A Priority for Us, but is Climate Falling Off Government Agendas?
Posted: 17 August 2026, in News
Have you been enjoying the good weather? I know I have; it’s not often that we get so fortunate with so many sunny and hot days. With news of yet another heat wave on the way this week, what’s not to like?
Well, unfortunately, hot days across Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are becoming more and more frequent. This has been evidenced by a drought being declared in parts of England and a rise in wildfires across Scotland. Young people across the UK lose their lives getting into difficulty in fresh water in efforts to try and cool down, and data from statisticians that the heat waves have killed almost 440 people a day across England and Wales. These events are becoming a part of our summertime, with another heatwave on the way this week (the 5th this year across the UK). This is a very clear change in our climate.
We all know the effects of climate change, and the impact it is having across the country. Many social enterprises are set up to improve their local area through tackling climate changes. Whether that is through re-use programmes, upcycling or offering energy efficiency advice – social enterprises are putting in the hard effort to support Scotland during this climate crisis.
Both First Minister John Swinney and Prime Minister Andy Burnham have new cabinets implementing their own visions for what is left of the term of each parliament. Clues about their climate intentions can be drawn out from who they have amongst their cabinet.
For Burnham, having Ed Miliband in one of the key Secretaries of State, by making him the Foreign Secretary, has been received as good news by some. Miliband has been a campaigner and advocate for stronger climate policy for years, and used his previous brief in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to move towards better policy around renewable energy, as well as community ownership of that energy. He has begun his tenure as Foreign Secretary by ensuring that the UK’s international relations is coordinated with both international development and climate crisis.
For Swinney, the promotion of Gillian Martin to the Cabinet Secretary Role for Climate Action and Rural Affairs. Within this already large portfolio, lies the responsibility for the circular economy, as well as directly dealing with domestic policy on climate.
The clearest test of those intentions is already emerging at Holyrood. Before parliament broke for the summer recess, multiple questions were directed to the Scottish Government that the Cabinet Secretary is responsible for answering on the planning regulations for data centres. A data centre is a physical room or building full of computer equipment that stores, transmits and receives data. They have been created and used for a long time; however, with the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), demand for data centres has been growing. There are currently plans to build 24 across Scotland. The questions currently being asked of the Scottish Government are on the environmental impact assessments of these centres. The largest centre currently planned will allegedly use the equivalent power output of the United Kingdom’s largest wind farm, Whitelee, which is based in East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.
It is argued that building new data centres will boost the economy, with them already currently adding £4.7 billion GVA to the UK economy. But is the small boost in jobs worth the energy consumption and water use? At the time of writing, data centres in the UK use 2.5% of the entire energy supply. If these new data centres are built, that number jumps 4-fold by 2030. When centres have been built in the US, the water consumption has caused residents to complain about water being cut from their homes, to the point that they can not even flush the toilet.
If tackling climate change is truly a priority for both governments, there needs to be investment to do so. Scottish social enterprises added £2.89 billion GVA to the Scottish Economy in 2024. With an economic impact as high as this, as well as the additional social and environmental impact that social enterprises have (in which even further economic impact is not calculated). Why should there be further investment in a technology that disrupts communities and takes electricity away from the country?
In comparison, social enterprises focus on communities and people, rather than technology. Investment in the sector uplifts many people, unlike data centres, which will truly only benefit the few.
If either government is to challenge climate change with the seriousness it deserves, there is a requirement for not only the clear acknowledgement of the work of social enterprises in this space, but with dedicated investment in them.
Andy Paterson, Policy Officer for Social Enterprise Scotland.