Climate of opportunity

During the last session of the Scottish Parliament, MSPs put in place tough climate change targets but it will fall to this and subsequent parliaments to deliver on them.

With the right leadership from the Scottish Government, our efforts to tackle climate change could see students at the vanguard providing the next generation of science, research and engineering graduates.

We need to use the challenge of climate change as a way to kick start new ways of thinking, such as more efficient ways of delivering services and new jobs in green industries.

Estimates indicate that around 60,000 new jobs in the low-carbon sector could be created by 2020. We need a steady stream of well qualified graduates to make it happen. Edinburgh’s further and higher education sector is already taking the lead in this area offering courses in a diverse range of disciplines and creating centres of excellence with world leading research and development.

However, we need clarity from the Scottish Government now on how they intend to meet the targets contained in the Climate Change Act. We need the right vision, policies and finance. We don’t need more talk, we need action in key areas like transport, building standards and energy generation.

The transition to a low carbon world will require graduates with a new set of skills and knowledge. We need to ensure new buildings incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy and that existing buildings are brought up to scratch. The benefits will not just be environmental but will help people and businesses save money on their energy bills as prices soar.

We also need to live less wasteful lives. There are still far too many communities in Scotland where people do not have the opportunity to recycle waste and more pressure needs to be put on retailers to curb excessive packaging. That’s why I’ve lobbied in the past for more recycling facilities around campus and in the city centre.

I also want to see greater support for low carbon, electric vehicles and was pleased to see Lothian Buses roll out a fleet of new buses this month. As a practical suggestion I have called on the Scottish Government to consider switching their vehicle fleet to low carbon equivalents. Not only would this reduce emissions, it would also be a signal of support for new green industries and the jobs they could provide. Continued investment in cycle lanes in the city is also important.

There are huge opportunities for Scotland in the renewables sector in terms of jobs and training but under the SNP they are passing us by. Whether it’s small or large, on- or off-shore, the drive to renewables must generate jobs whether from design, manufacture and the logistics of new infrastructure. I’d like to see much more action in our towns and cities to make sure we all benefit from warmer, cheaper homes.

The shift to a low carbon economy offers opportunities not only to help us tackle climate change but also to create jobs and economic growth and to deliver real benefits to people. How the Scottish Government uses its leadership in this term will be crucial to whether these opportunities are realised.