Heat in Buildings Bill consultation: equalities impact assessment

2. Policy Aim

2.1 This is an Equalities Impact Assessment on the Scottish Government’s Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation (‘The Consultation’).

2.2 The coming together of the climate emergency and the cost-of-living crisis makes the need for urgent action to reduce emissions and energy demand from buildings across Scotland more important than ever.

2.3 Scotland has legally binding targets to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, with interim targets requiring a 75% reduction by 2030, and 90% by 2040. The Climate Change Plan Updateⁱ clarified that emissions from heating our homes and non-domestic buildings combined will have to achieve a fall of 70% by 2030 compared to 2020. Our propels aim to make a contribution to this. We will also need to significantly reduce emissions from “non-domestic” buildings like schools, hospitals, offices and shops.

2.4 Making our homes and buildings more energy efficient will help to reduce our individual demand for energy and result in homes that are warmer and easier to heat. Poor energy efficiency is also one of the drivers of fuel poverty^[1]. However, we know that better insulation and other energy efficiency measures – where those improvements are possible – will not be enough on their own. Meeting our net zero target by 2045 will need all homes and buildings in Scotland to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to zero where possible.