only assist with the reduction of carbon emissions, but also to build climate resilience. This will also include the restoration of peatland and woodland, something that has not been publicly announced as a net zero measure in many other places.
Mr Matheson added:
“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.”
Some of the most crucial commitments include £75 million per year on the deliverance of the Heat in Building Strategy, £4.6 million to introduce a community bus fund and £150 million each on investments in active travel and capital and financial investment for the North East and Moray Transitional Fund.
