Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse is demanding urgent talks with the UK Government following Theresa May’s decision to axe the Department of Energy and Climate Change in Whitehall. The new Prime Minister’s reshuffle has seen the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) merged with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to create a Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department. Environment campaigners have expressed concern that the change suggests tackling climate change will no longer be a priority for the UK Government. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon raised the issue directly with the new Prime Minister when they met in Edinburgh last week and Wheelhouse has now pledged to take the issue further. The Scottish Government has committed to introduce a new climate change bill which will set a target to reduce emissions by more than 50 per cent by 2020. Scottish ministers want to secure UK government support for pumped storage hydro schemes, onshore and offshore wind, as well as interconnectors between Scotland’s island communities.
Scotsman 16th July 2016 read more »