LAST week, the Scottish Government finalised its policy of no support for fracking in Scotland.

This decision puts the interests of communities across Scotland first while maintaining its promise to the next generation to create a better, greener country.

This latest announcement is just one part of the Scottish Government’s wider green commitments, with ambitious climate targets that put us at the forefront of global action to tackle the environmental crisis and end Scotland’s contribution to climate change within a generation.

The climate crisis is one of the defining challenges of our times and must take action now to halt what would be severe damage to our environment and planet.

But meeting our green targets also offers us the opportunity to restructure our economy, moving away from an economic model that prioritises unsustainable growth and profit towards one prioritises the wellbeing and happiness of the people that work in and contribute to it.

These values are at the heart of the Scottish Government’s planned transition to a net-zero economy, ensuring this transition is just and that no-one loses out on the journey.

This means that the Scottish Government is investing in energy efficiency for Scottish homes, reducing energy bills and saving you money. By the end of 2021, £1billion will have been invested to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency, making your home warmer and cheaper to heat.

It means investing in bus and rail infrastructure to offer low carbon transport and improve your journey options across Scotland.

And it means encouraging investment in Scotland’s world renowned green and renewable energy sector, to secure clean, low cost energy for Scottish consumers.

This transition in our economy will also provide opportunities in terms of job creation, with Scotland’s International Environment Centre a case in point.

This world leading centre to be located between Stirling University and Alloa is funded through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Deal with £17million of investment from the Scottish Government and £5 million from the UK Government.

It will see our local area at the forefront of building a transformative plan to tackle the climate crisis while providing much needed high skilled and well paid job opportunities.

The centre will take on an increasingly important role in leading attempts to build an environmentally sustainable and progressive economy and should be prioritised as part of the deal.

Following a recent meeting with the chief executive and leader of Clackmannanshire Council to discuss progress with the City Deal, I wrote to both the UK and Scottish Government’s backing the council’s calls for the funding term from the UK Government to be shortened from 15 to 10 years which would allow the project to be delivered more quickly.

I met recently with representatives of O-I based in Alloa to discuss their concerns about the potential impact of the proposed deposit return scheme on the glass industry. Following the meeting I asked a parliamentary question of the environment secretary and asked her to meet with me and O-I to discuss the matter further which she agreed to and I look forward to the meeting which will take place shortly.

A few weeks ago with Douglas Chapman the MP for Dunfermline and West Fife to discuss our shared aspirations to see the rail-line from Alloa extended to Dunfermline and last week I met with Talgo to find out more about their plans for the Longannet site and hear how this could help deliver the extension of the line. I look forward to working with both Clackmannanshire and Fife Council’s and all interested parties to take the matter forward.