EDINBURGH, Scotland, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Though Scotland has one of the most ambitious renewable energy programs in the world, Friends of the Earth said the country's pollution is a health concern.
Friends of the Earth said its review of 2014 government data show air pollution is responsible for as much as $2.5 billion in annual healthcare costs for the Scottish people.
"Scotland's streets are shown to have dangerous levels of toxic pollution which are breaking legal limits that were due to be met in 2010," campaigner Emilia Hanna said in Saturday statement.
Scotland aims to draw more on renewable energy to power its economy, while looking toward oil and gas reserves in the North Sea as a source of revenue. Renewable electricity capacity has grown at an average rate of 660 megawatts each year since 2007.
Friends of the Earth said Scottish air pollution has broken legal limits set in 2010. Nevertheless, the campaign group said the Scottish government has shown signs of working to adopt a low-emission economic strategy.
The British government this week is expected to transfer authority to Edinburgh to govern hydraulic fracturing, the controversial oil and gas drilling practice behind the production increase in the United States.
"Fracking has been a huge part of the post-referendum debate in Scotland," Friends of Earth campaigner Mary Church said. "A switched-on Scottish electorate will be scrutinizing the parties claims on this politically toxic issue."
A Scottish referendum to break from the United Kingdom failed in late 2014.
