Greens conference: Harvie announces action on energy efficiency
Tackling fuel poverty and energy efficiency will protect vulnerable households from volatile global energy prices, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie will tell his party’s conference today.
The Scottish Green Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights is expected to announce measures to extend the support offered to households to improve energy efficiency in homes to tackle rising energy bills.
The volatile price of gas has led to large rises in fuel bills, exacerbated by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Patrick Harvie pointed to the example of Greens in government across Europe, ”finding solutions which can make us safer from environmental collapse, from geopolitical threats, and from the volatility of energy costs hitting the most economically vulnerable the hardest.”
He is expected to say: “Conference, we need to insulate Scotland. Against our northern hemisphere cold. Against the blight of fuel poverty. And against reliance on turbulent fossil fuel markets which bloat brutal regimes and destroy our planet.
“That is why my first major statement as a minister set a target of converting over a million homes to zero emissions heating by the end of this decade; and why we are already seeing the first allocations of our £1.8bn funding over this Parliament.”
The Scottish Greens co-leaders will also point to what the Scottish Greens have already delivered in government, such as free bus travel for young people, the doubling of the Scottish Child payment and record investment in recycling.
Patrick Harvie said: “Our movement has always known that tackling the climate crisis and tackling poverty go hand in hand. Building a greener future means leaving no-one behind. Now we are bringing that approach to government.”