The Scottish Greens net zero spokesperson, Lorna Slater, MSP, has called for more urgency and an end to the SNP’s complacency in response to the final report of Scotland’s Just Transition Commission,
The Just Transition Commission is an independent expert advisory group, funded by The Scottish Government, with members drawn from business, industry, trade unions, environmental and community groups and academia. The ethos behind the committee is to find ways of ensuring a transition from fossil fuel based industries, and to create a greener, low carbon economy in Scotland, reskilling workers to help with the government’s net zero carbon target.
The Commission’s final report, entitled “No Time to Lose” outlines that “Our current trajectory exposes us to further repeats of the unplanned-for closures at Grangemouth and Mossmorran”
The conclusion is that there must be a set-change from government towards delivery that measurably improves people’s lives.
The report has six key messages saying that: Progress has fallen short of what is needed, there is no just path to Net Zero through deindustrialisation, a just transition is still possible but requires courageous action across sectors, investment for the just transition must be mobilised, communities and local authorities need both capacity and resource to keep place and influence major decisions in their area, and there must be more meticulous motoring and evaluation.
Ms Slater said: “This report underlines the danger of complacency and the results of leaving our future in the hands of multinational corporations and fossil fuel giants.
“Through delay and a reactive – not strategic – approach the government’s dependency on big business has led to job insecurity and ever-rising household bills.
“A just transition won’t happen by itself: it needs the investment and support of our governments to drive it, build confidence and ensure long-term jobs.
“The issue isn’t only about money. We need to ensure that there are long-term plans in place that are site-specific and that we are training workers in the first place.
“Scotland has some of the most skilled energy workers anywhere in the world, but they have been let down time and again by a lack of planning.
“We have seen that in Mossmorran and Grangemouth where, despite years of warnings from trade unions and others, there were no plans in place, and it was local people who paid the price.
“Scotland has a huge green potential, but both the Scottish and UK governments have failed to support it on the scale that is needed for us to not only retain our current skilled workforce but also train the next generation so they can secure long-term green jobs.
“A just transition is still possible, and it is essential, but we cannot afford any more complacency. There is no time to waste, our communities cannot afford any further delays, nor can our climate.”
She added: “The Commission has been clear, the Scottish Government must now place a greater focus on helping Scotland’s communities adapt to a changing climate, by supporting new flood protections and other infrastructure upgrades. This must go hand in hand with current work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“It is vital that Scotland’s Government invests in infrastructure that can withstand the kind of extreme weather that we are already seeing far more of. In doing so, we can create thousands of green jobs while protecting people and communities on the frontline of the crisis.”
