Opposition parties accuse SNP of 'not going far enough' with climate Bill

Published on Thursday 13 November 2008 10:30

THE Scottish Government is not going far enough in its efforts to tackle climate change, MSPs heard today.

Labour's Sarah Boyack called for more measures on "microgeneration" and energy efficiency during a debate in the Scottish Parliament this morning.

Ms Boyack has drafted her own members Bill but said she was prepared to hold off and see if the Government was prepared to put such measures in its forthcoming climate change Bill.

She said: "I believe these measures would greatly strengthen the Bill.

"If we are to have any hope of delivering the 3% annual CO2 reductions we need, we need to maximise the potential contribution of energy efficiency, microgeneration and local community energy as we move to a low carbon society."

Ms Boyack, the MSP for Edinburgh Central, said she has met finance secretary John Swinney on the issue but said more action was needed.

"I do want to put on record that I believe the cabinet secretary hasn't gone far enough," she added.

"I hope today's debate will encourage him to go further in the climate change Bill."

She said that a shift to a low carbon economy will mean bringing home to people their "personal role and personal ability" in tackling climate change.

Green MSP Robin Harper told MSPs that the quickest route must be taken towards reducing the impact on the environment of carbon dioxide by 80% by 2050.

"If we don't take the fastest route, if we take the slow route, then by 2050 we could have as much as twice – certainly a third – more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere warming the world," he said.

The quickest way was to invest in energy efficiency now because that gives the "biggest payback", according to Mr Harper.

"It's almost a no-brainer that we should be going for insulation as the biggest priority," he added.

"We could literally draft proof and insulate Scotland within a decade if we put our minds to it.

"That is the call from us to this chamber and the Government – to set this big vision in motion."

Climate change minister Stewart Stevenson said the Government wanted to see a reduction in demand for energy through greater energy efficiency and generating more renewable energy.

"That will play a significant role in reducing Scotland's emissions," he said.

He said the forthcoming climate change Bill was world leading legislation.

"We will be making provisions in the Scottish climate change Bill that will give this Government the powers to promote energy efficiency and incentivise the generation of heat from renewable sources," he said.

"This demonstrates clear commitment from the Government and recognises the central role that energy efficiency and renewables will play in reducing our emissions."

But the Government is also taking steps to intensify efforts on energy efficiency, microgeneration, fuel poverty and climate change, he added.

"This represents a total investment of around 226 million this year," the minister said.

For the Tories, Alex Johnstone said his party had paid tribute to Sarah Boyack's proposals by "borrowing" some of them for inclusion in the Tory manifesto last year as the "eco-bonus scheme".

On the wider issues, he told MSPs: "I still receive letters from enthusiastic and, it would appear, honest individuals who believe climate change is not the issue we believe it is.

"In all honesty, in the current economic position, even if there was to be no carbon benefit to be achieved by the proposals in this Bill, the contribution it would make to alleviating fuel poverty would alone be appropriate to make us support this proposal.

"This is genuinely a win-win."

But Mr Johnstone said more needed to be done in areas such as "microgeneration".

"Microgeneration opportunities within our towns, particularly where strict planning controls exist, are still difficult to encourage and hard to get through the planning process," he said.

"While there is no need in my view for a change in planning regulations, the way local authorities are implementing planning in some areas does discourage the investment that could be taking place.

For the Liberal Democrats, Liam McArthur said the energy efficiency Bill can provide a "win-win" by reducing carbon emissions, tackling fuel poverty and providing security of supply.

But criticising the Government he said: "The fact is that this Government still flatters to deceive when it comes to energy efficiency and promoting 'micro-renewables'."

Mr McArthur went on: "Despite several Scottish Government announcements, none fulfils the proposals set out for this Bill or will ensure that energy efficiency improvements and microgeneration measures are mainstreamed across society by requiring and incentivising such measures in homes or businesses."

And he told MSPs: "It beggars belief that 18 months since this Government came into office, ministers have still to publish their action plan on energy efficiency."

He accused ministers of "hiding behind the skirts" of a proposed local income tax to justify their failure to support the Bill.

"Like the SNP, we too support a local income tax, albeit one that is genuinely local and provides a number of other safeguards that Mr Swinney is now considering," he said.

"We will happily work with the Government on ways of using a fairer system of local taxation based on the ability to pay to incentivise households to adopt energy efficiency measures and micro-renewable technologies, but let's get the principle of such incentives established first."

In the debate that followed, MSPs heard a plea by SNP MSP Rob Gibson for councils to provide free thermal imaging services to households that will help improve their energy efficiency.

"Everyone should be able to access thermal imaging free," said Mr Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands region.

"All councils have got thermal imaging equipment – it should be made available to everybody – and that would be a first step."