How we’re supporting greener ways to get around

by Liam Furby
Posted on
6 years ago
2 min read

From flooding, to extreme temperatures and droughts – we can all see the consequences of man-made climate change.

We owe it to future generations not to be overcome by this challenge – we have a moral obligation to continue to show global leadership on tackling climate change.

That’s why we’re investing in greener ways to get around: creating new opportunities for walking and cycling; to drive low emission cars; or use greener public transport.

Here are just some of the ways that, in government, we’re supporting Scotland to switch to greener transport options.

We have doubled the walking and cycling budget to £80 million.

And we will appoint an Active Travel Commissioner to ensure the delivery of world-class cycling infrastructure.

We have set a new national goal to remove the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032.

To meet this we are providing new funding to increase charge points and help people or organisations to switch to low emission vehicles.

We’re investing £60 million in low carbon innovation.

This will include supporting projects that are developing innovative solutions to delivering ultra-low emission vehicle charging infrastructure.

We have put in place a Green Bus Fund to switch Scotland’s bus fleet to low emission vehicles.

The fund has provided £16 million since it was established, resulting in over 360 low carbon emission buses joining the Scottish Fleet.

We’re electrifying the rail network.

As part of a £5 billion investment in Scotland’s railways, 70 electric trains will replace diesel trains on the Edinburgh-Glasgow route. And our Climate Change Plan commits the Scottish Government to exploring how we can electrify 35 per cent of our rail network by 2032.

We’re helping 1.3 million people take the bus through the concessionary bus pass. 

We continue to protect the Concessionary Bus Pass for people aged over 60 and disabled people – we will now expand this to companions of eligible disabled children under five. And all young people aged 16-18 can get a third of bus travel with their Young Scot card.