Blog by Alex Leatham, Policy and Advocacy Volunteer at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland
The Scottish Government’s 2025-26 Programme for Government (PfG) fell at a time of mounting urgency for climate action, with the latest Climate Change Plan delayed and just a year to go to deliver existing commitments ahead of the elections in 2026.
However, once again the commitments fail to deliver the pace and scale of action required. While some measures are indeed welcome, such as progress toward a Heat in Buildings Bill and continuation of public transport investment, the overall package does not rise to what is needed. For campaigners, communities, and workers across Scotland demanding climate leadership rooted in justice, this outline can only be described as too little, too slowly. Some key examples of this are listed below:
- The absence of a firm commitment to ban the sale of peat for horticultural use.
SCCS has been clear: the continued commercial exploitation of peatlands undermines both biodiversity and climate targets. The Scottish Government’s opportunity to legislate through the Natural Environment Bill is being wasted. No mention is made of timelines for banning peat compost, imports, or exports. Despite years of consultation and stakeholder consensus, delays continue, reflecting a concerning lack of political will and ambition.
- The downgrade of ambition surrounding woodland creation targets
The PfG sets a target of just 10,000 hectares per year, well short of what is necessary to meet the target of 18,000 hectares per year in the current Climate Change Plan. This reduction not only signals a weakening of ambition, but comes at a time when Scotland’s climate credentials are already under question. This is compounded by the absence of a long-promised National Register of Ancient Woodland, a vital step to protect irreplaceable ecosystems that continue to be lost to development.
- The promise of a just transition for workers and communities has also been kicked further down the road.
Despite commitments to publish Just Transition plans for key sectors, like transport, agriculture and land use, and buildings, there is little evidence of meaningful delivery. The transport plan remains under consultation, and other plans have yet to appear. Communities on the frontlines of change, whether they are farmers, construction workers, or those living near petrochemical sites like Mossmorran, continue to wait for the clarity and support they were promised. A just transition in name only will not deliver the fairer, greener Scotland so often referenced by this Government.
Overall, the gap between rhetoric and delivery continues to be wide. Scotland’s missed climate targets, diminishing ambition, and delayed policies tell a story of stalling momentum. The climate and nature crises will not wait for political convenience. What is needed now is action that is rooted in justice, guided by science, and delivered with urgency. Instead, this Government appears to be treading cautiously, prioritising political risk management over climate delivery as it looks ahead to the 2026 election.