SCOTLAND’S “horrific” housing stock must be improved immediately to protect people both from the cost of living crisis and climate change.

Urgent action is also needed to reduce car dependency and improve food security, the Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG) has warned.

If Scotland can speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy, it will not only offer protection against rocketing prices but will also lead the way in showing how climate targets can be met fairly and justly, according to the group.

Ahead of the Programme for Government, which will be announced this week, CERG have launched a report outlining practical action they say must be taken now to avoid the “devastating” consequences of climate change on communities and livelihoods in Scotland, while simultaneously tackling the energy crisis.

Group spokesperson Stefanie O’Gorman said the action was within the Scottish Government’s powers and could be implemented straight away to improve health and the economy, while enabling Scotland to meet agreed international and national climate goals.

She told the Sunday National the proposed action would help by reducing energy demand and bills, as well as train people for low-carbon jobs, now and in the future.

If the changes are not made quickly there would be an “exponentially greater” cost to society, with the cost being unfairly shouldered by the people who can least afford it.

“The cost of living is addressed within this and the cost of inaction is a lost economic opportunity, a lost opportunity to create high-value long-term jobs and a lost opportunity to be fair and just,” she said.

While the doom and gloom around climate change cannot be ignored, there was also “a fundamentally massive opportunity for Scotland in this agenda”.

“We really have an opportunity to lead the way in delivering some of the aspects of this transition, particularly on energy and we should seek to do that,” said O’Gorman.

“However, the real challenge is to take action now and not set out a plan for later.

“We absolutely acknowledge the progress the Scottish Government has made but more needs to be done and quicker.”

The report outlines four actions “fundamental” to unlocking progress across all sectors to meet the climate targets of a 75% emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2045.

They are to ensure all spending and policies meet the net-zero test, unite local and national governments in the climate emergency response, accelerate the shift from cars to active, public and shared transport in Scotland’s cities and invest in advice and skills for farmers and crofters to support a just transition.

TO make the shift from cars, CERG is pushing for the creation of “20-minute neighbourhoods” where all the facilities that people need, such as schools and good shops are within a 20-minute walk or cycle.

While there is a “huge amount” of work already being carried out around skills development, O’Gorman said the pace was not quick enough to enable the decarbonisation of Scotland’s housing stock and make it more energy efficient.

“Our housing stock is horrific, and unless we prioritise action and investment on tackling this now, we are going to suffer a much more significant cost long-term, and the likelihood is that it will hit lower earners and those in deprived areas more significantly,” she said.

More than half (55%) of Scottish homes still do not meet a good energy efficiency rating (at least a C rating) although progress has been made over the last decade, according to the latest figures.

“The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy recognises that decarbonising Scotland’s housing stock has the potential to create thousands of new professional and technical jobs in Scotland,” said O’Gorman. “But this is challenging in a sector that is already facing labour shortages and a time lag of up to four years for new apprentices to become trained. The Scottish Government must make it as easy, flexible and affordable as possible for Scotland’s plumbers, builders and heat engineers to upskill and reskill to meet this demand.”

Again, although progress has been made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming, livestock and agricultural soil still account for almost a fifth of Scotland’s emissions.

THE group’s proposal is for the Scottish Government to realign and upscale the provision of accessible advice and skills development to farmers and crofters to a £20 million a year service.

“That will also provide more resilience to those communities and ensure we have food security,” said O’Gorman.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We welcome the Climate Emergency Response Group’s latest report and the constructive challenge they provide in how we meet our climate ambitions.

“Scotland has legislated for some of the world’s most ambitious climate change targets and we are already more than halfway to net zero. We continue to decarbonise faster than the UK average and are leading the way in key delivery areas such as energy efficiency and tree planting.

“To help accelerate progress towards net zero, we will be publishing a draft updated Climate Change Plan next year, setting out the policies needed to keep pace with our targets. In the meantime, action like our £1.8 billion investment to cut energy bills and improve energy efficiency in our buildings, and free bus travel for under 22s, will help tackle climate change while meeting the needs of the people of Scotland.”