LABOUR and the Greens have set out plans for a transition towards a greener economy ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament elections. 

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar announced today that his party would put housing upgrades at the heart of its environmental strategy, including free bus travel for under-25s. 

The party’s climate recovery plan, which Mr Sarwar dubbed “green Labour,” was backed as a key policy plank to win over the support of those who value environmental concerens highly.

Mr Sarwar said that the plan sets out measures to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, including upgrading all homes to at least an energy efficiency rating of C or higher by 2030. 

Scottish Labour has also pledged to plant 15,000 trees every year and to create a new “Scottish conservation corporation.” 

Mr Sarwar said that Scottish Labour are on the side of “anyone who thinks that our environmental recovery is more important than egos or old arguments.”

Speaking ahead of the Cop26 climate summit, he said: “I want Glasgow to be synonymous with world-leading action on climate change and for history to look back at a world saved by an agreement struck in my home city. 

“But the first step we must take is to ensure that we are doing as much as we can here at home to make our contribution. 

“So we will put our climate — and the opportunities for our economy it presents — at the heart of our campaign.”

The announcement comes as the Scottish Greens reiterated calls for subsidies for oil and gas exploration to be abolished. 

The party said that continuing to fund the search for fossil fuels was “reckless,” claiming the money should instead be invested in renewable energy alternatives. 

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie described the oil and gas industries as being “in their dying days,” arguing that the climate emergency demands fossil fuels remain in the ground.

He said: “We are witnessing climate breakdown all across the planet, so we don’t have time to ignore the problem.

“Workers need certainty and alternative jobs, not to be left dependent on an industry in its dying days.”

“Scottish Greens have plans to invest in renewable energy, public transport, warm homes and restoring Scotland’s natural environment. This will create 100,000 jobs and kickstart the just transition.”