Majority of Scottish businesses support fossil fuel phase-out

The research, commissioned by Uplift, surveyed 545 business leaders across the UK for their views on the Government’s decarbonisation efforts.

The survey found that 82% of Scottish businesses support the phasing out of fossil fuels, and that 77% of UK business leaders believe that decarbonising is in the public interest.

The findings also say that 65% of Scottish business leaders support ending new licensing for North Sea oil and gas, just short of the 70% of business leaders from across the entire UK.

Respondents identified reduced energy costs and a more reliable energy supply as key benefits to alternative fuels. More than half of respondents predict that the policy will positively impact their business over the next ten years.

Despite positivity towards clean fuel, 86% of businesses surveyed claim that private companies need more clarity from the Government on what future sources of energy will be and 47% believe the transition is going too slowly.

Tessa Khan, executive director for Uplift said: “Ending new licensing is welcomed by businesses as a clear signal that the Government is committed to the clean energy transition.

“Business leaders North and South of the border support the shift from oil and gas to renewables, recognising that it is good for the economy and their businesses, good for the climate and in the public interest.

“Oil and gas companies are now increasingly out of step, with most North Sea operators showing a commercial disinterest in the shift to clean energy: just seven out of the basin’s 87 oil firms plan to invest anything in renewables between now and 2030.

“When most of what’s left in the basin is oil for export, it’s no wonder business backs the transition to a clean energy system that can provide a reliable and less volatile domestic energy supply.”

Uplift are an environmentalist group which supports efforts to transition from oil and gas production in the UK. The group undertakes research, analysis and campaigning to support UK-wide decarbonisation.