Ministers must turn up the heat, not freeze progress on clean heat transition
The Scottish Government has announced it will shelve its draft Heat in Buildings Bill.
Responding to the news, Lewis Ryder-Jones, Oxfam Scotland Advocacy Adviser, said: “This legislation was meant to rapidly accelerate energy efficiency in our homes, so putting it on ice is a huge mistake. Switching to clean heat is a no-brainer: it will cut emissions, make our homes warmer, and create green jobs. Scottish Ministers should be turning up the heat, not freezing progress.
“Fair taxes can spread out the costs for everyone, offering comprehensive support and free upgrades for people on low incomes, helping us all move toward a cleaner, healthier Scotland.
"Changing the way we heat our homes is non-negotiable: it’s a future we can’t afford to delay. Putting this Bill into cold storage only makes it harder to ensure the transition is fair for everyone in Scotland.”
/ENDS
For more information and interviews, please contact: Rebecca Lozza, Media and Communications Adviser, Oxfam Scotland: rlozza1@oxfam.org.uk / 07917738450
Notes to Editors
· Read No Home Left Behind: Funding a Just Transition to Clean Heat in Scotland (2024). Produced by IPPR Scotland, in partnership with Oxfam Scotland and the Scottish Federation for Housing Associations, the report proposes a fair and sustainable funding option by creating a new system of grants that reduces existing inequalities.
