First Minister John Swinney has renewed the Scottish Government commitments to tackle net zero ambitions after a year of disappointing progress.
Swinney referenced an additional £25 million in funding for Grangemouth and insisted to the audience of representatives from across the connected worlds of biodiversity, agriculture and energy, progress towards a carbon neutral future was dependent on private sector investment.
Owners of Grangemouth refinery, PetroIneos, announced last year that the plant would cease production in March.
Speaking in front of the dense greenery of Kibble Palace in Glasgow Botanical Gardens, Swinney highlighted Grangemouth as the first big test of the net zero just transition pledge agreed in Glasgow at COP26, committing to ensure that the “transition will abandon no community.”
First Minister John Swinney has renewed the Scottish Government commitments to tackle net zero ambitions after a year of disappointing progress
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“This transition will abandon no community,” he said.
“The importance of safeguarding jobs and livelihoods has never been more stark than in the immediacy of the situation at Grangemouth.
“If we are going to ensure a future for the site, opportunities for its highly skilled workforce, investment is needed now.
“That is why yesterday, I announced that the Scottish Government will amend the 2025-26 Budget at this late stage to allocate an additional £25 million for a Just Transition Fund for Grangemouth.
“Today, I urge the UK Government to at least match our funding – and to use the powers they have to go further. If this is a Government for the United Kingdom, then Scotland should be getting its fair share of UK-wide investments.”
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The SNP leader also directly addressed climate change deniers, warning of growing pushback on the need for climate policies and said public support was crucial for hitting future net zero targets.
“If we are to persuade people to back climate action wholeheartedly,” he said, “we must speak not only of the costs and challenges – which there will be – but also demonstrate clear and direct household and community benefits where these are possible.
“Tangible benefits at home, in terms of more jobs, lower energy bills, and new economic opportunities, delivering also tangible benefits for the planet.”“If we are to persuade people to back climate action wholeheartedly,” he said, “We must speak not only of the costs and challenges – which there will be – but also demonstrate clear and direct household and community benefits where these are possible.
“Tangible benefits at home, in terms of more jobs, lower energy bills, and new economic opportunities, delivering also tangible benefits for the planet.”
Following the departure of the Scottish Greens from government in 2024, the SNP ditched its flagship target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 per cent by 2030.
It also announced it would scrap annual emissions targets, instead opting to review emissions every five years.
Speaking about the changes in August, Energy Secretary Mairi McAllan admitted the 75 percent target was out of reach and instead saw merits of a route to 2045 carbon neutrality that was feasible, fair and just.
Jamie Livingstone, head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “The First Minister’s rhetoric on climate action is very welcome, but words won’t cut emissions.
The SNP leader directly addressed climate change deniers, warning of growing pushback on the need for climate policies and said public support was crucial for hitting future net zero targets
PA
“Blaming financial pressures doesn’t justify stalling action; especially when a fair tax on the nearly 13,000 pollution-spewing private flights clogging Scotland’s skies could raise up to £30 million more annually.”
The public also had their stay on the streets of Glasgow.
One commuter had just completed a “carbon literacy course” and net zero now ranked “quite high” on his list of household priorities.
Another said: “I think it’s something really important and I don’t think it’s being taken seriously enough.”
But others are yet to be convinced.
“For me the priority is just to get enough money to buy the house,” said one young visitor to Scotland’s largest city, adding “so net zero isn’t really up there.”
Another was attempting to compromise:“I still try to make things sustainable, but with net zero I think sometimes people don’t work the process fully”.
The First Minister’s speech was the latest in a series of speeches he’s been giving since the turn of the year, attempting to separate his government’s key priorities and give each of them time in the spotlight in the public domain.
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