The SNP have been in power for a generation with no real plan for a just transition. So in 2023, we launched a campaign to demand that the SNP to put people and the planet over the demands of the oil and gas industry, wealthy landowners and their paid up lobbyists.
No party that champions fossil fuels or cosies up to oil and gas corporations should get our support. We knew we had the potential to change the political landscape through the Energy Transition Strategy and the 2024 general election – so we got organised.
We grew our local teams across Scotland, fighting for a Just Transition, with a wealth of knowledge about the issues that matter most to their communities.
In Glasgow, we challenged Humza Yousaf in his own constituency, demanding he take action and show real climate leadership by opposing Rosebank; we held meetings with local groups; we made banners for actions across the country.
In Edinburgh, we met with cabinet ministers and held rallies outside of cabinet meetings. We held sit outs, flyered during the Fringe, and marched with other groups.
In Aberdeen, we joined local campaigns across the city, all fighting for a Just Transition for workers and communities in Aberdeen. We took our campaign to the SNP conference, meeting with and challenging SNP members and politicians to do more to fight the climate crisis for the city.
Our demands
1. Commit to phasing out oil and gas production by 2030 in the Energy Transition Strategy.
The SNP have already spoken at length on the need to transition away from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy. Humza Yousaf himself has called the North Sea a “mature basin”. But little has been done in Holyrood to shift our reliance on fossil fuels to greener energy.
2. Commit to a Green Jobs Guarantee for Scotland
Now more than ever it’s clear the Just Transition is more than a move away from fossil fuels. Any shift must bring along with it jobs security, and a fundamental shift in economic priorities. By investing in the low carbon economy, we can create an abundance of high value, well paid jobs in every community.
3. Create a National Energy Company for Scotland
There cannot be energy security and fuel poverty in the same society. A national energy company can keep prices down and bring real investment that’s badly needed into our energy system. We need to bring energy, a fundamental public service, into public ownership for a real transition to a green economy.
