SNP 2017

MANIFESTO 2017
The SNP will continue to demand the reform of the punitive
transmission charging regime, which has come to symbolise
the UK government’s repeated failure to deliver energy policies
which meet Scotland’s needs.
Nuclear power
The UK government is determined to push ahead with the
Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in the south of England, which
will cost at least £18 billion to build and will result in huge
costs for taxpayers and consumers. We are opposed to these
plans, which have already come close to collapse. If built,
electricity generated by Hinkley C will be sold for more than
twice the current retail price. SNP MPs will hold the
UK government to account over its support for the Hinkley
white elephant.
Working with our neighbours to fight climate change
Scotland has already exceeded a world-leading target to
reduce emissions by 42 per cent by 2020. The Scottish
Government has now produced a draft Climate Change
Plan, with tougher targets for future years, ensuring Scotland
continues to set an example for other countries to follow.
SNP MPs will press the UK government to match Scotland’s
commitment and ambition.
SNP MPs will work to prevent the threat of Brexit being used
by the UK to reduce commitments to tackle climate change
or to undermine the European Union’s efforts to fight climate
change and protect the environment. Scotland has played an
important role in these areas, and has also directly benefited
from the EU’s work. We are determined to safeguard the
advances which have already been made, while continuing
to protect and enhance our environment in the years ahead.
We will defend the interests of environmental scientists from
across the EU who contribute so much to the success of
Scotland’s research institutes.
Protecting Scotland’s environment and tackling
climate change
Scotland is a world leader in tackling climate change –
and the SNP Scottish Government is taking important
steps to protect our natural environment for generations
to come.
• We have exceeded our world-leading target of
reducing emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 – six years
early. We have already produced a draft Climate
Change Plan, with tougher targets for future years.
• We have blocked underground coal gasification and
a moratorium means fracking cannot take place
in Scotland.
• Scotland has exceeded its target to produce 50 per
cent of its electricity from renewables by 2015 –
helping to fight climate change and create jobs too.
• With the support of the SNP Scottish Government,
the low carbon and renewables sector in Scotland
supported 58,500 jobs in 2015 – up by a third
since 2014.
• Scotland’s household recycling rate was 44.2 per
cent in 2015 – up from around 32 per cent for
municipal waste in 2007.
• Scotland is showing international leadership on moving
to a more circular economy, where we keep valuable
resources in circulation for as long as possible. The
Scottish Government has won the Award for Circular
Economy Governments, Cities and Regions at the
World Economic Forum summit at Davos.
Find out more at www.snp.org/record
Animal welfare
We will oppose any relaxation of the laws on fox-hunting.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY MANIFESTO 2017 45