Scotland’s New Climate Change Plan Must Be a Plan for Delivery

The Scottish Government is soon to publish its long-awaited new Climate Change Plan (CCP). Adam Liddle, member of the Climate Emergency Response Group outlines why delivery must be at the heart of the plan, and how this can be achieved.  

To meet legally binding climate targets, strengthen the economy, tackle the cost-of-living crisis, build resilience, and improve wellbeing, the CCP must not only set out bold policies —it must also provide a credible, well-structured approach to delivery that achieves real, tangible benefits to people.  

The Delivery Gap 

Progress to date in key sectors such as land use, agriculture, and home heating has been too slow, and as a result, many of the promised benefits—warmer homes, lower energy bills, green jobs, and nature recovery—are yet to materialise.  

Without a robust delivery plan, the risk is twofold: not only do we miss our targets and the potential economic and social benefits, but we also risk eroding public trust — in government, and in climate action itself.  

To rebuild that trust and drive progress at the pace and scale needed, the next CCP must go beyond policy-making. It must commit to building the structures, systems, and long-term delivery mechanisms at national, regional and local levels needed to turn good policies into real-world outcomes. 

More than a Net Zero Plan 

In our latest briefing paper, the Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG) argues that the CCP is far more than a ‘net zero’ plan and delivery requires a truly whole-of-government approach. That means making sure all policies, budgets, and government Directorates are not only aligned with national climate targets but are also held accountable for delivering real progress. 

It’s also about making sure that climate action leads to visible improvements in people’s lives — from creating green jobs and boosting the economy to improving public health and protecting our natural environment.  

Delivering the CCP is central to achieving other key Scottish legislation and strategies, including the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill and the Green Industrial Strategy. The latter aims to seize the economic opportunities of the just transition to net zero by targeting growth in key sectors like renewables, hydrogen, carbon capture, green finance, and clean industrial electrification.  

The investment potential into these key sectors is clear to see and will be showcased at the Global Investment Summit taking place in Edinburgh in October. However, without strong investor confidence in the policy and likelihood of delivery, investment is unlikely to materialise at the scale required.   

What does delivery look like in practice:  

We set out 6 key messages and 10 practical recommendations to the Scottish Government. These include: 

• Redesigning governance to support delivery of long-term transformations and achieving wide-reaching benefits for society, 

• Clarifying roles and responsibilities across government and delivery agencies, and presenting a clear link between interventions and expected outcomes, 

• Investing in the data and evidence base to track progress and results, and 

• Engaging stakeholders and the public meaningfully in shaping and delivering programmes for change. 

Delivery Requires a Mission-Based Approach 

The outcomes we aim to achieve through the CCP are long-term, transformative — spanning 10 years or more. Delivering them will require the creation of new markets and investment, shifting behaviours, and embedding resilience. That requires commitment to long-term goals led by a dedicated cross-government unit with the mandate, authority, and political backing needed to drive coordinated action and deliver clearly defined, measurable outcomes across all sectors. 

Conclusion: It’s Time to Deliver 

Scotland’s next Climate Change Plan must be a plan for delivery—a blueprint not only for what we aim to achieve, but how we can all work together to achieve a healthier, fairer, more resilient Scotland. 

Read CERG’s full briefing paper here for our key messages and detailed recommendations to the Scottish Government, and summary paper here. 

Adam Liddle