Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government laid the Climate Change Plan update in Parliament today.

The Climate Change Plan update can be accessed at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800044302 and sets out a pathway to our emissions targets up until 2032 as part of a green recovery from COVID-19 and our just transition to net zero emissions. It builds on the 2018 Climate Change Plan and sets out new, boosted and accelerated policies, putting us on a pathway to our new, ambitious targets.

Moving toward a net-zero nation will require all aspects of Scottish society to embrace significant changes in order for us to meet our targets. The Climate Change Plan update provides clear market signals to promote business confidence to invest in a low carbon economy and grow the market in these areas to deliver emissions reductions in a way that is fair and leads to a thriving net zero economy in the future. As many of the key levers are currently reserved to the UK Government, the Climate Change Plan update also sets out our calls on the UK Government.

The Climate Change Plan update has been informed by the Sustainable Renewal Advisory Group, the membership of which included MSPs from other political parties and experts from various sectors including CoSLA, business, trade unions, academia and representatives of other interests. We have also received advice from other interests including the UK Climate Change Committee and interim advice from the Just Transition Commission.

The global climate emergency has not gone away, and we remain absolutely committed to meeting Scotland’s world-leading statutory climate targets through a just transition to net-zero emissions by 2045. This is not the end of the journey and we will continue to engage with the public via the Citizens Assembly on Climate Change and other mechanisms in advance of developing the next full Climate Change Plan.

The draft Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change and the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan will be published separately today.