Nearly half of Scots think reaching net zero will improve their lives

Almost three quarters of Scottish households think that climate change is an urgent problem, a survey has found.

According to the Scottish Climate Survey, 45 percent of the Scots feel that reaching net zero will improve their quality of life, whilst less than one in ten think it would make it worse.

Two in five thought that their job had been affected by the transition to net zero, with four per cent believing their job was likely to no longer exist after net zero had been achieved.

A third of households said they were finding it difficult to afford their energy bills, and more than four in ten said that increased spending on energy bills was forcing them to spend less on food.

Alasdair Allan, the acting minister for climate action, said: “The findings from this survey highlight that people recognise the benefits that reaching net zero by 2045 will bring. However, if we are to persuade people to back climate action wholeheartedly, we must speak not only of the costs and challenges but also demonstrate clear and direct household and community benefits where possible.

“Whilst the powers over energy price setting and regulation are reserved, we continue to prioritise support for the most vulnerable households through access to long-term, sustainable measures with our energy efficiency programmes. We are also calling on the UK Government to introduce targeted energy bill discounts to support those who need it most.

“Scotland is now halfway to net zero and continues to be ahead of the UK as a whole in delivering long-term emissions reductions. However, in order to reach our target, we need to work together more effectively. The findings from this survey help demonstrate that Scots not only understand the seriousness of the climate crisis – but want to see action.”

Almost half of those surveyed reported being regularly worried about climate change, and one in ten said their feelings about climate change had a negative effect on their emotional state a lot of the time. 

Despite six in ten of respondents spending time in local green spaces at least once a week, 77 per cent said they knew little to nothing about Scotland’s bio-diversity crisis. In 2023, Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity found that nearly half of our species have decreased in abundance and 11 per cent are under threat of extinction.

Scottish Labour net zero spokesperson Sarah Boyack said “This survey shows the massive opportunities that could come with the transition to net zero and the strong support from people in Scotland for the action that’s needed.

“Tackling the climate crisis head on is a chance to create good quality green jobs and drive down bills with cheaper, cleaner energy.

“The SNP is failing to deliver on its environmental commitments and the Tories are tearing theirs up – but Labour is delivering the climate leadership Scotland needs.”

Scottish Conservative shadow energy and net zero secretary Douglas Lumsden MSP said: “Protecting our environment and tackling climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our age.

“But the SNP’s approach to achieving net zero is inconsistent, ill-conceived and downright dishonest. They continually miss their unrealistic, arbitrary targets, yet refuse to level with the public.

“The nationalists’ ‘just transition’ is pure fiction. That’s why the Scottish Conservatives are proposing an affordable transition that would utilise our oil and gas sector and restore nuclear capacity by building new small modular reactors to ensure Scots are not clobbered financially.

“If that means the SNP’s 2045 target is not achievable, so be it.”