Shell has exited its ScotWind projects, handing its lease back to Crown Estate Scotland and leaving questions as to what happens next. It's a stark reminder of the risks in relying on distant investors and fossil fuel giants to deliver Scotland’s renewable energy future. www.ft.com/content/b9d0...

Scotland’s offshore wind should power a fairer future - not just profits for distant shareholders. The wind belongs to all of us. We should all have a stake in our energy future. 🧵

“Who is benefitting? How are rewards shared? Are we tackling inequalities rather than exacerbating them?” Our co-director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social spoke to @vickyallan.bsky.social about our recent report on ScotWind for the @heraldscotland.bsky.social:

UK and Scottish governments have pledged £20m to transition North Sea workers into clean energy jobs - a vital step towards a fairer, cleaner economy. But as oil and gas decline accelerates, far more must be done to support workers and communities most affected. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Join us at SNP Conference this weekend! Funding Scotland’s Future: Where Next for the Public Finances? 🗓️ Sunday 12th October 🕘 9:15-10:15am ☕️ Food & refreshments! With: @shonarobison.bsky.social MSP David Phillips @theifs.bsky.social Sara Cowan @swbg.bsky.social Chair: @lmacfarlane.bsky.social

Our recent research has shown that peatland restoration is a poor fit for private finance, unless the Scottish Government bends over backwards to de-risk investment. This ultimately shifts risk onto the public while allowing investors to capture profits. Our work explores a public-led alternative.

“The Scottish Government must take public equity stakes in offshore wind to ensure our people share in the benefits of our resources." Read exclusive coverage of our new ‘Who Owns ScotWind?’ data with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social in the Daily Record:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Who owns Scotland's offshore wind assets? Our new interactive map with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social lets you explore who really owns ScotWind projects – and who stands to benefit Highlights in 🧵 Explore the map 👉 www.futureeconomy.scot/scotwind

“Models that rely on commercial finance could increase project costs by up to 48% – potentially rendering them loss-making” Our new report on nature restoration is covered by the @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2550956...

Instead of private finance, we need public investment for public goods – plus action on systemic barriers: 📈 Reducing financial uncertainty for landowners 💷 Tax reform 🌱 Fairer land ownership 🦌 Tackling deer numbers 👷‍♀️ Building skills & housing www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

Our new report explores Scotland's attempts to attract private finance to meet net zero targets. We model funding options for peat restoration + find private finance could increase costs for projects by 48%. We propose a public-led alternative + policy changes to address non-financial barriers. 👇

Last week John Swinney flew to the US to lobby Trump to cut tariffs on whisky But what impacts are tariffs actually having on Scotland’s economy? Important analysis by our new economist @jujupepe.bsky.social

📢 NEW: Scotland faces a stark choice: act boldly to shape the economy, or be shaped by global forces. Read our second report with @mazzucatom.bsky.social and @iipp-ucl.bsky.social on how to rethink the state around a mission-oriented approach: www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

NEW: The wealthiest 2% of Scottish households have more wealth than the poorest 50% combined. New data published today reveals the extent of Scotland’s vast wealth inequality. 🧵

NEW: Alexander Dennis’s decision to halt Scottish manufacturing isn’t just a casualty of market forces It’s a story of how public money has helped to erode Scotland’s industrial base and offshore jobs abroad New analysis by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/260-mi...

🏠 Completions under the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme fell by 22% in 2024/25. The number of homes completed was 7,444, a fall of 2,070 compared to the previous financial year, and the lowest level since 2015/16 (exc. the first year of Covid-19) 🧵

My latest blog for @futureeconscot.bsky.social on the Scottish private rented sector. The gap between tenant protections ending and potential future rent controls starting could undermine them from day one. www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/225-wh... #HousingScotlandBill

tl;dr Scotland will need to ramp up action across a much broader range of devolved areas to decarbonise the economy. @miriambrett.bsky.social and I discuss last week's emissions statistics in our latest blog 👇

“Hard-pressed Scots workers are £15,000 a year worse off than they should be due to flatlining wages.” Our new earnings analysis is covered by the @dailyrecord.co.uk.web.brid.gy

Shetland secured community wealth from oil, and now the isles face rapid renewables growth. Our briefing examines how Shetland presents an early test case example for a just energy transition, providing insights for other communities:

Our rural land market analysis is cited in this @nytimes.com article on the Land Reform Bill: "Between 2020 and 2022, the value of rural land jumped by as much as 58 percent in some areas." Our latest report is here: shorturl.at/wB9VK www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/r... @scottishlandcom.bsky.social

Good to talk rural housing with @scottishhousingnews.com podcast, along with @ailsaraeburn.bsky.social Our report published this week urges more active use of public land acquisition to support housing delivery.

Land for Rural Housing report from @scottishlandcom.bsky.social hits the front page of @heraldscotland.bsky.social today. See the report at www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...

Pleased to say @scottishlandcom.bsky.social is also now here...