Future UK Govt 'Must Maintain Commitment Towards Climate Targets'

Scottish Renewables has outlined a maintained commitment towards current climate change targets as a key policy for the future UK Government.

In its pre General Election manifesto, the organisation has set out a number of recommendations on how it believes the next government can deliver affordable energy and clean growth.

With some 26,000 jobs supported by the sector alone in the north, Scottish Renewables said the industry's growth has been "one of the defining shifts in our energy system over the last decade".

Some key recommendation include;

• Maintain commitment to climate change targets

• Unlock investment in lowest-cost forms of energy


• Continue the growth of less-established technologies

• Accelerate the decarbonisation of heat and transport within an integrated energy system

• Enable local communities to benefit from clean growth

• Support research and innovation to deliver a smarter energy system

• Back our world-leading low-carbon energy sector

Chief Executive Niall Stuart said: "The growth of renewables has been one of the defining shifts in our energy system over the last decade, with renewables in Scotland now generating a significant share of the UK’s electricity needs.

"Advances in technology and rapid cost reductions mean that our industry can generate further economic and environmental benefit to Scotland and the UK - providing affordable energy for households and business, and driving clean growth across the country.

"However, we will only realise those benefits with the right policy framework to unlock the investment, research and innovation required to deliver a secure, modern and low-carbon energy system."

To view the manifesto, visit here.

(LM/MH)