SIR, The UK and Scottish Government’s drive towards net zero targets is a misguided endeavour that places hypothetical environmental benefits above the tangible health of our nation’s economy and workforce.

This aggressive policy is impractical and fundamentally harmful, threatening the livelihoods of countless individuals across both rural and urban areas.

In rural communities, the precipitate shift away from traditional energy sources jeopardises foundational industries like agriculture and fossil fuels, risking economic devastation without providing viable alternative employment opportunities.

Urban areas are not spared, as small to medium-sized businesses contend with soaring operational costs due to stringent environmental regulations. These costs fuel inflation, striking hardest at those least able to afford it.

The intermittency of wind and solar power introduces an unacceptable level of risk and instability into our energy grid, undermining both personal and commercial energy security. On a global scale, the UK’s unilateral net zero ambitions place us at a stark competitive disadvantage, imposing hefty costs on our industries while international competitors operate free from such constraints.

The net zero policy, driven more by green idealism than by pragmatic governance, threatens significant economic and social repercussions. It disregards the complex realities of our economic system and the daily lives of the people who operate within it.

We risk sacrificing our economic dynamism and social fabric on the altar

of environmental extremism.

It is time for a bold reassessment of these policies. We must reject the current trajectory and advocate for policies that prioritise the nation’s economic and social wellbeing over unattainable environmental targets.

The future of our country should not be compromised by policies that are not only ineffective but also socially and economically destructive. We need leaders who will stand against the prevailing green narrative and who recognise the necessity of maintaining our economic integrity and protecting our communities.

Alastair Redman, Independent councillor Kintyre and the Islands ward, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay