Kevin Keane

Inverurie

Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs Correspondent at BBC Scotland

BBC Scotland's Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs Correspondent. [email protected]

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Articles

Could Scotland have Europe's lowest electricity bills?

4 weeks ago | bbc.com | Kevin Keane

Could Scotland have Europe's lowest electricity bills? Kevin KeaneBBC Scotland environment correspondentBBCGreg Jackson, the boss of Octopus Energy, says bills need to be calculated regionallyThe boss of one of the UK's biggest energy providers says people living in Scotland could have the cheapest electricity in Europe. Greg Jackson, who founded Octopus Energy, wants the electricity market to be reformed to introduce zonal pricing.
Peatland restoration aims to prevent Glasgow's tap water turning brown

4 weeks ago | bbc.com | Kevin Keane

How repairing peat could prevent Glasgow's tap water turning brownKevin KeaneBBC Scotland's environment correspondentReporting fromLoch KatrineBBCOrganic matter from degraded peat can discolour the water which runs into Loch KatrineHundreds of hectares of peatland is being restored in a project which aims to prevent Glasgow's tap water turning brown during extreme rain.
Grangemouth: A new dawn for the home of UK's oldest oil refinery?

1 month ago | bbc.com | Kevin Keane

Grangemouth: A new dawn for the home of UK's oldest oil refinery? Kevin KeaneBBC Scotland's environment correspondentAndrew Milligan/PA WireThere is both concern and optimism about the Grangemouth site's long-term futureThe history of Grangemouth has been built on fossil fuels – but now its future depends on its reinvention as Scotland's green energy industrial hub. The site, on the south bank of the Firth of Forth, is home to the UK's oldest oil refinery, which dates back to 1924.
Farmers fear being 'wiped out' if any more diseases strike

1 month ago | bbc.com | Kevin Keane

Farmers fear being 'wiped out' if any more diseases strikeKevin KeaneBBC Scotland's environment correspondentBBCMichael Goldie lost more than half his lambs in January through the Schmallenberg virusA livestock farmer has lost more than half his newborn lambs in one of the first Scottish cases of a deadly virus - and fears he could be wiped out if his farm is struck by any more diseases.
Scottish government misses another climate change target

Jun 17, 2024 | bbc.com | Kevin Keane

Scotland misses another climate change targetBy Kevin Keane, BBC Scotland's environment correspondentBBCMuch of Scotland's greenhouse gases come from heavy industry around GrangemouthThe Scottish government has missed another of its key annual targets for reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Figures for 2022 show that emissions fell by 50% from its 1990 baseline. This is slightly down on the previous year's figures but well short of its target of a 53.8% reduction.
Why Scotland’s most powerful climate tool is struggling for investment

Jun 2, 2024 | bbc.com | Kevin Keane

Why a tool to tackle climate change is struggling for cashKevin Keane,Environment correspondent, BBC ScotlandGarth Mortimer/CCPRestoring peatlands involves re-profiling the land with diggers to ensure it remains wet enough to store carbonOne of Scotland’s most powerful weapons in tackling climate change is not being properly recognised, experts have claimed. Restoring poor quality peatlands could cut Scotland’s emissions by almost as much as decarbonising our entire housing stock.
Action hubs being extended across Scotland

May 21, 2024 | bbc.com | Kevin Keane

How climate action hubs are driving local changeKevin Keane,BBC Scotland Environment CorrespondentBBCThe earth and worms community garden grows food crops and wildflowersThe Scottish government has announced £5.5m to expand a network of community led climate action hubs. The hubs are designed to encourage local action which tackles both climate change and nature loss. The concept started more than two years ago with just two, in the north-east and Highlands and Islands.
Climate change experts have 'serious concerns' at tree planting cut

Feb 27, 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Kevin Keane

The Scottish government's climate change advisers have raised "serious concerns" about cuts to tree planting. It was announced in December that the woodland creation budget was being slashed by 41% from £77.2m to £45.4m. Ministers have admitted the cut means they will fall well short of next year's target of 18,000 hectares of new woodland to tackle climate change. The Scottish government has blamed the decision on cuts to the block grant from Westminster.
Scottish farmers win battle over food subsidies

Feb 8, 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Kevin Keane

Scotland's farmers will continue receiving most of their existing subsidies for growing food, the first minister has announced. Humza Yousaf told NFU Scotland's spring conference in Glasgow that 70% of future support will be direct payments. Green groups argue that the majority of the subsidies should be for tackling climate change and nature loss. The farmers' union said that would lead some businesses to financial ruin and to agricultural land being abandoned.
Huge jobs growth seen in Scotland's renewables sector

Dec 17, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Kevin Keane

Jobs in Scotland's renewables sector grew by more than 50% in 2021, according to research. A study by the Fraser of Allander Institute says the industry supported 42,000 jobs compared with 27,000 the previous year. Onshore and offshore wind are the biggest drivers but there's also been a marked growth of jobs in home heating. Scottish Renewables says it demonstrates the growing economic value from harnessing the sector.