Chamber and committees

Has an attempt been made to engage the UK Government on the substantive policy area? If so, what was the reaction? Why are we now looking at a policy that the UK Government produced without any Scottish Government involvement?

Moving on to something a wee bit different, I know that you share responsibility for biodiversity with Mairi Gougeon, but perhaps that should be a priority across the whole of Government in the way that climate change is becoming a priority. I acknowledge that this stuff is difficult, but the stark reality is that we failed to meet 11 of the 20 Aichi targets that were set for 2020. There might be more of a need for a just transition in some of these areas than in other sectors, and I think that you have already alluded to agriculture, fisheries and the marine environment as areas where we need a step change.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on this issue, given that you have part of the brief and have a minister working with you on it. What do you see as not only the challenges but the opportunities? How do we ensure that biodiversity is as mainstreamed as climate change is becoming across Government policy, whether it be in farming, the planning system, energy or whatever?

I am interested to know whether active policy work was under way in the Scottish Government.

You will know that European policy development is taking place and that the European Commission is to propose a directive on sustainable corporate governance this month or next month. Why is co-ordination not happening? Why is there no common framework on this policy and many others? Has a conversation taken place about the issue, given that both Governments know that the European Commission is looking to make progress on it? That is in line with the Scottish Government’s policy and with what the UK Government wants to progress on. Between the two Governments and the European Commission, there is a need for co-ordinated progress. [Interruption.] Why is there a breakdown in communication—is it the microphones?

Going back to an issue that I have just mentioned, I think it inevitable that a just transition will be needed in some sectors such as inshore fisheries, scallop dredging—potentially—and some of the trawling sectors if those inshore activities are incompatible with biodiversity targets. That will have to result in a conversation about where we go next, how the industry transitions and whether there is a need for financial support packages or whatever.

I realise that that is perhaps more Ms Gougeon’s area, but there are similar issues around how we manage a just transition, whether we are talking about oil and gas or agriculture and fisheries. Where do you see that sitting in Government? Is it your part of Government that leads the thinking around the just transition process and governance, or is Richard Lochhead having those conversations?

Yes, although they do not have management plans.

Could there be a way of socialising that even further and supplying local communities?

That is okay—it has been an interesting session. I will pick up on the cabinet secretary’s comment about behavioural change. One of the advantages of having a public energy company or companies is that you can drive public confidence to make changes to how we heat our homes or to take the interventions that are needed. I am thinking about what could emerge from the agency. Instead of having a national energy company supplying electricity, could we, for example, have more municipal public ownership of the heat networks or the other solutions that we need in communities? Could there be a different approach to heat rather than having a national energy company that competes with the big six?

At COP, we will have the launch of the beyond oil and gas alliance, which is led by Denmark, Costa Rica, New Zealand, France and other states that are accelerating their just transition for the oil and gas sectors. I think that the Welsh Government has been in discussions on BOGA. Are you aware of it and will you seek to engage with it?

To be fair, the question was specifically about this policy.