Embedding Climate into Decision- Making: The Role and Roll-out or NZA
Every day, decisions are made by the Scottish Government and across the public sector that can either support our response to the climate emergency—or risk missing vital opportunities for economic growth, energy security, and climate resilience.
Getting Scotland on track to meet net zero by 2045 will not be easy. That’s why it’s essential for ministers to align all policy levers toward a just transition. This requires a clear understanding of the climate impact of every policy and investment decision and using that insight to guide priorities and spending.
Without this information, government is effectively operatingin the dark. The risks of failure are too great to rely on hope or ambitious policies alone.
In autumn 2024, the Scottish Government piloted a Net Zero Assessment (NZA). The report of the pilot, published in June, reaffirmed the commitment to roll out NZA in 2025 for all significant new government expenditure decisions.
As a long-standing advocate for NZA, CERG welcomes this step. We see it not only as a tool to track progress toward emissions targets, but also as a driver of low-carbon investment. By providing robust assessments of the greenhouse gas impact of policies, programmes, and investments, and comparing them with emissions targets,NZA can embed net zero thinking early in the decision-making process.
However, the success of the NZA roll-out will depend on its scope, scale and governance.
CERG believes the Scottish Government’s NZA must include a consistent carbon assessment process for all policy, programme, and investment decisions. It must be properly resourced, clearly accountable, and designed to consider both risks and opportunities—not only in terms of emissions, but also climate resilience and the just transition.
In our latest briefing, CERG outlines the key components needed for a robust NZA process, components that are reinforced by the independent review of the pilot. We look forward to seeing these recommendations reflected in the Scottish Government’s 2025 NZA roll-out.
