Climate costs
Ian Hogg could have expanded his letter(19 October) to point out that, six months after the declaration of climate emergency by the First Minister, the finance secretary has yet to issue a paper at Holyrood
detailing the costs of such a policy.
A ban on gas results in an annual energy increase of £18 billion (or a tax hike of £7,500). Repaying the infrastructure debt over 25 years raises tax by a further £8,000 a year. The average annual take-home pay is around £20,000 after deductions, hence a further £15,500 tax payment leaves only £4,500 to cover rent, food and travel costs.
Why the acres of newsprint on Brexit when a climate
emergency which will bankrupt the Scottish economy receives no attention?
IAN MOIR Queen Street, Castle Douglas
I read with interest MP Stephen Kerr’s highly informative article “Green light for jobs with carbon capture” (15 October, p25) regarding the emerging technologies that would help to “decarbonise our economy” and the job opportunities that could result. He also rightly points out a joint approach would “give the investor community the certainty they need to prime this nascent industry”.
However, it is disappointing that Kerr has repeatedly refused to sign the Divest Parliament pledge. Divest Parliament works with MPS from across the political spectrum to sign a pledge calling on their pension fund to phase out its substantial investments in fossil fuels. The pledge has already been signed by more than 250 MPS past and present, including his neighbour Luke Graham, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire.
After repeated prompts Kerr cited his refusal because he believes “it is the duty of the pension fund to be as strong as possible”. This is despite being aware of research which concludes this can be achieved without investment in fossil fuels. Therefore, surely this nascent industry could be primed if Kerr helped to decarbonise his pension fund by switching its investments into the technologies he so enthusiastically advocates?
DAVID MERCER St Marys Court, Dunblane