Hot topic.. cost of fighting climate change is a cool £700m a year to taxpayer

Fiscal study casts doubt on 2045 net zero deadline

- By David Walker Scottish Politics Reporter

HARD-PRESSED Scots face major tax rises and public service cuts if the SNP Government pushes ahead with plans to get Scotland to net zero by 2045.

A damning new report reveals that battling climate change will cost the public purse an average of £700million a year until 2050, with this money coming from the pockets of Scots.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s (SFC) report highlights that this significant spending “could put pressure on the Scottish budget” as most of it is devolved.

‘The two main constraints are buildings and transport, with these sectors emitting the most carbon emissions and costing the most to fix.

Critics called on the SNP to drop its unachievable plans, which were once labelled “world-leading” by Nicola Sturgeon.

‘The net-zero aim is five years ahead of the UK Government as a whole but the Scottish Government has been slated for not doing enough work to hit this.

SFC Chairman Professor Graeme Roy said that the cost of reducing emissions will have

‘Cost could hit £25bn over the next 25 years’