Delivering a Greener, Fairer, Independent Scotland - One Year On

Economic Recovery and Infrastructure

• £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray opened
• Proposals set out for the fourth National Planning Framework
• Wellbeing Economy Monitor launched

In March 2022, Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation was published, setting out a vision for a wellbeing economy, and a fairer, wealthier and greener Scotland. This included a range of actions to support the transition to a net-zero economy and ensure our economy captures the opportunities that come with becoming a low and zero carbon economy, develops within safe environmental limits and prioritises and serves the collective wellbeing of current and future generations. The Wellbeing Economy Monitor, which will help guide this transition, was launched on 24 June 2022. To support the transition to a zero waste and circular economy, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater, also published proposals for a Circular Economy Bill. The Bill will help significantly increase reuse and recycling rates, and modernise and improve waste and recycling services.

To support those communities and businesses most affected by the just transition to net-zero, the Scottish Government opened the ten year £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray on 31 May 2022. The fund will help finance organisations, businesses and communities to transition to net zero, creating jobs in low carbon industries and contributing to making the area and Scotland as whole more prosperous.

Planning plays a crucial role in building a wellbeing economy and improving our places. We consulted on Scotland's fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), marking a turning point for planning in Scotland by putting the climate emergency and nature recovery at its heart. It will be finalised this year and will play a key role in guiding the transformation of our places and enabling investment in the infrastructure we will need to secure a green economic recovery. Clear and consistent national planning policies will help us to deliver on a wide range of government policies and commitments, so that future development mitigates and adapts to climate change, builds in nature-based solutions, and encourages local living including 20 minute neighbourhoods.

A commitment was made in the Bute House Agreement to review the role of incineration in Scotland's waste hierarchy. The response from Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater, to the independent review on waste incineration in Scotland, noted that the Scottish Government will set out, through statutory and other frameworks, that there is no longer support for the development of further municipal waste incineration capacity in Scotland, with very limited exceptions.