As we continue to tackle the COVID pandemic, it is important to remember the climate emergency hasn’t gone away – far from it. That’s why on 6th May it must be Both Votes SNP to re-elect Nicola Sturgeon and an SNP government to secure a green recovery and a greener Scotland. The SNP in government will continue Scotland’s global leadership on climate action by continuing to invest millions every year in renewable energy and increasing progress towards becoming a net-zero nation. We already have the most ambitious legal framework for emissions reduction in the world – with targets of a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2045, as well as being carbon neutral by 2040.
If re-elected, an SNP Scottish Government would ramp up efforts to meet these targets, with these key pledges:
A transport revolution – a target to reduce the use of cars, measured as ‘car kilometres’, by 20% by 2030, alongside a £500m investment to improve bus infrastructure and tackle congestion, a £120m investment in Zero Emission Buses, and work to decarbonise our railways by 2035.
Decarbonise the heating of 1 million homes by 2030, and ensure all new homes delivered by registered social landlords and local authorities will be zero emission homes by 2026.
Develop the enormous potential of Scotland’s hydrogen sector – including a target of 5GW hydrogen production capacity by 2030 and exploring the use of hydrogen trains as an alternative to diesel and electrification.
The new targets include a reduction in car use of 20% by 2030. A £500m investment to improve bus infrastructure and tackle congestion, a £120m investment in Zero Emission Buses, and work to decarbonise our railways by 2035. A target of decarbonising the heating of one million homes by 2030, and ensure all new homes delivered by registered social landlords and local authorities will be zero emission homes by 2026.
READ MORE: The SNP also want to develop the potential of Scotland’s hydrogen sector and explore the use of hydrogen trains as an alternative to diesel and electrification. It will also increase targets for new woodland creation by 50%, from 12,000 hectares up to 18,000 hectares by 2025 and double the Climate Justice Fund to £24m over four years.
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For most of these communities, climate change is experienced through water – too much or too little. Thanks to its expertise in climate change and water, as host nation of the crucial global climate conference, COP26, Scotland has an opportunity to show global leadership in 2021. Together we can help amplify the voices of those living with the consequences of climate change who are too often forgotten at international political get-togethers.
For millions of people across the world, the climate emergency is already here. It is unravelling development progress for the worlds most marginalised communities. That means in effect, people who were perhaps beginning to see a way out of generations of poverty, thwarted back into just trying to survive day by day. The prospect for their children and their children’s children is even more bleak.