Uphold and take action to meet the legal target to reach net-zero by 2045 at the latest by delivering, and where necessary strengthening, the new Climate Change Plan
This includes ensuring policies are adequately resourced, implemented fairly, and are credible.
Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as amended, Scotland is legally bound to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. A new Climate Change Plan (CCP), detailing policies and proposals to meet this target, is set for publication in autumn 2025 and should be approved by Parliament before the election.
Effective implementation of the new CCP by the next Scottish Government is vital. It must not only reduce emissions and meet carbon budget targets but also demonstrably:
• Address poverty and inequality through fair implementation of policies
• Align with Just Transition Plans • Improve health and wellbeing • Protect and restore nature and biodiversity
• Applies the ‘polluter pays’ principle
As outlined in our briefing, the CCP and its policies need to be Measurable, Ambitious, Transparent, Credible, and Holistic (“MATCH criteria”).
To maintain credibility, policies across all relevant sectors must be robustly delivered to achieve emissions reduction pathways, without relying on unreliable, expensive technological solutions like CCUS or other negative emissions technologies (NETs) that may have negative side-effects. Any use of carbon removals should be limited, transparently justified, and supported by a credible, science-based delivery plan, not as a substitute for rapid emissions cuts. If the CCP inherited by the next Scottish Government is clearly insufficient to meet carbon budgets and the net-zero target, immediate action should be taken to address its deficiencies without delaying essential emissions reduction efforts.
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