Routemap to decarbonise heat in buildings by 2045 published

Scotland’s Climate Change Plan: 2026-2040 sets out over 150 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next 15 years, bringing over £42.3 billion in financial benefits and cost savings to the economy over the same period.

According to the document, Scotland is already over halfway to net zero having reduced emissions by 51.3% since 1990 – the largest reduction in the UK and faster than the EU average, using comparable statistics.

The final plan details how Scotland will meet its next three carbon budgets, along with a range of delivery indicators. These include:

• setting a target to decarbonise heat in buildings by 2045
• phasing out the need for new diesel and petrol cars by 2030
• increasing woodland creation so that by 2029-30, 18,000 hectares are planted every year, with 21% woodland cover in Scotland by 2032
• increasing peatland restoration by 10% each year to 2030

Actions in the Climate Change Plan will also contribute to both the Environment Strategy, and the Circular Economy Strategy.

The new Environment Strategy creates an integrated framework for environment and climate policies, while harnessing the powerful synergies between the health of our environment, the well-being of Scotland’s people and the success of our economy while the Circular Economy Strategy underpins delivery of our climate goals by cutting the amount of waste produced in Scotland, and managing our resources more sustainably, to reduce emissions.

Climate action secretary Gillian Martin said the plans will enable people to benefit from warmer homes, lower bills, greater job opportunities and be less exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices.

“The Climate Change Plan is Scotland’s pathway to net zero and outlines the action we will take to meet our first three carbon budgets,” she added.

“However, it is also a routemap to realising economic and social gains for people across Scotland as part of a fair and just transition. It highlights the potential of growth areas ranging from renewables to heat networks to the circular economy, and sets out our commitment to increase investment in areas that will simultaneously decarbonise Scotland and improve our lives.

“Together with the Environment Strategy and Circular Economy Strategy, our Climate Change Plan forms a blueprint for how we will use this once-in-a-generation opportunity for transformation to reduce emissions while ensuring that our economy prospers, our communities are supported to become more resilient to the effects of climate change and to redress the issues of poverty and energy security that affect individual households.”

WWF Scotland warned that the plan does not go far enough.

Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said: “It’s extremely disappointing not to see stronger action to cut climate emissions in key areas such as heat in buildings and agriculture.

“We are already far behind where we need to be in tackling our changing climate and protecting people and nature from its devastating consequences.

“With an election just around the corner, we need all political parties to set out clear commitments on how they will step up action to deliver a fair and just transition for workers, communities and consumers.”