Government urged to set transition targets amid warnings of ‘going backwards’

The Scottish Government has been urged to set just transition targets as it has been warned it risks “going backwards” on the issue.

The Just Transition Commission released its third annual report on Thursday, following a meeting with First Minister John Swinney earlier this week.

The group has pushed for the Government to put in place goals to ensure workers and communities are not harmed by the move away from fossil fuels.

Assessing the impact of the just transition, the commission admits, is highly complex, but the group warned not to allow the “perfect to be the enemy of the good”.

The recommendation comes ahead of the publication of the Scottish Government’s climate change plan and its energy strategy next year, with the commission calling for the targets to be included.

“A well-developed just transition policy process must be embedded within this new structure, including by establishing clear interim just transition targets up to 2045, based on agreed priority areas and detailed activities across, for example, five, 10, 15 and 20-year targets, with accountability attributed across relevant areas of government, agencies or mandated for external stakeholders,” the report said.

The commission is also tasked with providing a “progress assessment” to look at how Scotland is dealing with the just transition.

In that section of the report, the group said there had been “significantly reduced emissions and expanded renewable power generation” in the past 25 years, but had also been a “concerning pattern of stagnation on child poverty, absolute poverty and inequality” in the past 10 years and a recent increase in fuel poverty, owing to high gas prices.

“This tallies with what the Commission has consistently heard across the country about the struggles affecting people’s lives.

“How do we plan and deliver a just transition in Scotland when the reality for most today is defined by a daily experience of overlapping crises in housing, health and social care services, under-resourced public services and spiralling costs of essentials?

“There have been significant headwinds to negotiate during this period, including global conflicts, the cost crisis and Covid-19 pandemic.

“Nonetheless the data shows a different policy approach to what has so far been attempted is required at all levels of government if we are to use further changes to reduce our emissions as levers for progress towards a fairer society.”

Committee co-chair Satwat Rehman said: “We have seen and heard very directly how success in achieving a just transition is critical to the lives and livelihoods of people across Scotland.

“Workers fear they are facing a cliff edge at the same time as storms and floods have grown increasingly frequent and severe. In Scotland we have built up a solid long-term commitment to a just transition.

“The next period will be critical for action and results.”

Fellow co-chair Professor Dave Reay added: “We met the First Minister on Tuesday and set out the next steps we think are required for a just transition.

“We think quantifying exactly what we mean by just transition and setting targets for what we want to achieve can be transformative in catalysing action from across government, business and industry and help unlock investment.

“It would also represent a genuine world-first at a time when societies around the globe are grappling with how to do this.”

Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said: “I welcome the JTC’s annual report and the robust assessment the report provides, whilst acknowledging the progress we have made in applying a just transition approach.

“There are many recommendations and helpful insights within the report and the accompanying research which we will now take time to consider.

““The Just Transition Commission’s work is vital and we will continue to work closely with them to help ensure Scotland achieves its net-zero ambitions fairly, while supporting businesses, workers and communities.”