Scots urged to give views on aims of new climate change plan

MSPs are urging Scots to have their say on what should be included in the Scottish Government’s climate change plan as ministers prepare to publish it.

Holyrood’s Net Zero Committee said “public buy-in and participation must be at the heart” of developing a “credible plan” to tackle climate change and help meet Scotland’s 2045 net zero target.

Independent experts at the Climate Change Committee have already told Holyrood ministers that “immediate action at pace and scale” will be needed to reach this goal.

As part of its efforts, the Scottish Government is to bring forward a new climate change plan, which will set out how it will reduce emissions over the period 2026 to 2040.

The Net Zero Committee will then be tasked with scrutinising the proposals.

The plan, which is expected to be published later this year, comes after the Government was forced to scrap its interim target of achieving a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030 – though ministers insist they are still committed to achieving net zero by 2045.

Committee convener Edward Mountain said: “In Scotland, some progress towards net zero has been made, but not enough.

“The Climate Change Committee’s warning last year that delays and slippages had put Scotland off-target in reaching net zero were a wake-up call for the Scottish Government to find credible policies that will deliver positive change in areas like agriculture, public transport and car use, and domestic heating.”

Noting that Holyrood has not considered a full climate change plan since 2018, Mr Mountain said since then the Covid pandemic had resulted in “changes, some of them long-lasting, to how we work and live our lives”.

He added: “There have been new technological developments, bringing both challenges and opportunities for climate change policy.

“Global uncertainty has raised new questions about our energy security.”

The convener said the Scottish Parliament “can play its part by ensuring there is a robust, workable and costed delivery plan for net zero”.

Appealing for people to contact the committee, Mr Mountain said: “What do you think should be included in the plan and what else do you think is needed to deliver a just transition to net zero by 2045?

“To help form our thinking, please share your views so that when the draft plan arrives, we will be in a strong position to start detailed scrutiny.”