The Scottish government is currently going through a period of crisis. The SNP has done a u-turn on its carbon commitments, and net zero secretary, Màiri McAllan, has said that she “accepts” that the government’s previous carbon targets are now out of reach. The Greens responded by threatening to leave the governing coalition, only for Humza Yousaf to preempt their departure by announcing that the pact between the two parties was at an end. In doing so, Yousaf was effectively acting as the author of his own political demise.

Only a matter of weeks ago, the situation in Scotland seemed very different. The country was in the process of implementing ambitious reforms with the intent of significantly advancing sustainable practice within the construction industry. We must be hopeful that industry remains committed to change, even if the government has lost its nerve. 

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