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Scottish Greens say climate report must be an urgent wake up call for new Labour government

Time is rapidly running out, and none of us can afford to be complacent when it comes to the existential threat of climate change

The latest report from the UK Climate Change Committee emphasises that urgent action is needed if the country is to meet its 2030 emissions reductions target.

The Scottish Greens say it proves a damning indictment of the last Tory government, confirming delays and foot-dragging in recent years have significantly hampered progress in key areas, such as increasing electric vehicles and rolling out heat pump installations.

Scottish Greens Co-leader and net-zero spokesperson Patrick Harvie said:
“This report must be a chilling wake up call for Keir Starmer’s government - time is rapidly running out to prevent catastrophic climate breakdown, and the UK is well off track on our journey to net-zero.

“It confirms we’re way behind our European neighbours when it comes to climate action, and we’re missing out on the jobs, investment and social benefits that come with the green transformation.

“The weak platitudes on climate action in yesterday’s King’s Speech won’t even scratch the surface. As the report today confirms, we need to see urgent action to rapidly scale up renewable energy, make renewable energy cheaper, and restore commitments to phase out fossil fuel cars and decarbonise home heating in the near future.

“The report highlights home heating as an area where the UK is lagging behind other countries, with the Netherlands installing zero-carbon heat pumps twenty times faster than the UK. However it praises Scotland’s Heat in Buildings plan as a template for wider action.

“I’m pleased the report recognises the bold ambition we have shown here in Scotland with our Heat in Building plan, a programme I headed up when the Scottish Greens were in government. It shows that the Scottish Greens not only have the radical ideas needed to tackle the climate emergency, but when we get the opportunity we actually act on those plans.

“Our routemap for clean heating must be urgently progressed by the Scottish Government, and rolled out UK wide, so that everyone can benefit from warmer, greener and more affordable home heating.

“The Scottish Government must also follow the report’s recommendations and urgently publish a new climate plan, following the advice the committee published earlier in the year. Time is rapidly running out, and none of us can afford to be complacent when it comes to the existential threat of climate change"