THE OUTGOING head of Nicola Sturgeon’s just transition commission has warned MSPs that those who can afford it will need to contribute to efforts to decarbonise heating systems.

But Professor Jim Skea insisted that neither the Scottish Government or taxpayers could “afford to step up for the kind of level that is required” to pay for heating systems not reliant on fossil fuels to be installed.

The Scottish Government has pledged for one million homes to be using low or zero carbon heating by the end of the decade, but plans on how this would be financed have not been set out.

The SNP-Greens' Programme for Government pledged to “provide at least £1.8 billion" to "make our homes easier and greener to hear and progress our commitment to decarbonise 1 million homes by 2030”.

It is likely that all homes in Scotland will need to end their contribution to emissions by 2045, when Scotland is legally bound to be net zero.

READ MORE: All homes in Scotland to meet energy standards from 2025 despite £33bn costs

Last month, Greens minister Patrick Harvie told MSPs that it is expected the total costs of ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change from buildings emissions will be more than £33 billion and warned that the Scottish Government cannot foot the entire bill. 

But costs to decarbonise heating systems for the Glasgow City Region alone are “estimated to be in the region of £10.7 billion”.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has previously stressed that Scotland cannot meet its net zero targets without the private sector – a view shared by the UK Government.

Speaking to Holyrood’s Net Zero Committee, Prof Skea said: “Quite simply, the Government or the taxpayer cannot afford to step up for the kind of level that is required.

“So, people that can pay would need to pay if you’re going to put yourself on that pathway to net zero.

“People will get financial benefit from these measures when they’re put in place and therefore it’s quite reasonable and fair to expect people who are getting that benefit to put up some of the upfront cost.”

But Conservative net zero, energy and transport spokesperson, Liam Kerr has called on the Scottish Government to set out how the ambitious project will be paid for – warning the bill cannot fall onto householders.

He said: “Homeowners should not be expected to stump up the costs of SNP-Green policies.

“The devil is in the detail with these strategies – but Patrick Harvie provided little information on where the costs will fall in his heat in buildings strategy.

“It is unfair to force people to install costly new heating systems in their homes when we are coming out a pandemic in which many have lost jobs or businesses.

“Once again we see the Green Party’s destructive influence within this government - focusing only on their own, narrow and ill-thought through agenda."

“The Scottish Conservatives have always been clear that we need to live in a more sustainable way, but our transition to net zero must be fair to hardworking people across Scotland.”

Setting out his plan last month, Mr Harvie said: “We estimate that the total investment required to transform our homes and buildings across the country to be in excess of £33 billion.

“Clearly, this cost cannot be borne by the government alone.

“We have established a new green heat finance taskforce to identify innovative solutions to maximise private sector investment and find new ways to support the upfront cost of making properties warmer, greener and energy efficient.”

MSPs were also told that the Glasgow Climate Pact, agreed at COP26, will be nothing but a “paper tiger” if parliaments do not legislate to implement it.

READ MORE: SNP urged to set out funding after £11 bn bill to upgrade Glasgow city region homes

COP26 closed in Glasgow on Saturday after two weeks of intensive discussions between almost 200 countries, with a deal finally agreed despite a last minute intervention by India and China on fossil fuels.

The pact was heavily criticised by some over what was described as “watered down” language on coal after the intervention, but was the first in the history of the summits to mention fossil fuels directly.

Countries also agreed to refine their plans to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement over the next decade by the end of 2022.

Melini Mehra – chief executive of Globe International, a group of legislators from across the world working towards sustainable development – said the agreement must now be implemented at national levels to be a success.

She said: “The two weeks saw a barrage of pledges and pacts being made to address the nature and climate emergences.

“These are very welcome but will remain paper tigers unless parliaments such as yourselves enact laws to bring them in the purview of national legislation.”

Ms Mehra said there would be a “surge” of laws being made across the world on climate change after the Glasgow summit, adding: “Without laws, there is no credibility.”