Scottish Parliament event - BLOG | University of Strathclyde

Blog | Paulina Gonzalez-Martinez | Nov 2025

Last week at the Scottish Parliament, Sarah Boyack MSP sponsored and chaired a thought-provoking discussion that asked a critical question: Is net zero achievable by 2045? The event, hosted by the Centre for Energy Policy (CEP), brought together a diverse panel representing academia, industry, civil society, and NGOs; all united in their ambition to explore how Scotland can deliver a fair and inclusive transition to net zero.

The conversation drew on the culmination of a decade of CEP research, much of which focuses on the overarching question of “Who pays?” for net zero. As CEP Deputy Director Jamie Speirs opened, achieving net zero remains possible, but it is not inevitable. It depends on the decisions taken today and how effectively these are planned and coordinated. “Net zero presents clear opportunities for economic benefit and job creation,” Jamie explained, “but success requires strategic planning to avoid resource competition, cost escalations, and delivery bottlenecks.” Coordination, he emphasised, is key.

Understanding fairness and fuel poverty

Frazer Scott, CEO of Energy Action Scotland, reminded the audience that the transition must not leave anyone behind. With over forty years of experience campaigning on fuel poverty, he highlighted the systemic issues driving it: high energy costs, low disposable incomes, poor housing efficiency, and household energy use. “The system isn’t working for everyone,” he said. “We all have to contribute to net zero, but we cannot place undue burdens on vulnerable households.” He pointed to inefficiencies, such as paying to curtail wind generation while people could benefit from that energy, as examples of a system that needs reform to align both climate and social justice goals.

Sarah Boyack reflected that cold, damp homes remain a deep-rooted issue that goes beyond energy, affecting health and wellbeing, particularly for those already disadvantaged due to disability or illness. She then introduced Satwat Rehman, CEO of One Parent Families Scotland and Co-Director of the Just Transition Commission, to reflect on how fairness can be embedded in policy design.

The importance of co-design and community voice

Satwat emphasised that fairness cannot be an afterthought. It must shape how policy is designed and delivered. She called for a focus on community wealth building and on carefully monitoring outcomes to ensure they truly serve people’s needs. “Communities are tired of endless consultation,” she said. “We need co-design, not consultation. Every pound spent should support people directly. We cannot achieve net zero unless everyone comes with us.”

Industry’s role in a just transition

The panel also included Colin Pritchard, Director of Sustainability and External Relations at INEOS and visiting professor at CEP, who stressed the continued importance of manufacturing in the UK’s economy and livelihoods. “Industry supports jobs, not just directly, but across entire value chains,” he said. “Decarbonisation must not come through deindustrialisation.”

Colin urged a pragmatic approach to industrial decarbonisation, ensuring robust business cases for key technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS). “If cleaner energy is truly cheaper, we need to understand why certain incentives, like contracts for difference, still distort the market,” he said. For him, a just transition is not about turning away from current industries, but about building strong alternatives and ensuring public investment drives long-term value. He agreed with Satwat that co-design of policy is key to achieve net zero.

Growth, fairness, and the path forward

The audience questions focused on how we can support consumers and whether economic growth is compatible with net zero. The panel’s consensus was clear: growth remains necessary, but it must be redefined. The goal is low-carbon growth that creates good jobs, reduces inequalities, and lowers bills while decarbonising the economy.

To reach net zero by 2045, the message from all speakers was consistent: Scotland must plan proactively, de-risk the transition, and make coordination between public and private actors central to delivery. As policy and investment evolve, co-design will be key in ensuring that the path to net zero is both achievable and fair for all.