Changeworks is deeply concerned by Holyrood’s announcement that the Heat in Buildings Bill is further delayed. With legislation already long overdue, this latest setback further jeopardises efforts to tackle both the climate crisis and fuel poverty.
What is the Heat in Buildings Bill?
In its latest form, the Heat in Buildings Bill sets out laws for how we heat Scotland’s buildings and how energy efficient they need to be. This includes timescales for making changes to our homes. For example, polluting heating (like gas boilers) would be prohibited in all buildings from 2045 onwards.
In Scotland, homes account for 13% of total greenhouse gas emissions, and 35% of households are in fuel poverty. Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is vital if we are to tackle the climate crisis, lower energy bills and eradicate fuel poor households.
Why are the Scottish Government delaying the Bill again?
The Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy (2021) acknowledged the need for a Heat in Buildings Bill. Despite this necessity, the Bill was missing from the Programme for Government 2023-24. Instead, a consultation began in November 2023 and closed in March 2024.
A year on, acting net zero secretary Gillian Martin has said that the current draft legislation would “make people poorer.” Martin wants to go back to the drawing board and “craft a bill that is going to simultaneously reduce carbon and tackle fuel poverty”, meaning that the legislation is unlikely to pass during this parliamentary session.
What is Changeworks’ response?
Changeworks supports a just transition to a net zero Scotland. That means reducing Scotland’s carbon emissions without the cost falling on those who can least afford it. Rather than ‘making people poorer’, we see the Heat in Buildings Bill as an opportunity to have a positive impact on people’s livelihoods.
Josiah Lockhart Changeworks’ chief executive, explains:
“Well insulated, energy efficient homes with sustainable heating systems are imperative to a just transition to net zero. They alleviate fuel poverty by lowering energy bills and not relying on volatile fossil fuel markets.”
Further delay locks us into a vicious cycle of inaction. This latest announcement is a worrying echo of last year’s decision to scrap Scotland’s 2030 net zero targets. Backtracking in this way leaves everyone – from householders to supply chain professionals – in a state of confusion around what changes we need to make to our homes and when.
Changeworks shares Gillian Martin’s commitment to a Heat In Buildings Bill which doesn’t leave people worse off. In our response to the HiBB consultation, we outlined how the coming legislation would need to support householders to affordably improve their homes. Since the consultation closed in March 2024, there has been ample time to take these considerations into account and amend the Bill accordingly.
Josiah adds:
“It is frustrating that the Government hasn’t spent the last years developing a Bill with government consensus. Now we’re facing a situation of further delays to getting clear legislation which supports decarbonisation.
We will continue to engage with the Scottish Government as the Heat in Buildings Bill is key to decarbonise homes, alleviate fuel poverty, and develop new industries in Scotland. Extra delays will prolong a just transition, with hugely negative consequences.
We have to prioritise helping householders across Scotland to live in healthier, affordably warmer, and more energy-efficient homes”.