The proposals from Cerg would see Scotland move towards a net-zero economy.
A consortium of civic and business leaders has set out an eight-point plan to move Scotland towards a net-zero economy post Covid-19.
The Climate Emergency Response Group (Cerg) said its recommendations would lead to a “genuine green recovery” which creates jobs and increases the nation’s health and wellbeing.
In a new report, Cerg proposes four priority areas and four strategies that can boost the economy and set Scotland on a course for net-zero climate emissions.
The priority areas include retrofitting buildings to be more energy-efficient, launching a rural jobs creation programme, giving support to green enterprise and embarking on a programme of infrastructure improvements in cities and towns.
Strategies to achieve this transformation could include means of unlocking additional private investment, a green scrappage scheme, retraining workers under a “green future skills” programme and expanding capital investment.
Cerg said these proposals would ensure measures to tackle the climate emergency were embedded in every area of the post-Covid recovery, as recommended in a recent report from the Scottish Government’s Advisory Group on Economic Recovery.
Fabrice Leveque, head of policy at WWF Scotland said: “A decade ago, governments around the world responded to the financial crisis with business as usual with only 16% of the UK stimulus going to clean measures. We’re still reaping the consequences. We need to learn the lessons of the past and build back a better, greener and fairer economy that is resilient to the climate emergency accelerating before our eyes.
“A wealth of evidence shows that steps to make our economy lower carbon can secure jobs and bring other benefits like cleaner air, warmer homes and better health.”
Sara Thiam, chief executive of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, said there were now “clear opportunities to invest in green industries that can make our economy cleaner, more productive and resilient to future threats”.
“We need, and future generations deserve, a just transition to a low carbon future,” she added.
