Government in shocking retreat on clean heating
The number of households being supported to move to clean green heating is in freefall, according to figures provided in response to a parliamentary question by Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie.
During the period that the Scottish Greens were part of government the Scottish Government set a steadily increasing trajectory for the number of households, peaking at 26,000 in 2023/24. This fell to 18,500 in 2024/25 and only 6400 in the first half of 2025-26.
In November 2025 the government chose to halt its Heat in Buildings bill. The Bill, which was under development by Mr Harvie in his time as a Minister, was intended to focus on improving the energy efficiency of our homes and changing to clean, affordable heating systems.
Patrick said:
“These figures are shocking and show what happens when the government fails to support people in making the transition to affordable clean, green renewable energy and more energy efficient homes.
“It is reflective of a government that has deprioritised our climate and capitulated to the anti-environment lobby.
“When the Scottish Greens were in government we were on an upward trajectory, with a growing number of households being supported to make the transition.
“With that determination and drive replaced by complacency it is no wonder that those numbers are now in freefall.
“The cost of this failure will not only be felt in missed climate target, they will be felt by families who are being locked into dependency on the high price of fossil fuels. It will only force people to continue forking out for sky high bills while the oil and gas giants post obscene profits.
“The clean heat sector should be a thriving success story for Scotland. Instead we are missing out on thousands of high quality jobs in building and installing kit that can reduce emissions and cut the cost of living at the same time.
“The industry needs consistent and clear support from the Scottish Government. The failure reflected in these figures should be a call for action, but instead the SNP has shelved its plans and consigned us to more years of climate climbdown.
“If we want Scotland to be a climate leader we don’t only need more Green voices around the table, we need Greens in a position to make decisions.”