Scottish Government urged to ‘take ownership’ of renewables transition

Ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate today (10/9/26), climate campaigners have urged Ministers to “take ownership” of Scotland’s transition to renewable energy.  

Campaigners say that the Scottish Government must adopt a more “interventionist” approach to the renewable energy market and learn from how poorly oil companies have treated workers and the planet in recent years. Despite record profits, fossil fuel giants have reneged on climate commitments and abandoned workforces at Grangemouth and Mossmorran.  

Greater public ownership of renewables can ensure that benefits are returned to the public purse and communities in Scotland rather than flowing to private companies.  

If renewables operated in the public interest, this could create more opportunities for local supply chains and green jobs. Oil workers should be supported by expanding the funding available for training into new green careers, campaigners added. 

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s just transition campaigner Catrina Randall said: 

 “The Scottish Government needs to take ownership of the energy transition and stop leaving decisions to companies who have shown repeatedly that they don’t care about people or the planet. SNP rhetoric about ‘energy in Scotland’s hands’ is meaningless if they are just going to hand our renewables to multinational companies. 

“Ministers must intervene in the renewable energy market, to ensure that jobs and supply chain benefits are brought to people in Scotland. Along with greater public ownership of renewables at every level, this can ensure that financial returns come to communities, rather than being siphoned off to already wealthy corporate shareholders. 

“The North Sea basin is in terminal decline with fossil fuels rapidly running out. The Scottish Government must do more to create good green jobs and support workers into them by expanding the transition training funding to all oil and gas workers. This would ensure that people are not out of pocket for having to transition to greener industries.  

“The First Minister continues to blame Westminster whilst his government has gone backwards on climate promises in green heating, getting cars off the road and creating green jobs. Until politicians take the action needed to get fossil fuel energy out of our homes, we will remain vulnerable to price spikes which energy companies will ruthlessly exploit. 

“The only way the Scottish Government can provide real security for households and workers is by building an energy system that is powered by renewables, brings down bills, and is run in the public interest.”