How we’re securing a green recovery for Scotland
by While we’re living through the unprecedented challenge of the COVID pandemic, the climate emergency hasn’t gone away – far from it.
That’s why we remain committed to continuing Scotland’s global leadership on climate action, and reaching net zero by 2045 is central to our recovery.
We’re taking bold steps to secure a green recovery, while tackling inequalities and building prosperity for future generations with thousands of new, high-quality, green jobs.
The Scottish Government has injected fresh ambition to its Climate Change Plan. Here’s all you need to know.
Driving forward a fully decarbonised transport system
We’re phasing out new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, and we’re working with public bodies to lead the way by phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel light commercial vehicles by 2025.
In aviation, we will decarbonise scheduled flights within Scotland by 2040 and are working to create the world’s first zero-emission aviation region in the Highlands and Islands.
We’re investing in the expansion of train and bus links, and we’re taking ambitious steps to build a zero-carbon future for Scotland’s public transport network.
Scotland’s rail services will be decarbonised by 2035, and we’re ensuring that the majority of new buses purchased from 2024 are zero-carbon – backed up by our funding of £120 million for Zero Emission Buses.
What’s more, we’re driving forward an active travel revolution, supporting projects with a £500 million investment over five years – including the newly committed £50 million for the Active Freeways project to create sustainable transport links between our towns and cities.
Developing a low-carbon industry fit for the future
Scottish industry can be at the forefront of our transition to net zero, and central to that are our efforts to support cutting-edge innovation in various sectors.
Our £34 million Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund helps to raise energy efficiency and drive decarbonisation, and the £26 million Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund supports innovation in low-carbon infrastructure.
We’re promoting opportunities around the development of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) network, which will help pave the way for industrial decarbonisation and negative emissions technologies, and deliver serious benefits to Scotland’s economy.
To accelerate this, we committed £180 million for an Emerging Energy Technologies Fund, supporting vital innovation and development into these technologies of the future.
Creating new, green and sustainable jobs
Fairness and social justice lie at the heart of our vision to tackle the climate emergency.
We’re working hard to ensure no individuals and communities are left behind as we transition to a greener future. That’s why, our approach is focused on enabling people to train and re-skill to help them access the new, good quality green jobs as they become available.
We are also creating more jobs by promoting innovation – through, for example, our £100 million Green Jobs Fund.
Restoring Scotland’s natural environments, improving biodiversity
Scotland’s natural environment is one of our greatest assets and we must do everything we can to safeguard them for future generations.
Not only are forests and peatlands vital to absorbing greenhouse gases, but they also deliver countless benefits to our economy – helping to develop thriving rural economies based around woodland creation, peatland restoration, sustainable tourism, and more.
We have already created over 22,000 hectares of new woodland in the last two years – and we’re set to substantially increase woodland creation, thanks to the additional £130 million commitment for further and faster tree planting.
We have also announced an ambitious £250 million peatland restoration package to support the restoration of 250,000 hectares of peatland by 2030.
