The Scottish government has set a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. It needs the cooperation and funding of the UK government to meet the climate change programmes related to Scotland’s net zero 2045 target.
Scotland to Decarbonise by 2045
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has said her government is working faster than the other G20 members to decarbonise the country. She said Scotland’s net zero 2045 package was halfway there with the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) updated climate change plans. The SNP has set out a comprehensive, credible package of policies for reducing emissions throughout the next decade. The package puts the country on track to Scotland’s net zero 2045 target to deliver decarbonisation policies. The Scottish government’s climate change plan sets a zero-emissions date for public sector bodies. Based on this plan, the infrastructure, transport, and whole operations would stop polluting the environment. Every year, every sector is required to report its progress to tackle climate change in Scotland. The Scottish government is determined to use every policy needed to meet Scotland’s net zero 2045 target.
Scotland Is Well Organized for Low Carbon Targets
The SNP has planned for Scotland’s net zero 2045 target five years ahead of other countries in the world. The Scottish government aims to reduce the production of all major greenhouse gases by 75% until 2030. Based on the programme, the Scottish government wants to decrease greenhouse gases by 90% by 2040. Scotland will stop producing diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2030 and decarbonise domestic flights by 2040.
In response to the Paris Agreement, the Scottish government had already set lawfully binding targets to reduce emissions to net zero and established a strict framework of lawful targets. Scotland started its green targets in 1990, and the journey to Scotland’s net zero 2045 requires different and difficult choices. The Paris Agreement supports global low carbon goods and services and increases competitiveness among low carbon businesses.
Scottish Government Needs Funding for Net Zero
The Scottish government committed itself to a green economic recovery from Covid-19 to achieve Scotland’s net zero 2045 target. Its economic recovery will focus on programmes to move towards the net zero emission of all greenhouse gases. To meet the target, Scotland’s government supports decarbonisation in the public sector, engages with businesses and industries, and encourages individuals to move towards low carbon living. The Scottish government plans to motivate businesses and industries to increasingly apply low carbon technologies.
Intense decarbonisation activities need investment in the economic sector for the use of renewable energy. The Scottish government is moving towards Scotland’s net zero 2045target and needs more funding to develop its carbon capture and storage facility. Acorn’s project for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) would help much with the target.
Westminster Refuses to Support Acorn
Westminster has refused to develop the Acorn Project at St Fergus, Aberdeenshire, until the second phase in 2030. It could be ready halfway into 2025, but Westminster is providing investments for two other English projects. The Acorn Project is a programme to tackle climate change using the existing oil and gas pipelines. Acorn is in the North Sea designed to store carbon dioxide in the Goldeneye field. The project can take North Sea natural gas and turn it into clean-burning hydrogen. With this project, the Scottish government can transform their carbon-intensive industries into low-carbon industries and keep jobs. In transitioning to net zero emissions in Scotland, Acorn would remove up to one million tonnes of CO2 every year. Acorn can play a key role in Scotland’s net zero 2045 target by storing primary emission sources across the country.
Westminster’s Decision Dubbed Disappointing
The UK government’s refusal to fund the Acorn project before 2030s is a blow to SNP’s net zero programmes. The UK energy minister selected two schemes in England for the first phase of the programme and rejected the Scottish cluster. Sturgeon has asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson to reverse his decision and support Scotland’s carbon capture and storage facility. The First Minister dubbed Johnson’s decision a damaging move and warned that the jobs of many workers are at stake. SNP’s energy spokesperson at Westminster called the UK government’s decision a betrayal of the North Sea. He said this decision shows the Tories’ empty words and broken promises. Leading energy firms condemned the decision, and some described Westminster’s choice as disappointing. A group of businesses said the Acorn project contributes to the net zero ambition and is vital for Scotland’s net zero 2045 target.
Renewable Energy Is Replacing Gas
The Scottish government is legally committed to Scotland’s net zero 2045 target, five years ahead of the UK. It is committed to providing 1.6 billion pounds to secure a fair transition to a net zero economy. The Scottish government is committed to a 20-year vision for zero-carbon and providing 500 million pounds for infrastructure. It is committed to planting 18,000 hectares of forest annually by 2024 and restoring 250,000 hectares of peatland by 2030.
During the ten years to 2018, Scotland reduced greenhouse gases by 31%, faster than the rest of the UK. Around 11% of Scottish houses use a renewable or low carbon heating system, but most homes still use gas. Scotland plans to reduce energy use in houses and buildings to a zero-emission heating system. Scotland’s generation of renewable energy has tripled in more than a decade, and fossil fuel generation has fallen.
Conclusion
The SNP is determined to follow climate change programmes and achieve carbon net zero emissions ahead of other countries. The Scottish parliament passed legislation to reach net zero by 2045, five years earlier than the rest of the UK. To achieve that goal, Scotland must take many measures and needs London’s cooperation. It is not enough to set legally binding programmes. Scotland must also meet the targets. The Scottish government has many plans to reduce carbon production and move towards net zero-emissions. Businesses and industries in Scotland have progressively moved towards low carbon technologies and practices. The government will gradually replace the energy needed for transport and buildings with clean-burning fuels.
The SNP has introduced several projects for Scotland’s net zero 2045 target. An essential task in the North Sea for storing CO2 in oil and gas fields was supposed to start by the middle of the decade. The Acorn project can have a good impact on Scotland’s net zero 2045target and preserve many jobs. The project is going to use the existing facilities to reduce carbon emissions. The UK government, however, has shifted its support to other English programmes and will not back the project until 2030. Although Acorn was going to be the most advanced plan to be taken forward for the Scottish net zero programmes, Westminster passed it over, which could disturb the Scottish 2045 target.