The Scottish Government published an update to its ambitious Climate Change Plan on 16 December 2020, creating a pathway to the targets set by the Climate Change Act 2019.

As the effects of the global situation the past year are still unknown, it offers a view into how Scotland may begin to climb out of potential environmental and social calamity.

What is the plan?

The Scottish Government first published the Climate Change Plan: the Third Report on Policies and Proposals: 2018-2032 in February 2018.

The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 was commenced in March of 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis.

The legislation was published in response to the emerging global climate emergency, aiming to amend Scotland’s emissions reduction targets for the ongoing goal of net zero by 2045.

Why is it being changed?

The updated plan has been pitched as a “Green Recovery” from Covid-19 and its effects on the country, with the hope that the virus has not sent us back in the line of progress.

An update had been due for publication in April of 2020 but was quickly postponed as events unfolded.

Ministers have stated the delay has been due to the global situation, but that they were able to publish the update before the end of the year with amendments relevant to the pandemic’s damage.

“When we first set out to update the 2018 Climate Change Plan, to outline the pathway to delivery of our ambitious climate change targets, we never imagined it would be published in the midst of a global pandemic. The impacts of COVID-19 are profound; a public health, economic and social crisis. The challenges we face as a country to recover from it are unprecedented.”

– Ministerial foreword to the update.

Public Engagement

Before publishing this update, the Scottish Government commissioned research into public opinion on the matters within the plan.

Consequently, a draft Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change to accompany the update was published on 16 December 2020. It contains guidance for the public and for organisations in behaviours that can contribute towards the country’s emissions targets. While not extensive or exhaustive in its recommendations, its inclusion is positive for progress.

The document puts forward several consultation questions, relating to issues such as progress reporting and participation in policy design, that allow for public engagement. It also includes a form with which individuals or organisations can formally respond to the publication.

What are the changes?

The plan update sets out a package of emissions reduction policies and policy proposals, as well as those to be updated from the 2018 plan to meet targets.

The sectors covered within the plan update include electricity, buildings, industry, transport, agriculture, waste, negative emissions technologies, land-use, and forestry. Covering a wide range of Scotland’s industries and how they can be funded or guided towards lower emissions.

It also amends the monitoring framework from the original plan. This will now be completed annually, reporting on progress in each sector from May this year onwards.

The update goes on to set out requests for the UK Government to ensure that both Scotland and the wider United Kingdom can meet its targets in the recovery from the effects of Covid-19. Some being stated as inaccessible for devolved administrations to contribute to or prevent.

These appeals relate to: reformation of the UK’s Contract for Difference mechanism; developing carbon capture and hydrogen technologies; decarbonising the gas network; ruling out a reserved Carbon Emissions Tax; and reviewing options on fuel and vehicle duty.

While we are unlikely to see any substantive reporting or further update to the Climate Change Plan before the middle of this year, there is hope to be had in seeing this update even in current conditions.

Recovery and progress will be challenging across all communities and industries, as was the case even before the tragedies of 2020.

However, the Scottish Government’s plan and its updates may just provide some much-needed optimism in the funding and infrastructure development still to come.

Related News, Insights & Events