Agenda item

Climate Change: A Just Transition

Meeting of Sustainable Development Committee, Friday, 4th September, 2020 10.00 am (Item 3.)

A Just Transition – Interim Report, further work of the Commission and a Borders’ perspective

Presentation by Kate Rowell, Just Transition Commissioner:

Supporting documents:

1. Just Transition Commission Interim Report, February 2020 https://www.gov.scot/publications/transition-commission-interim-report/

2. SBC Response to the Just Transition Commission Interim Report (copy attached)

3. Just Transition Commission Advice for a Green Recovery, July 2020 http://www.gov.scot/publications/transition-commission-advice-green-recovery/

4. Report of the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery

https://www.gov.scot/publications/towards-robust-resilient-wellbeing-economy-scotland-report-advisory-group-economic-recovery/

5. Infrastructure Commission: Key Findings Exec Summary (Jan 2020)

https://infrastructurecommission.scot/storage/278/Phase1_ExecutiveSummary.pdf

6. CERG – Climate Emergency Report (Aug 2019)

https://www.changeworks.org.uk/sites/default/files/Climate-Emergency-Statement.pdf

7. CERG – 8 policy Packages for a Green Recover (July 2020) https://www.changeworks.org.uk/sites/default/files/CERG_Green%20Recovery_Final%20report_July2020_0.pdf

Minutes:

4.1 The Chairman introduced Kate Rowell, who in addition to being a Just Transition Commissioner, was Chair of Quality Meat Scotland, a livestock farmer in the Scottish Borders and qualified vet. She was also on the South of Scotland Enterprise agency Board. The Just Transition Commission was established by Scottish Ministers in January 2019 to advise on how just transition principles could be applied to climate change action in Scotland. As an explanation Ms Rowell referred to the quote: “The imperative of a just transition is that Governments design policies in a way that ensures the benefits of climate change action are shared widely, while the costs do not unfairly burden those less able to pay, or whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly at risk as the economy shifts and changes”. Just Transition was an internationally recognised movement but Scotland was first to look at the principles on a whole country basis and, with climate change as a focus, to also use opportunities presented to adjust existing inequalities. The Commission was made up of academics, environmentalists and representatives from organisations including Trade Unions, agriculture, industry including oil and gas and representing youth groups - the 2050 Climate Group. The Commission had also been asked by the Cabinet Secretary for advice on a green recovery from the Covid-19 outbreak. To gather information and with the realisation that it would be useful to meet groups on an informal basis, meetings had been held in different locations within Scotland, focusing on different groups and sectors; for example a meeting was held in Melrose focusing on land use and agriculture. The Commission’s interim report, summarising emerging themes, initial recommendations and plans for the year ahead, was published in February 2020 (see link below to the interim report). During the summer in a ‘Call for Evidence’, the Commission invited written submissions to inform the development of final recommendations. The submission from Scottish Borders Council had been circulated with the agenda.

4.2 Ms Rowell referred to three main themes, described within the interim report:

Planning ahead – the need for clear transition plans to be developed. Ms Rowell emphasised the importance of a strategic vision and transition plans for each sector to provide certainty and empowerment to encourage buy-in from all stakeholders.
Engagement - the need for on-going and proactive dialogue with all areas of society as the behaviour of everyone would need to change to meet Scotland’s climate change ambition.
Equity – action to tackle climate change had the potential to create both winners and losers – this transition must be fair. An example was the potential inequality faced in rural communities and the importance of paying attention to connectivity when changing transport systems, where networks in rural areas may be less resilient.

4.3 In the ensuing discussion Members expressed their keen support for the principles behind the Just Transition movement and asked Ms Rowell for more information about particular issues. With regard to help that could be given to farmers for transition Ms Rowell emphasised that farmers were part of the solution to climate change and not the problem. She gave the example of Rumbleton Rigg Farm in the Scottish Borders where it was being demonstrated that there were lots of small changes in practice that could be put in place to make a difference and bring about improvements in the environment whilst maintaining production. In response to a question about the cost of conversion to low carbon heating systems in houses Ms Rowell advised the scale and cost of transition of heating throughout Scotland had not yet been identified. In terms of carbon efficiency there may be more inequalities in rural areas and it may be prudent for houses not on the gas network to be converted first. Members discussed the use of money routinely provided by companies involved in commercial renewable developments for the benefit of the local community. Rather than this being used to fund individual projects it was suggested that it could be used strategically and in a more constructive way, within the area of the development, for example to pay for house insulation. In a conclusion of the discussion Mr Aikman confirmed that many of the points raised by the presentation aligned with work being developed by officers and the report being put forward to Council. The next steps, once the report had been considered, would be to establish baseline indicators, formulate an action plan and set targets and ambitions. The Chairman thanked Ms Rowell for her presentation.