Officials figures show spending on climate change mitigation will be cut from £502m in 2015/16, to £456.2m in the 2016/17 draft budget The Scottish Government plans to cut spending on climate change mitigation by nearly 10 per cent, according to new analysis by WWF Scotland. In October, Dr Aileen McLeod, Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, told parliament: “We will ensure that climate change is a top priority through a cabinet agreement to embed it in the autumn budget process”. But Scottish Government figures show spending on measures aimed at reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced from £502m in 2015/16, to £456.2m in the 2016/17 draft budget.
Holyrood 18th Jan 2016 read more »
Analysis by WWF Scotland of Scottish Government figures shows that the Scottish Government is planning to reduce the amount of money it spends on policies that help to tackle climate change by almost 10%. It follows a commitment from the Scottish Government, first made last summer and repeated in the run up to the international Paris climate change conference, that climate change would be embedded throughout its Draft Budget. Previous analysis by the Existing Homes Alliance had already shown that the Scottish Government is currently planning to reduce future funding for fuel poverty and energy efficiency by 13%, in comparison to their spending in the current financial year. This is despite a commitment made last year to make energy efficiency a National Infrastructure Priority. With almost half of Scotland’s climate change emissions coming fr om heating our homes and businesses, improving energy efficiency is the essential foundation to tackling climate change, cutting fuel poverty and reducing fuel bills.
Blue and Green Tomorrow 18th Jan 2016 read more »