Climate Change and Energy

Cracked earth Climate Change is perhaps the greatest sustainable development challenge facing Scotland and the planet as a whole.

In recognition of this the Scottish Parliament has passed a Climate Change Act with a commitment to cut Scottish emissions by 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. This legislation presents both challenges and opportunities for Scotland – the Commission is engaged with the Government and other stakeholders to create alliances for action and deliver the reductions.

To help inform MSPs’ discussion on the Climate Change Bill as it was debated in Parliament, the Commission hosted a series of seminars in late 2008. These drew together members of the Parliament’s Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee with Scottish Government staff and other experts. The objective was to explore both the technical issues around the Bill, and the challenges faced in all the main policy fields. A summary of each meeting along with all the presentations can be found here.

SDC Scotland will continue to support Government getting an effective Bill passed by engaging with the Parliament, Government and other stakeholders. And we will continue to work with Government to build the policy action needed to meet the aspirations of an 80% cut.

Climate Challenge Fund

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Climate Challenge Fund is intended to support and encourage action by communities on climate change. The Fund is supported by an alliance of key organisations and networks which is co-ordinated by the Sustainable Development Commission Scotland (SDC).

» More information on the Climate Challenge Fund alliance

Energy Policy and Fuel Poverty

Electron Changing the way we generate and use energy is fundamental to the creation of a sustainable Scotland. We need to reduce our demand for energy and generate energy in a more sustainable way. The Commission is working with the Government to develop an energy policy that better meets economic, social and environmental objectives.

There is much discussion at present on the role new coal generation can play in Scotland’s future energy mix. The Commission is actively engaged at a Scottish and UK Government level in discussions about the potential for clean coal to be part of future energy supplies. Supporters of coal argue that, if fitted with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, coal can produce low carbon electricity. Opponents argue that CCS is not as yet proven to work or to be economic at the scale required.

We made a submission to the Scottish Government’s recent consultation on Section 36 of the Electricity Act. In the next few months we will publish a coal position paper and hope to undertake further work with the Government on CCS in Scotland.

Building on the work of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development Scotland (FREDS) Group and on our earlier report on Wood Fuel for Warmth the Commission is currently working on an appraisal of work on renewable heat in Scotland. We will publish our report on this in summer 2009.

Marine power (e.g. wave and tidal) is likely to be a significant part of future low carbon energy. We have undertaken a major review of Tidal power in the UK and also prepared On Stream, a booklet designed to increase understanding of the potential for tidal power, and the challenges that have to be overcome.

Renewable heat will have to make a significant contribution to delivering a low carbon Scotland. Government's Renewable Heat Action Plan builds on many of the suggestions in our report Renewable Heat in Scotland.

Another potential energy source is energy from waste. This can contribute to sustainable waste objectives and to a sustainable energy policy. Our analysis show that energy from waste is, in the right circumstances, compatible with sustainable development and the move to a zero waste society.

We have also identified fuel poverty as a major sustainability challenge facing Scotland, and will continue to engage with the Government and others to advance action to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016 in line with the Government’s stated aim. We need to develop a far greater programme of investment in the energy performance of the housing stock – such action will improve health, create jobs and cut emissions – a 'triple win.'