Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy

Gillian Martin MSP

Contact

Address

Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy
Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

 

Gillian Martin was appointed as Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in July 2024 for the duration of Màiri McAllan's maternity leave.

Responsibilities

The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for: 

  • circular economy (including Circular Economy Bill)
  • climate crisis and environmental protection
  • decarbonisation of buildings
  • Deposit Return and waste issues
  • Drinking Water Quality Regulator, private water, Hydro Nation
  • emissions trading schemes
  • energy systems
  • environmental quality
  • flood prevention and coastal erosion
  • Future Generations Commissioner
  • green industrial strategy (jointly with Deputy First Minister)
  • green skills
  • Heat and Energy Efficiency Scotland agency
  • international climate change
  • Just Transition Fund
  • marine planning
  • nature recovery targets and NatureScot
  • Net Zero policy (cross-government co-ordination)
  • oil and gas
  • physical and marine environment
  • Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
  • sustainable development
  • water quality and Scottish Water
  • Zero Waste Scotland

Supporting Ministers

Biography

Gillian Martin grew up in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire. Prior to her role as an MSP, she lectured in Television Production at North East Scotland College and ran her own video production company. She also designed safety courses for the energy industry and was the manager of an emergency media response team for companies operating in the North Sea for 10 years.

Ms Martin was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament to represent Aberdeenshire East in 2016. She was appointed as Minister for Energy and the Environment in March 2023, and Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work in February 2024. In May 2024 she was appointed as Minister for Climate Action. 

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