A public engagement programme on how to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change has shown widespread support for home energy efficiency improvements, the Scottish Government has said.
More than 2,500 people from across Scotland took part in the consultation, dubbed the Big Climate Conversation – which will look to help the country reach its goal of being net-zero by 2045.
In a statement released accompanying the findings, the Scottish Government wrote that ‘almost all’ participants agreed that a future scenario in which ‘all homes and buildings are insulated to the highest standard’ would be a good thing for Scotland.
However, many participants conceded that they were unsure about how they would benefit from making their home more energy efficient, for example, how much money they would save or how the comfort of their homes would change.
Participants also said that the current schemes and programmes in place for supporting the cost of insulation and other home improvements are ‘inadequate’.
Climate change secretary Roseanna Cunningham said, “The reduction in emissions we need to achieve to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change within a generation will require action by everybody and must be a truly national endeavour.
“We must also ensure our transformation to net-zero takes place in a just and fair way – no one should be left behind. That’s why the Scottish Government undertook The Big Climate Conversation last year.
“This report shows the breadth and value of the discussions that took place and I look forward to these continuing as Scotland progresses further to a net-zero society during the important years ahead.
“We will soon announce plans for Scotland’s Citizens Assembly on Climate Change which will build on the important insights gained through the Big Climate Conversation. In the meantime, I would like to thank everyone who took part.”
Executive director of the Raploch community partnership Janette Mitchell said, “As a local community regeneration charity, we were delighted to launch the community-led Big Climate Conversation. It was a wonderful focus for our wider Empowering Communities work.
“By holding our climate conversations, our service users and stakeholders helped us design our employability, training, volunteering and digital services with a new emphasis on tackling the global climate emergency.”
