There is an “unacceptable” lack of clarity from the Scottish Government on the changes that will be needed for the country to meet its net-zero targets, a think tank has claimed.

Reform Scotland hit out in a new report which called for an immediate ban on the sale of new gas cookers, and for a “pay-as-you-drive” scheme to be introduced on all Scotland’s roads.

It said Scotland had “made huge progress towards net zero” with efforts to switch electricity production away from fossil fuels and towards renewables, but added that demand for domestic heat and road traffic have been increasing in recent years.

The report – titled Powering Ahead: Decarbonising Scotland’s Energy – said both these trends must be reversed, adding: “That requires leadership from the Scottish Government, with education and awareness programmes.”

Ministers were urged to “start a more concerted public awareness and education campaign to increase understanding of exactly what is needed to reach net zero and the changes we all must make”.

The report focused on changes to domestic energy use and travel, saying: “Such changes will not all be easy or popular and it is therefore important that the urgency of these changes is clearly understood by the wider public.”

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