Draft Climate Change Plan - Background Information and Key Issues

Author: Abbi Hobbs, Niall Kerr and Alasdair Reid

PDF Published: Friday 19 Dec 2025 (SB 25-63)

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Overview
Report

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Overview
Report
- Summary
- Introduction
- Latest climate science
- Scotland's progress in cutting emissions
- Key legislation
  - Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
  - Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019
  - Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2024
    
    Carbon budget regulations
- Summary of key parliamentary scrutiny
  - Background
- Session 6 scrutiny
  - Draft Climate Change Plan
Sources

Image: Scotland historical emissions by sector

Climate Change Committee. (2025, June). Progress in reducing emissions – 2025 report to Parliament. Retrieved from https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/progress-in-reducing-emissions-2025-report-to-parliament/#post-52125-footnote-2 [accessed 8 December 2025]

SNIFFER, . (2021, June). Summary for Scotland (CCRA3-IA). Retrieved from https://www.ukclimaterisk.org/publications/summary-forscotland-ccra3-ia/#section-1-about-this-document [accessed 8 December 2025]

Scottish Government. (2025, November). Scotland's Climate Change Plan 2026 - 2040. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-climate-change-plan-2026-2040/documents/ [accessed 20 November 2025]

BBC News. (2025, November). COP30: Five key takeaways from a deeply divisive climate summit. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp84m16mdm1o [accessed 2 December 2025]

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NatureScot. (2025, July). Over 50% of Scots worry about climate change every day. Retrieved from https://www.nature.scot/over-50-scots-worry-about-climate-change-every-day [accessed 8 December 2025]

Scottish Government. (2025, June). Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics 2023. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-greenhouse-gas-statistics-2023/pages/scottish-greenhouse-gas-statistics-2023/ [accessed 8 December 2025]

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United Nations Climate Change. (2025). This COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery: UN Secretary-General address to Belém Leaders Summit. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/news/this-cop-must-ignite-a-decade-of-acceleration-and-delivery-un-secretary-general-address-to-belem [accessed 2 December 2025]

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Climate Change Committee. (2024). Progress in reducing emissions in Scotland – 2023 Report to Parliament. Retrieved from https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/progress-in-reducing-emissions-in-scotland-2023-report-to-parliament/?chapter=executive-summary#executive-summary [accessed 2 December 2025]

Climate Change Committee. (2025, May 21). Scotland's Carbon Budgets - Charts and Data. Retrieved from https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/scotlands-carbon-budgets/#publication-downloads [accessed 18 December 2025]

Climate Change Committee. (2024, March). Progress in reducing emissions in Scotland – 2023 Report to Parliament. Retrieved from https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/progress-in-reducing-emissions-in-scotland-2023-report-to-parliament/ [accessed 8 December 2025]

Scottish Parliament. (2024, April 18). Official Report: Climate Change Committee Scotland Report. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-18-04-2024?meeting=15804&iob=134937 [accessed 8 December 2025]

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Scottish Parliament: Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee. (2025, January). Climate Change Plan update Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, 22 January 2025. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-net-zero-energy-and-transport-committee/correspondence/2025/climate-change-plan-update [accessed 9 December 2025]

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Scottish Parliament: Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee (Session 5). (2021). The Climate Change Plan update (CCPu). Retrieved from https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20240327035038/https://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/116746.aspx [accessed 1 December 2025]

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Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). (2023, June 1). Developing a model for parliamentary scrutiny of climate change. Retrieved from https://spice-spotlight.scot/2023/06/01/developing-a-model-for-parliamentary-scrutiny-of-climate-change/ [accessed 10 December 2025]

Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). (2024, January 16). Delivering a model for parliamentary scrutiny of climate change: drivers, actions and next steps. Retrieved from https://spice-spotlight.scot/2024/01/16/delivering-a-model-for-parliamentary-scrutiny-of-climate-change-drivers-actions-and-next-steps/ [accessed 10 December 2025]

Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). (2025, March 11). Delivering a model for parliamentary scrutiny of climate change: a Climate Change People’s Panel. Retrieved from https://spice-spotlight.scot/2025/03/11/delivering-a-model-for-parliamentary-scrutiny-of-climate-change-a-climate-change-peoples-panel/ [accessed 11 December 2025]

Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). (2024, January 16). SPICe Hub: Climate change and Scottish Parliament committees. Retrieved from https://spice-spotlight.scot/2024/01/16/spice-hub-climate-change-and-scottish-parliament-committees/ [accessed 10 December 2025]

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Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). (2025, November 27). SPICe Hub: draft Climate Change Plan. Retrieved from https://spice-spotlight.scot/2025/11/27/spice-hub-draft-climate-change-plan/ [accessed 10 December 2025]

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Last Updated: 20/12 2:40pm

Image: Scotland historical emissions by sector

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