More than 100 new policies and proposals to support Scotland’s green recovery and help deliver a just transition to net zero have been launched.

They form part of the Climate Change Plan 2018 – 2032, which has been updated to reflect the world’s most ambitious framework of climate targets as enshrined in Scotland’s Climate Change Act 2019. 

Nature-based solutions form a key part of the updated Climate Change Plan. The Scottish Government recently announcing an additional £500 million of investment in our natural economy, with peatland restoration and woodland creation helping to enhance biodiversity and create good, green jobs whilst tackling climate change.

The Scottish Government also plans to protect at least 30% of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030. The proposals were published this week in a new ‘Statement of Intent on Biodiversity’ which sets out the Scottish Government’s priorities for tackling biodiversity loss as part of a twin-crises approach to ending our contribution to climate change and ecological decline.

The updated Climate Change Plan, which also increases the ambition of more than 40 other policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, also includes:

• the launch of a £180 million Emerging Energy Technologies Fund (EETF), that, over the next 5 years, will support the development of Scottish hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) industries, and support the development of Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs)
• additional funding of £120 million for zero emission buses to accelerate the decarbonisation of Scotland’s bus fleet and support the Scottish supply chain.
• £50 million to support the creation of Active Freeways to provide sustainable transport links between our towns and cities
• £50 million to transform vacant and derelict land, ensuring that this land is utilised for maximum environmental and community benefit.
• reducing the number of kilometres travelled by car by 20% by 2030 In line with the vision and priorities of our new National Transport Strategy,
• phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, in line with UK Committee on Climate Change advice
• plan to help create 1 million zero-emission homes by 2030
• a Waste Routemap to 2030 and beyond, including consulting on a ban on all biodegradable non-municipal waste being sent to landfill, also in line with UK Committee on Climate Change advice

To support the delivery of the updated Plan, a revised Draft Public Engagement Strategy has been published for consultation setting out how we will continue to engage, support and encourage climate action, together with a Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan to support reskilling and retraining skilled workers so that they can access new, good quality jobs that become available.

Download the Plan