Scotland’s new ‘Programme for Government’ outlines plans to tackle climate change
10 September 2019
Article: 53/3606
On 3 September 2019, Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced the 2019-2020 ‘Programme for Government’ in the Scottish Parliament. Part of this year’s programme includes further reducing Scotland’s contribution to climate change.
The programme sets out several steps the Scottish Government will take, including an investment of more than £500 million to improve bus infrastructure across the country, in order to encourage more people to use public transport.
Plans also include an aim to decarbonise Scotland’s railways by 2035, and to make the Highlands and Islands the world’s first net zero aviation region by 2040.
Other environmental plans include:
- A ‘Green New Deal’, creating a £3 billion package of investments to attract green finance to Scotland.
- Plans to develop regulations, so that from 2024 new homes must use renewable or low carbon heat, targeting a minimum of £30 million of support for renewable heat projects.