蘑菇直播

UKGBC responds to the Scottish Heat and Buildings Strategy

The 蘑菇直播 (UKGBC) has today responded to the Scottish Heat and Buildings Strategy.

The Scottish Heat and Buildings Strategy听sets out听the Scottish听Government鈥檚 vision听for听how it听plans to听drive听the energy efficiency of buildings up, while ratcheting down the carbon impacts of their heating systems, creating economic opportunities and ensuring a just transition听to net zero.听This strategy comes out ahead of COP26, whilst we still wait on a UK–wide strategy from central government.听听

Simon McWhirter, Director of Communications, Policy and Places at UKGBC said:

鈥淲e welcome the release of the Scottish Government鈥檚 Heat and听Buildings听Strategy, which clearly听identifies听the听areas听and actions听which need听to听be听central听to听the听successful听decarbonisation of听Scotland鈥檚听building stock.听听

The industry needs long-term certainty and clarity over the trajectory it needs to follow in order to draw in supportive investment, and the Strategy rightly recognises this though the commitment to bring forward a framework of regulations for all tenures and building types. It鈥檚 great to see real ambition riven through elements of the strategy, including the investment of 拢1.8 billion over the course of the Parliament, and plans create a Green Heat Finance Taskforce before the end of this year. These will help unlock some of the tricky issues which have historically hobbled concerted action to decarbonise at pace and at scale. Likewise plans to develop a Supply Chain Delivery Plan with the sector are a particularly welcome step in ensuring the industry can develop the capacity deliver. 听

There is clearly much more to do if the goals of the Strategy are to be realised, including the provision of even greater concentration on the required skills and training improvements, and the deployment of broader financial incentives. Whilst the Strategy rightly recognises the importance of a just transition and supporting those less able to pay, more work will be needed to encourage those more able to pay鈥� a crucial hurdle to overcome in decarbonising all of Scotland鈥檚 homes. We therefore welcome plans to consult on further proposals in this area.听听 听

The release of听the Scottish Government鈥檚听plans听now听turns up the heat on the Westminster Government to deliver its own,听long-awaited听UK听Heat and Buildings听Strategy.听We听hope the UK Government听brings forward听a听long-term听National Retrofit Strategy, backed by听sufficient听funding and听key听financial incentives听in order听to听meet听the challenge.鈥澨�

Read the Scottish Heating and Buildings Strategy

This strategy is also released as UKGBC increases its programmes and reach in Scotland. More information about this will come during COP26.听

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