Scottish Budget 2019-2020: carbon assessment

Foreword

Sustainability is at the heart of the Government's purpose and its economic strategy, as we transition to a carbon neutral economy.

Our Climate Change Plan, published in February 2018, sets out the stretching and credible package of policies and proposals that will allow us to meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets out to 2032. The Climate Change Bill we introduced in May 2018 responds to the UN Paris Agreement with increased target ambition. The targets in the Bill mean that Scotland will be carbon neutral by 2050.

The spending plans set out in the 2019-20 Scottish Budget enable the Scottish Government to continue delivering on its purpose to create a successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

This Carbon Assessment of the Budget contributes to that purpose by assessing the greenhouse gas implications of Government spending plans. The assessment should be read alongside our individual level assessments of emissions over policy/project lifetimes, and Scotland's Climate Change Plan.

Derek Mackay, MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work