Ministers confirm heat pump targets as climate plan unveiled

The Scottish government has announced its plan to fight climate change for the next 15 years. A big part of the plan is about how people heat their homes. They want to replace old gas and oil heaters with heat pumps. However, some people think the government is not acting fast enough. They say the plan to install heat pumps is too slow. An independent group called the Climate Change Committee said the government's timescale is risky. The government wants to stop using gas and oil for heating by 2045. They believe this plan will create jobs and save people money. They also say it will protect people from the rising prices of fossil fuels. To meet climate targets, many heat pumps need to be installed soon. Some people are worried the government's proposals don't go far enough. The plan also includes other actions, like stopping the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. They also want to plant more trees and fix damaged peatland. The government says this plan will bring many financial benefits. The UK government has also said that new houses in England must have solar panels and heat pumps. This shows that many countries are trying to decarbonise their energy systems.