Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether net zero is being done to people, rather than with them, in light of reported concerns regarding the Mixed Tenure Improvement Service.
The Mixed Tenure Improvement Service is delivered by the City of Edinburgh Council using powers as set out in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004. Any concerns with the scheme would need to be raised with the Council.
Tackling the climate emergency is one of this Government’s key priorities and we are committed to ensuring that those who may be impacted by the transition to net zero are involved in designing how we manage it.
Our Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change, published in September 2021, recognises our commitment to a participatory approach where people can actively shape just, fair and inclusive policies that promote mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
Heating our homes and workplaces causes around 20% of our carbon emissions, so we cannot achieve net zero without improving energy efficiency and ending our use of gas boilers. We recently consulted on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, receiving over 1600 responses. We will ensure that our proposals are affordable for homes and businesses, and take account of responses to the consultation.