The Union and the energy transition

The Climate Change Committee report found the Scottish government was falling way behind on implementing climate change targets. As the opposition, the Scottish Conservatives have a responsibility, as well as a political opportunity, to hold ministers to account over poor delivery of net zero and the energy transition. CEN-commissioned polling found that a majority of Scottish Conservative voters support an accelerated energy transition to renewables. They also think it will be easier to transition to clean energy and fight climate change using the fiscal might of the United Kingdom.

There are strong conservative arguments for why preserving the Union will make it easier and more economically beneficial to transition, for instance by having free trade in low-carbon goods and energy within the UK. But ambitious, pragmatic policies need to be put in place to make the most of the opportunities net zero provides. Whether changes to tax, coherent regulation, or…