Emma Roddick MSP has welcomed yesterday’s Scottish Budget, saying it could be a game-changer in the fight against climate change.
She highlighted that Scotland’s natural resources – like our wind, waves and tides – can be used to create clean energy and ditch fossil fuels for good, and investment in woodland creation and peatland restoration can continue to provide a carbon sink.
However, she highlighted the need to “take people with us” – saying that the Highlands and Islands often feel that renewable energy projects are something done to them rather than by them.
She said:
“This budget gives Scotland a real chance to take the lead.
“We’ve everything we need right here to power our country in a way that’s good for the planet; the work going on at Port of Cromarty Firth, Ardersier, and offshore to make us a world leader in renewable energy is what will give us energy security in the future, but that goal must be reached in a fair way.
“Often, folk in the region write to me upset that their community is hosting large development, but paying more for their energy bills than someone in London.
“That is not fair.
“The Scottish Government does not have control over energy policy, but we must take every opportunity possible to secure real and tangible community benefit for hosting development.
“Tackling climate change isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s about creating a fairer, sustainable, and more prosperous Scotland – we need people for that as much as we need turbines, and we won’t meet net zero if we can’t bring people with us.
“Investing in things like wind farms and green technology will create loads of new jobs and opportunities, and real community benefit would ensure that people feel proud of what we are doing, rather than their natural resources being raided for the benefit of others.
“Our contribution should be done by us, not to us.
“This budget is a good start, but we need to keep pushing for big changes.”
“This is something we need to do together.
“We need to listen to each other and make sure everyone benefits from a cleaner, greener future.”
