ARIANE BURGESS: ‘If you want progressive green policies, you need to vote for the Scottish Greens’ as the SNP is ‘reversing, diminishing, or abandoning all this progress’
While we were in Government, the Scottish Greens eliminated peak rail fares. We launched an innovative fund to restore nature and create jobs throughout rural Scotland. We also introduced legislation for a comprehensive rent control system. We were on the verge of banning conversion practices and extending free bus travel to asylum seekers.
Now, the SNP Scottish Government is reversing, diminishing, or abandoning all this progress. Last week, we learned that the promise of free school meals is being broken.
The takeaway from last week’s Programme for Government is clear: if you want progressive green policies, you need to vote for the Scottish Greens to ensure their implementation. Voters who supported these policies now feel betrayed.
The Programme for Government contains some hopeful threads. The government has committed to introducing the Natural Environment Bill and the Community Wealth Building Bill, which is essential to underpin work in healing our land, seas, and communities.
I was also heartened to note that several policy announcements have the potential to ensure community ownership of energy. For communities that are fortunate to have done the hard work and own their own wind turbines, the experience has been transformative.
I’ve met with community organisations that have funded much-needed community projects, from housing to transport and infrastructure improvements to local food production. The added benefit is that they can employ local people—people who want to continue living where they grew up or have chosen to settle.
Not all communities can benefit from owning their wind turbines or other forms of renewable energy. That’s why I’m backing the seven asks from four community organisations: Community Energy Scotland, Community Land Scotland, Development Trust Association Scotland, and Scottish Communities Alliance.
One of their asks is to have communities own 10% of renewable energy generated in Scotland. This would be a huge improvement on the breadcrumbs handed out by companies through community benefit funds. Community-owned means that communities get to decide how to use the money, and they will direct it to vital projects like housing.
Another ask is to create a community wealth fund so that communities that won’t be able to have community ownership can access funds for large-scale projects.
During the summer, I took concrete steps to advocate for community ownership. I wrote to the First Minister and met with the Minister for Climate Action to discuss the importance of ensuring communities have a proper ownership stake in renewable energy projects. I have urged them to implement policies that facilitate community investment and ownership, providing the necessary support and resources to make this a reality.
The transition to renewable energy is both a challenge and an opportunity. It is challenging because it requires us to adapt to new realities and make difficult choices. But it is also an opportunity to build a better future for our children and grandchildren. By embracing community ownership of renewable energy, we can ensure that the benefits of this transition are shared by all, empowering our communities and securing our future.
