Budget deal gives welcome boost for warm homes – but more is needed to tackle climate emergency
Existing Homes Alliance Scotland comments on budget deal agreement reached between Cabinet Secretary for Finance Kate Forbes and Scottish Greens.
Yesterday, Cabinet Secretary for Finance Kate Forbes reached an agreement with the Scottish Green Party to ensure passage of the Scottish Government’s budget at all stages in parliament. This deal included £25 million of additional investment in local energy efficiency projects.
The Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, which includes SFHA, welcomed the additional funding.
Elizabeth Leighton, Director, Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, said: “The Existing Homes Alliance Scotland welcomes the additional £25 million for energy efficiency and fuel poverty in the Scottish budget deal expected to be passed today. This brings the total budget for insulating homes and lifting people out of fuel poverty through programmes delivered by local authorities to just over £162 million. However, with over 600,000 people in fuel poverty, and an urgent need to cut climate emissions in the next decade, this still falls well short of the £240 million that we calculate is necessary to meet our climate and fuel poverty goals.
“Indeed, the Just Transition Commission, in its interim report released today, recommended an expansion of energy efficiency initiatives because they are ‘just transition in action’ – reducing fuel poverty, cutting emissions, creating jobs and improving health.
“We urge all parties to continue to build on the success of Scotland’s energy efficiency and fuel poverty budgets and look forward to the Capital Spending Review where longer-term funding commitments must be made to secure warm, low carbon and affordable homes for all.”