ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have said that the creation of “good green jobs” must be at the heart of the Scottish government’s programme.

Tomorrow Nicola Sturgeon and ministers are expected to unveil their legislative plans for the remainder of the parliamentary term, ahead of May’s Holyrood election. 

And Friends of the Earth (FOE) Scotland has proposed a 10-point programme of activity to the government that would help create tens of thousands of green jobs while building a fairer society.

Representatives from the charity say the twin crises of the climate emergency and economic impacts of Covid-19 demand urgent intervention that tackles both issues head on.

FOE Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said: “The Programme for Government is the first major opportunity for the government to spell out how they will boost investment, create green jobs and set us on a path to a just and green recovery.

“We see the worsening impacts of climate breakdown, from fires in California to landslips in Scotland. There is no time to waste in creating the climate jobs that will help us exit this recession, reduce emissions and build a fairer economy.”

The 10-point plan includes a number of measures focusing on workers in the transition to a greener economy. FOE Scotland wants to see investment in green national infrastructure projects that include energy efficiency, sustainable transport and renewable heating, as well as an end to public money for fossil-fuel developments. 

The campaigners also want to see a “skills map” laid out towards a zero-carbon economy in Scotland, with targeted training programmes to address any gaps, as well as government spending shifted away from polluting projects such as road-building. 

Dr Dixon said: “Scotland must learn the lessons of the past and ensure that none of the recovery money goes to new fossil-fuel developments or high-carbon projects that will worsen the climate emergency. 

“Politicians cannot be seduced by the false solutions and false promises of the fossil-fuel industry who are demanding public money for high-risk technologies like carbon capture or fossil-fuelled hydrogen.

“By mapping out the skills needed for a zero-carbon economy and then providing those training opportunities, we can give people the skills they need to flourish as we move beyond fossil fuels.”