Glasgow set to miss net zero targets for 2030 as cost hits £23 billion

Glasgow is set to miss a 2030 zero carbon target by up to 40 per cent, officials have admitted.

The cost to the city to try and reach the green milestone is predicted to be at least £23 billion depending on what methods are used.

The city's Scottish Green councillors have released a statement calling for immediate action to get Glasgow back on track for its 2030 targets after the issues were highlighted in a report.

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Councillor Lana Reid-McConnell said: “This report details that on our current trajectory, we will only achieve 60 per cent of our 2030 net zero target for the city.

“It’s now incumbent on Glasgow City Council and other major stakeholders in Glasgow to ramp up the pace at which we transform into a net zero city and it’s equally important that the Scottish Government and UK Government support us to do so. We must do better as we witness persistent climate events, destroying and threatening the lives of many people globally."

The Scottish Government has scrapped its climate change targets admitting that cutting emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 was out of reach.

In Glasgow two possible pathways leading towards a net zero goal have been put forward in a paper to be presented to next week's net zero and climate progress monitoring city policy committee.

A 'projected pathway' costing £23.5 billion and an 'accelerated pathway' needing £36.8 billion investment have been developed.

The projected pathway would reduce emissions by 60 per cent and would focus on more walking, cycling, shared public transport and lower use of electricity.

The accelerated pathway option would rely on a huge switch to electric vehicles in the public and private sector as well as the council leading by example on developing and delivering heat networks. It would reduce emissions by 80 per cent.

The council report also warned Glasgow would be unable to plant enough trees to meet its own carbon removal needs.

The report said the local authority would need to look at a "regional or national approach to supporting the development of sequestration opportunities, requiring collaboration with other landowners and local authorities."

Councillor Reid-McConnell who chairs the net zero commitee added: “The majority of our emissions as a city come from transport and the built environment. We need Government support to progress bus franchising at a faster rate, accompanied with a major roll out of green infrastructure including bus lanes, cycle lanes and liveable neighbourhoods.

“We have the opportunity to really push community owned energy as part of our energy and buildings infrastructure shift. Glasgow City Council have been developing a framework to help provide suitable land and buildings within Glasgow however we need more resources to support communities to skill up in how to do this and funding to make it happen.

"Money should be flowing into our communities, not the pockets of billionaire oil CEOs."

Councillor Angus Miller said: “Since the 2019 climate emergency declaration, Glasgow has made significant progress in our journey towards net zero. We now have increasingly detailed plans to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate against the effects of climate change and better understand how we secure the funding the city needs to achieve its goals.

“The new Net Zero Route Map provides robust evidence for the impact of our actions, and shows us what more needs to be done to make Glasgow a net zero city. It illustrates the requirement for significant carbon sequestration through tree planting and similar activity in order to reach net zero, and we will continue to explore options to deliver this at scale and best monitor its impact on our city’s net emissions.

“It also confirms very clearly that private sector investment is needed and demonstrates the wide scope for green investment that exists in Glasgow. Our heating and energy strategy, for example, shows two-thirds of Glasgow could be connected to a district heating network that draws sustainable heat from River Clyde and other sources. This is exactly the kind of opportunity that will attract investors and reduce our carbon emissions.

“However, with the route map showing the gap between our current projected carbon reduction and what could be achieved with an accelerated programme of change, further funding from national government to spur the transition on would clearly help Glasgow reach net zero faster. Glasgow will continue to work with partners from across the public and private sector to realise the many opportunities the city has in creating a lower carbon, more sustainable future.”

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