Scottish Government Withdraws Green Heating Legislation Again
- brg_news_room
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
Scotland: The Scottish government has withdrawn its proposed legislation on low-carbon heating systems for a second time this year. The heat in buildings bill, initially developed by former green minister Patrick Harvie, aimed to support the transition from gas boilers to alternatives such as electric heat pumps. The original proposal was abandoned earlier in the year due to concerns that it could increase fuel poverty, although ministers had committed to bringing forward replacement plans. The legislation was a key element of the cooperation agreement between the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Greens following the 2021 election.
A revised version of the bill, introduced after the partnership between the two parties ended, maintained the long-term target of decarbonising Scotland’s buildings by 2045. However, it removed any legal obligation on homeowners or businesses to replace existing heating systems. The government ultimately chose to withdraw this revised proposal as well. Heat generation currently accounts for more than half of Scotland’s energy demand and remains the largest source of the country’s carbon emissions.
Source: BBC
