The Scottish government has announced the withdrawal of its flagship Heat in Buildings Bill, citing concerns about the potential economic impact on rural communities and vulnerable households. Acting Net-Zero Secretary Gillian Martin informed MSPs that the legislation would not proceed in its current form, emphasising that the draft bill, originally developed by the Scottish Greens under the Bute House Agreement, would “make people poorer.”
The now-abandoned legislation would have mandated homeowners to replace conventional gas boilers with alternative heating systems such as electric heat pumps within a specified timeframe following property sales. This requirement would have particularly affected rural communities, where properties often face greater challenges with energy efficiency and where installation costs can be substantially higher due to logistical factors.
Martin emphasised the need to balance decarbonisation efforts with economic realities facing rural households. “I’m going to introduce a Heat in Buildings Bill when I can be satisfied that those interventions within it will decrease fuel poverty at the same time as decarbonising houses,” she stated. The minister acknowledged that the original drafting failed to “significantly take into consideration” the complex interplay between climate goals and financial burdens, especially in rural areas where incomes are often lower and heating costs higher.
The decision represents a significant policy shift for the Scottish government, which has previously positioned itself as a climate action leader. This change follows last April’s revision of greenhouse gas emission targets, when the government abandoned annual reporting in favour of five-year measurement periods and acknowledged that the 75% reduction target by 2030 was unattainable.
The move has drawn mixed reactions from stakeholders. Scottish Conservative spokesperson on net zero and energy, Douglas Lumsden, supported the decision, calling the original plans “completely unrealistic” and expressing concern about the potential economic impact on rural taxpayers. He urged the government to “work up proposals that are fair to taxpayers and guarantee their concerns will be listened to.”
However, former Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie, who drafted the original bill, criticised the decision as contradicting the government’s stated climate ambitions, describing it as “yet another example of the SNP’s climate delays.” Environmental organisation WWF Scotland also expressed concern, with policy manager Io Hadjicosta arguing that improving insulation and installing renewable heating would actually reduce fuel poverty rather than increase it.
The Scottish government maintains its commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2045 but now emphasises the importance of achieving this goal at a pace that is “feasible, fair and just” for all communities, particularly those in rural areas where the transition to greener heating systems presents unique challenges.
Current domestic heating accounts for approximately 18.5% of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the significance of this sector in achieving overall climate targets while balancing the economic needs of rural communities.
