New board for Grangemouth’s future

A new board will be set up to help Grangemouth move to a “low-carbon future”, the First Minister has said.

The Programme for Government released yesterday set out a number of proposals around the environment and climate change.

As well as creating the Grange mouth Future Industry Board, it aims to secure £1.6 billion of investment over the next parliament to decarbonise the heating of homes and buildings. Announcing the legislative programme at Holyrood yesterday, Nico - la Sturgeon said :“Covid is, rightly, the mos tim mediate priority addressed in this programme. But we mustn’t forget that the global climate emergency is intensifying and that it too requires urgent action.

“In the year ahead, we will make further progress towards Scotland becoming, by 2045, a net-zero emitter, ending forever our contribution to climate change.”

The Programme for Government document says: “We recognise the particular eco - nomic strength provided by the Grangemouth industrial cluster, as Scotland’s foremost concentration of indus trial and manufacturing activity.

“However, with that economic strength also comes 30 per cent of all Scottish industrial emissions. A specific focus on Grangemouth is therefore key to the Just Transition.”

Memb ership of the b oard will include the Scottish Government, Falkirk Council and government agencies, the document says.