Leading Scottish social enterprise Changeworks has published an open letter calling on all political parties to commit to urgent action on fuel poverty and delivering a just transition for a sustainable future ahead of the upcoming Scottish parliamentary election.
The open letter urges political leaders to show clear leadership on the interlinked challenges facing households across Scotland, and to put the needs of people and the planet at the heart of their election manifestos.
Changeworks is calling for practical, deliverable policies that tackle fuel poverty; improve energy efficiency of Scotland’s homes, which are some of leakiest in Europe; reform electricity pricing; invest in support services; and embed Fair Work to ensure a fair and inclusive transition to more sustainable Scotland.
With nearly one in three (29%) households in Scotland now living in fuel poverty, Changeworks warns that many families are being forced to make impossible choices between heating and other essentials, with acute impacts in the Highlands and Islands.
Read our open letter to Scotland’s political leaders
Improving the energy efficiency of homes provides real, immediate benefits for households, including healthier, affordably warm homes. 64% of Scots are very concerned about health problems linked to cold or poorly insulated homes, with 73% concerned about high energy costs.
Furthermore, a Changeworks survey showed that 50% of Scots say their homes are cold, with over a third (37%) very concerned about being able to afford their energy bills this winter, and 62% saying it’s too expensive to keep home as warm as they’d like.
For four decades, Changeworks has supported households across Scotland to live in affordably warm, healthy homes while reducing carbon emissions, combining trusted advice, advocacy and delivery at scale.
Decisive action by the next Scottish Government could improve health and wellbeing, ease cost-of-living pressures and help grow Scotland’s economy through investment in sustainable homes and skilled jobs. There is high public support (71%) for renewable home energy, and 65% of Scots are concerned the UK is not investing quickly enough in sustainable energy.
Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive of Changeworks, said: “Fuel poverty, poor health outcomes and energy inefficient housing are deeply connected, and demand strong leadership.
“As Scotland heads towards an election, we’re calling on all parties to commit to bold, practical action that ensures everyone can live in an affordably warm, healthy home, while delivering climate solutions that are fair and create job and economic opportunities. The decisions made in the next parliament will shape lives for generations.”
Changeworks stands ready to work with all parties and candidates to help turn these commitments into action.