THE body set up to advise Scottish ministers on how to maximise the social and economic opportunities offered by the move to a carbon neutral economy will make its first recommendations within two years of its inaugural meeting.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham revealed the remit of Scotland’s Just Transition Commission, along with its first members, as she attended the UN climate change Conference of the Parties (COP24) in Katowice, Poland.
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Professor Jim Skea will chair the commission, whose first members were revealed as Charlie Hartley, a member of 2050 Climate Group that engages with young people in Scotland to take action on climate change; founding director of the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy Policy, Professor Karen Turner; and Tom Shields, CEO of the Spring Rise consultancy.
Cunningham said: “We are committed to achieving carbon neutrality while growing a sustainable economy that improves the opportunities, life chances and wellbeing of every citizen of Scotland, and I am absolutely determined that this will be done in a way that is socially inclusive.
“That is why I previously announced that Professor Jim Skea would chair a commission to explore how the transition to carbon neutrality can help us meet our other economic and social ambitions.
“I am now delighted to confirm the appointment of the commission’s initial members.
“We are clear that no-one should be left behind in our move to a carbon neutral economy and that this should deliver fair work, and I look forward to working with the commission over the next two years to make this a reality.”
Hartley, as well as being a member of the 2050 Climate Group, works for a firm leading the carbon capture project in Aberdeenshire.
The 2050 group’s ambition is to start a social movement of passionate and active young people equipped with climate change knowledge and leadership skills to allow their generation to lead the way to a sustainable, low carbon society.
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Turner’s work focuses on delivering a just transition and addresses key questions about the distributional effects, employment and gross domestic product (GDP).
She also has several advisory roles with national and international policy bodies. She plays a leading role in the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s inquiry on Scotland’s Energy Future and leads the Energy, People and Society theme across the Scottish Energy Technology Partnership.
Turner is principal investigator on a National Centre for Energy Systems Integration flexible fund project.
Shields also sits on the UK Government’s Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage Council and is acting chair of the Chemical Sciences Scotland Industry Leadership Group.
The Scottish Government is expected to appoint the commission’s other members in the coming weeks, with representation from industry, business, trade unions, environmental groups and academia.
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