It will take us all working together to tackle climate change. Scotland’s playing its part and has committed to reach net zero emissions by 2045 in a way that’s equal, fair and creates new opportunities.
We’re creating a greener, fairer, sustainable way of life for all, not just within the home, but in the workplace, for those visiting Scotland and through education. Our universities are leading pioneering climate change research and our businesses are training up our workforce to thrive in the world’s emerging sustainable industries. Our commitment to human rights, equality and social justice means we are supporting some of the world’s most vulnerable people to become more resilient to climate change through our Climate Justice Fund which is the world’s first . We're proud to be hosting the UN Climate Summit COP26 in our city of Glasgow this year, when we will continue to work together with governments, businesses, communities and industries to take action that will bring lasting change that we can all benefit from.
You can find out more about Scotland’s action on climate change below and throughout this year we will be sharing the stories of some of Scotland’s most exciting advances.
Just Transition
A just transition is about making sure that, as we reduce our emissions and respond to a changing climate, the journey is fair and creates a better future for everyone – regardless of where they live, what they do, and who they are.
Our National Transition Training Fund is supporting people who are at risk of being left behind in the labour market or whose employment has been impacted by Covid-19 to upskill or retrain. Through academic and business collaborations, we are supporting the Green Investment Portfolio to put Scotland’s investment-ready green projects in the spotlight. And our £62 million Energy Transition Fund will help businesses in the oil, gas, and energy sectors adapt to meet the challenge of net-zero.
A crucial part of a just transition is about supporting workers and affected communities as we plan the move away from carbon-intensive industries. Our goal is to make the economy work for everyone so no one is left behind, whilst protecting our planet. This means the creation of good, green jobs to support this change, and everyone playing their part in creating a fairer and more sustainable society for all.
Renewable Energy and Hydrogen
Scotland is renowned as a renewables pioneer, and has made excellent progress in renewable electricity generation - with the equivalent of over 95% of Scotland's gross electricity consumption generated from renewable sources, and a target for 2030 for the equivalent of 50% of the energy for Scotland's heat, transport and electricity use to come from renewable sources.
Scotland is home to the world’s first floating windfarm, Hywind Scotland, with a second project, Kincardine, currently under construction. Hywind alone generates enough renewable energy to power around 36,000 homes
As well as a number of world-leading tidal energy project, Scotland is home to the world's first offshore tidal energy array and the world’s most powerful tidal turbine.
Scotland also hosts a number of world-leading hydrogen demonstration projects including: the H100 project in Fife which will deliver the world’s first domestic hydrogen heat network; hydrogen bus fleets; and the world’s first hydrogen production from tidal energy in Orkney.
The Power of Nature
With an abundance of striking natural landscapes and habitats that are home to thousands of varieties of flora and fauna, Scotland is uniquely positioned to tackle climate change. As part of our biodiversity commitments we have planted 44 million trees and we are restoring 250,000 hectares of degraded and drained peatland back to functioning ecosystems. This reduces the carbon that peatlands release and will eventually enable them to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. Not only do restored peatlands act as natural carbon capture systems, they also benefit wildlife such as dragonflies and birds and can even improve water quality.
Last summer Scotland led an international workshop for subnational governments to develop an international plan to protect and preserve global biodiversity. The resulting Edinburgh Declaration is set to be presented at The Conference of Parties on Biodiversity (COP15) to be held in China in spring 2022. Scotland has already committed to some of the draft targets and we will be protecting at least 30% of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030.
We also established the Biodiversity Challenge Fund to offer funding for innovative projects that improve biodiversity, and address the impact of climate change, by increasing the resilience of our most at-risk habitats and species and creating large areas of new or restored habitat.
Around The Globe
Climate change projects around the world have presented us with unique opportunities to support and collaborate with other countries. Internationally Scotland has led the way in putting Climate Justice at the heart of our overseas action. Since 2012, our Climate Justice Fund has committed £21m to support some of the world’s most vulnerable people in becoming more resilient to climate change. From Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda to our neighbours in the Arctic, we are sharing our climate change expertise and funding community resilience.
Scotland also helped establish the Wellbeing Economy Governments group, an initiative where countries work together to develop sustainability, prosperity and resilience in their economies. Additionally, Scotland sits as one of five co-chairs of the Under2 Coalition, committed to ambitious climate action to limit global temperature rises.
Participating in global actions has given Scotland the chance to help deliver lasting change but there is more we can do and the journey will require communities the world over to come together to tackle the big challenges and do more.
With COP26 just around the corner, Scotland is looking forward to continuing to play its part in bringing the world together under a common goal; to end humanity’s contributions to climate change.