A FOCUS ON NET ZERO AND A GREEN RECOVERY DR ZOE LAIRD
REGIONAL HEAD OF COMMUNITIES INFRASTRUCTURE AT HIE We’e all familiar with Scotland’s target of net zero emissions by 2045, but maybe less familiar with the interim target of delivering a 70% reduction by 2030. And, some of us might have forgotten about a previously set target of a 56% reduction by 2020, one we’ve not yet met. But this does not mean that our longer-term targets are not achievable, we just need to plan how we get there. And today, as we seek to map out a way beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, that plan for delivering net zero as part of a green recovery is more important than ever. WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY The first thing to recognise is that we all have a role to play. Delivering net zero is not simply about increasing renewable electricity generation, we need to look at our own personal habits and lifestyles – whether it’s in terms of heating, transport, or how we remove waste and reuse materials that require high carbon levels to extract and manufacture, such as plastics. As consumers, our changing consumption habits will drive innovation and commercialisation of net zero products, stimulating new markets. WE MUST DELIVER A JUST AND FAIR TRANSITION The second thing is to ensure we do not increase the divide between those who have and those who have not. We need to find ways to deliver a just and fair transition to a low carbon economy. We need to consider how this transition affects and creates jobs in the future, more so now than ever with the economic impact of COVID-19 becoming increasingly visible.
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WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR REGION’S STRENGTHS And thirdly, though there is much to be done, we need to focus on our strengths and how we work with and seek to influence others. That is why HIE’s approach for a just transition to net zero focuses on the advantages we have in the Highlands and Islands: ■ our natural capital is amongst the most resourceful and plentiful in the world; ■ our marine environment and extensive coastline offer significant opportunities for energy generation, marine science, marine manufacturing and aquaculture; and ■ our track record in innovation in renewable energy technology development and deployment has created real momentum in trialling local, low carbon energy systems. These are just some of our greatest regional strengths, and as we seek to recover from the impact of COVID-19, they can be highly compatible with both economic growth and net zero. So, we will continue to build on the success of our renewable energy sector with developments in offshore wind, energy integration, hydrogen production and commercial wave and tidal in the longer term. But we must also go further to work with our partners in assisting other sectors decarbonise – the food and drink, tourism, construction, and transport sectors offer real potential for the region’s supply chain. Particularly innovative is the opportunity to explore zero emission aviation. Our region’s island geography combined with our renewable resources and strong test and demonstration experience, provides ideal conditions for sustainable aviation testing. Likewise, the increasing use of green hydrogen offers a transformational opportunity to ferries, trains and heavy goods transport, while there are also moves to strengthen the timber sector and improve its value to the construction industry as we seek to build more housing to support population regrowth.
