SCOTLAND'S Net Zero Secretary has pledged to “maximise” public money in the fight against climate change.
This week, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes outlined indicative spending plans for the remainder of the parliamentary term, with a focus on increased funding for health and social security.
Michael Matheson said on Friday the Government face a “challenging” fiscal situation due to rising inflation and energy prices increasing the cost of living, adding that they will “redouble our focus on efficiency, structural change and collaboration”.
READ MORE: IFS scaremongering on Scotland's economy is best ignored: Richard Murphy
The push for net zero was also given a funding increase, from £1.6 billion to almost £2.1 billion by the end of the parliament in 2026.
But the review said the Government would move from a public funding model to one that is reliant more on private investment.
“To harness this investment effectively and maximise the impact of collective action to address the climate crisis, activity to move from a funding to financing policy model will be scaled up to ensure that future climate change policy leverages private sector investment and action, better amplifying the impact of public investment,” the resource spending review said.
The review also pledges cash for low carbon heating, woodland creation, active travel and peatland restoration, along with funding for a just transition.
“This spending review comes at a critical point in the global challenge to address the climate crisis,” Matheson said.
“Tangible global action is becoming ever more urgent, and Scotland is committed to playing its part with some of the most ambitious, legally-binding targets in the world.
“That is why our future spending plans prioritise investment in the package of measures to tackle climate change and deliver a just transition – as set out in our updated climate change plan.”
He added: “But, as the Finance Secretary set out earlier this week, the challenging fiscal environment in the coming years means we must redouble our focus on efficiency, structural change and collaboration.
“That is why I am committed to ensuring we maximise every penny of public investment, working collaboratively with the private sector and our communities to accelerate delivery of public policies that will reduce emissions, build resilience to the impacts which are locked in, tackle biodiversity loss and help to create a fairer, greener society.”
READ MORE: Jackdaw: Campaigners threaten legal battle after gas field wins final approval
The Scottish Government has already sought to harness private investment in green energy, with the ScotWind leasing round allowing major firms to build offshore wind farms off the coast, raising £700m for the public purse with ministers claiming up to £25bn in benefits could be seen in the Scottish supply chain.
But opposition MSPs have claimed the Scottish Government are allowing the “offshoring” of profit, with the companies who control the wind farms reaping the benefits of the energy they produce.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here