Scotland undoubtedly leads the way when it comes to green energy. The Committee on Climate Change – an independent, statutory body – stated that it regularly outperforms the rest of the UK when it comes to slashing carbon emissions.
Why is this? Well, there’s no doubt that power generation is a major factor. Five years ago, renewables became Scotland’s largest power source. And, in 2018, Scottish Power became the first major UK energy company to generate all its electricity from wind.
Scotland has a target of net zero emissions by 2045, five years earlier than the rest of the UK, and activity is already underway to meet that target. The Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland programme, which Energy Saving Trust delivers, provides free, impartial advice on energy efficiency, renewable energy, greener travel and reducing water waste.
The service also offers a range of interest-free loans for energy saving home improvements, as well as ebikes, electric vehicles and home chargepoints. The programme has saved over 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide since 2008, and has saved customers more than £1 billion in energy bills.
Other targets, such as recycling 70% of all waste by 2025 with a maximum of 5% to landfill, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds over the next 12 years, have given rise to organisations such as Zero Waste Scotland, which carries out vital work in cutting industry and consumer waste, and Keep Scotland Beautiful, who campaign for environmental behaviour change.
