We must urgently curb car use to tackle climate emergency, warns Slater

Scots must urgently curb their car use in order to tackle the climate emergency, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens has said.

Lorna Slater criticised John Swinney during First Minister’s Questions after his Government conceded it will miss its target to reduce car use by 20% by 2030.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop told Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee last week she “won’t be able to deliver” on the pledge.

On Thursday, Ms Slater highlighted that ditching the target followed last year’s decision to axe the key climate goal of reducing emissions by 75% by 2030.

She said: “As with their climate targets, the Scottish Government is not on track to meet its targets to cut car use.

“Instead of putting forward a practical solution for success, it sounds like their preferred solution is just to drop the target altogether.

“We urgently need to cut car use to tackle the climate emergency.”

The First Minister accepted there are “significant challenges” in meeting the car use target.

He said this included the concessionary travel scheme for over-60s and under-22s alongside investment in the active travel budget.

He added: “The Government has examined and explored a range of different options to support the development of this policy.

“We will continue to do that as we work as part of our climate agenda to reduce car use and to increase the reliance of members of the public on public transport.”

Ms Slater told the First Minister that Scotland “simply cannot afford any more broken promises on climate”.

She warned: “If we do not act now, economists have found that Scotland could be up to £140 billion poorer by 2035.

“People have been paying the price for a lack of progress to insulate our homes and move away from expensive gas heating through their soaring energy bills.

She said “bold action” from ministers will be needed to get Scotland “back on track”.

The First Minister told the Green MSP that tackling the climate crisis is at the “heart” of his Government, and legislation on energy efficiency in homes would be brought to Parliament before the next election.

He added: “We have also invested, or committed to investing, in this current budget year, £300 million in the heat in building programmes which will increase energy efficiency and provide financial support to do exactly what Lorna Slater has put to me.

“That comes alongside over £1.63 billion of funding through our heat and building schemes in this parliamentary session so far.”