Securing a green recovery on a path to net zero: climate change plan 2018–2032 - update

Annex A – Policies and Proposals in the Climate Change Plan

Electricity

Outcome 1: The electricity system will be powered by a high penetration of renewables, aided by a range of flexible and responsive technologies.

Policy:

Support the development of a wide range of renewable technologies by addressing current and future challenges, including market and policy barriers.
Maintained

Support improvements to electricity generation and network asset management, including network charging and access arrangements that encourage the deployment and viability of renewables projects in Scotland.
Maintained

Publish a revised and updated Energy Strategy, reflecting our commitment to net zero and key decisions on the pathways to take us there.
Boosted [March 2020]

Develop and publish a Hydrogen Policy Statement by the end of 2020, followed by a Hydrogen Action Plan during 2021.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

A new renewable, all energy consumption target of 50% by 2030, covering electricity, heat and transport.
Maintained

Proposals:

Introduce a new framework of support for energy technology innovation, delivering a step change in emerging technologies funding to support the innovation and commercialisation of renewable energy generation, storage and supply.
New [CCPU 2020]

Renewed focus on developing local energy projects and models, including through CARES, supporting the achievement of 1GW and 2GW of renewable energy being in Local Community ownership by 2020 and 2030.
Maintained

We will carry out detailed research, development and analysis during 2021 to improve our understanding of the potential to deliver negative emissions from the electricity sector.
New [CCPU 2020]

We will continue to review our energy consenting processes, making further improvements and efficiencies where possible, and seeking to reduce determination timescales for complex electricity generation and network infrastructure applications.
New [CCPU 2020]

We will deliver the actions from our Offshore Wind Policy Statement, published in October. These actions, ranging from support for supply chain, planning, innovation and skills, will support the development of between 8 and 11 GW off offshore wind capacity by 2030.
New [CCPU 2020]

Accelerate our work with aviation, energy and other stakeholders to ensure that all radars are wind turbine tolerant/neutral during the coming decade.
Boosted [CCPU 2020]

Review and publish an updated Electricity Generation Policy Statement ahead of the next Climate Change Plan.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 2: Scotland’s electricity supply is secure and flexible, with a system robust against fluctuations and interruptions to supply.

Policy:

Support the development of technologies which can deliver sustainable security of supply to the electricity sector in Scotland and ensure that Scottish generators and flexibility providers can access revenue streams to support investments.
New [CCPU 2020]

Proposals:

Press the UK Government for market mechanisms and incentives which recognise locational value, both for energy and for security of supply, and which do not create undue barriers for investment in Scotland.
Maintained

Collaborate on actions to support investment in new pumped storage hydro capacity.
Maintained

Work with all parties to secure maximum benefits from the move towards smarter and more flexible electricity systems and networks, as set out in the UK Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan (2017).
Maintained

Encourage and support increased interconnection which can enhance Scottish system security while considering effects on domestic capacity and investment.
Maintained

Launch a call in 2021 for evidence and views on technologies that can transform our electricity system, including energy storage, smart grid technologies, and technologies to deliver sustainable security of supply. This will help ensure that our funding and interventions support world leading activity in Scottish based companies.
New [CCPU 2020]

Develop a series of whole system energy scenarios to guide infrastructure investment decisions for Scotland.
New [CCPU 2020]

Ensure that sustainable security of electricity supply is included as a priority within future Scottish Government energy innovation funding programmes.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 3: Scotland secures maximum economic benefit from the continued investment and growth in electricity generation capacity and support for the new and innovative technologies which will deliver our decarbonisation goals.

Proposals:

Press the UK Government to further reform and maintain the CfD mechanism in a manner which better captures the economic benefits and total value added for the Scottish and UK supply chains.
New [CCPU 2020]

Introduce new requirements for developers to include supply chain commitments when applying to the ScotWind leasing process run by Crown Estate Scotland.
New [CCPU 2020]

Identify and support major infrastructure improvements to ensure that Scotland’s supply chain companies and facilities can benefit from the continued growth of renewable energy.
New [CCPU 2020]

Buildings

Outcome 1: The heat supply to our homes and non-domestic buildings is very substantially decarbonised, with high penetration rates of renewable and zero emissions heating

Outcome 2: Our homes and buildings are highly energy efficient, with all buildings upgraded where it is appropriate to do so, and new buildings achieving ultra-high levels of fabric efficiency

Policy:

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) requires obligated energy supply companies to deliver energy efficiency measures in homes – mainly insulation-based measures and boiler replacements.
Maintained

Energy Efficient Scotland Delivery Schemes:

• Area Based Schemes and Warmer Homes Scotland.
• Home Energy Scotland Advice Service and Loans.
• Home Energy Scotland cashback scheme for zero emissions heating technologies and energy efficiency measures - boosted.
• SME Advice Service and Loans.
• SME cashback scheme for zero emissions heating technologies and energy efficiency measures - boosted.

Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Review support programmes

We will review existing Scottish Government funding schemes to ensure that they support the deployment of low and zero emissions heat. We will expand the provision of loans to the SME sector, and enhance the wider energy efficiency and heat advice service and provision of tailored start-to-end support.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Procure a new national delivery scheme, to replace the existing Warmer Homes Scotland contract, to open in 2022.
Boosted [CCPU 2020]

Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing: will be met by social landlords by 2020.
Maintained

2024 New Build Zero Emissions from Heat Standard: requiring new buildings to have zero emissions heating systems.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG + CCPU]

Review of energy standards within building regulations. The review investigates the potential for further, significant improvement on 2015 standards and how building standards can support other carbon and energy policy outcomes, including our decarbonisation of heat agenda.
Maintained

Heat in Buildings regulation: Put in place regulation to increase uptake of zero emissions heating systems and improve energy efficiency standards across all tenures, prioritising the raising of standards for households living in fuel poverty.

Re-introduce revised regulations to the Scottish Parliament requiring mandatory minimum energy efficiency standards for the Private Rented Sector, to come into force from 2022.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) - supports investment in decarbonisation of business and the public sector.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Expanded £1.6bn Heat in Buildings capital funding over the next parliament Building on the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) and existing energy efficiency and zero emissions heat support programmes.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Non Domestic Public Sector Energy Efficiency (NDEE) Framework:

• A four year framework launched in March 2016, designed to support public and third sector organisations to procure Energy Efficiency retrofit work. The Framework will continue for a further four years commencing in 2020.
• NDEE Support Unit accelerates the number of projects and delivery timescales of public sector energy efficiency projects using the NDEE Framework and supports our wider ambitions around energy demand reduction.

Maintained

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - a GB-wide scheme created by the UK Government (with the agreement of the Scottish Government). UK Government is extending both the domestic and non-domestic RHI out to 2022.
Boosted [August 2020]

UK Green Gas Support Scheme - a GB-wide Green Gas Scheme is planned to come into force in 2022, stimulating biomethane injection into the gas grid.
New [UK Government announcement]

UK Clean Heat Grant - a GB-wide Clean Heat Grant is planned to come into force in 2022, supporting uptake of heat pumps (and limited biomass boilers) via up-front grants.
New [UK Government announcement]

Support for Heat Networks: the District Heating Loan Fund helps address the financial and technical barriers to district heating projects by offering low interest loans.
Maintained

Implement the provisions of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill to create a strong regulatory framework to support delivery by 2023.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Continue to support the Heat Network Partnership - a collaboration of agencies focused on the promotion and support of district heating schemes in Scotland.
Maintained

Net Zero Carbon Public Sector Buildings Standard will be introduced in 2021 and progressively rolled out across the public sector, as announced in the Programme for Government 2019.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG + CCPU]

Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) will be in place by the end of 2023, setting out preferred heat solutions zones, guiding building owner decision making about replacement heating systems, and forming the basis for local delivery plans targeting heat and energy efficiency investment.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG + CCPU]

Assessment of Energy Performance and Emissions Regulations (Non-Domestic Buildings) - The Assessment of Energy Performance of Non-domestic Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2016 require assessment of the energy performance and emissions of larger non-domestic buildings (those over 1,000 m²). A review programmed for 2021 will investigate and consult upon amended scope of standards and more challenging improvement targets to create a viable pathway for all existing non-domestic buildings to deliver the level of energy demand and emissions reductions needed.
Maintained

Support for community low and zero emissions heat projects through CARES.
Boosted [2020]

Salix financing facility to support investment in non-domestic buildings retrofit.
Maintained

Work with social landlords to bring forward the review of the existing Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH2) with a view to strengthening and realigning the standard with net-zero requirements.
Boosted [CCPU 2020]

Work with our partners, including the UK Government, local authorities and utility providers to determine the best approach to heat decarbonisation for buildings currently heated by natural gas.

Boosted [CCPU 2020]

Review the system of building assessments and reports on energy performance and heat to ensure a system that is fit for purpose in meeting net zero emissions objectives for heat in buildings.
Boosted [CCPU 2020]

Work with stakeholders to further understand and support the application and use of low and zero emissions heating within designated historic environment assets and hard to treat buildings.
New [CCPU 2020]

Develop and introduce future regulation for non-domestic buildings and launch a consultation on these proposals.
Boosted [CCPU 2020]

Undertake work to identify the capacity and output of renewable electricity generation required in Scotland to support the projected roll-out of heat pumps.
New [CCPU 2020]

Consider whether to extend Permitted Development Rights for zero-emission heat networks and micro-renewable technologies.
New [CCPU 2020]

Undertake work to better understand the impact on electricity networks of projected heat pump deployment.

Work with the Distribution Network Operators through the Heat Electrification Partnership to build an evidence base to inform business planning.

Work with industry and networks to understand need for heat pumps systems to be smart enabled, and identify options to integrate smart systems into our delivery programmes; and to explore how innovation can help to improve the consumer experience.
New [CCPU 2020]

Support heat networks through:

• Introducing a Non-Domestic Rates Relief for renewable and low carbon heat networks until 2023/24.
• Working to identify how new buildings in Heat Network Zones could be made ready to connect to heat networks.
• Including district heating within the Permitted Development Rights review.
• Through National Planning Framework 4, ensuring that local development plans take account of where a Heat Network Zone has been identified.

New [CCPU 2020]

Explore how local tax powers could be used to incentivise or encourage the retrofit of buildings, and commission further analysis to identify potential options.
New [CCPU 2020]

Design future delivery programmes to ensure significantly accelerated retrofit of buildings, with new programmes to be in place from 2025.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 3: Our gas network supplies an increasing proportion of green gas (hydrogen and biomethane) and is made ready for a fully decarbonised gas future

Policy:

Hydrogen for heat demonstrator – providing £6.9m support for SGN’s H100 hydrogen for domestic heat demonstrator.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Work with UK Government on product standards, with a view to making new gas boilers hydrogen-ready.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 4: The heat transition is fair, leaving no-one behind and stimulates employment opportunities as part of the green recovery

Policy:

Develop a long-term public engagement strategy in 2021 and begin implementation of early actions.
New [CCPU 2020]

Smart Meter installation: All homes and businesses will be offered a smart meter by 2020 under a UK Government initiative, providing the opportunity for a greater understanding of final energy consumption.

Maintained

Work with the Scottish Cities’ Alliance and the seven cities on the opportunities to accelerate activity on heat and energy efficiency.
New [CCPU 2020]

Provide capital investment for Scottish colleges for equipment to deliver training for energy efficiency and heat.
New [CCPU 2020]

Respond to the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on a heat pump sector deal for Scotland, by Q1 2022.
New [CCPU 2020]

Bring forward and support demonstrator projects, such as: hybrids and high temperature heat pumps; the use of hydrogen for space and water heating; projects to understand the impact of heat transition on existing energy networks.
New [CCPU 2020]

Publish a ‘Heat Network Investment prospectus’ in 2021/22 - a first-cut of HN Zones across Scotland, combined with information on decarbonisation needs of existing networks.
New [CCPU 2020]

Establish a short life working group on finance for the heat transition.
New [CCPU 2020]

Establish principles to underpin our commitment to ‘no-one being left behind’ in the heat transition, ensuring our approach neither increases the fuel poverty rate nor increases the depth of existing fuel poverty. This will include the effective design and targeting of our fuel poverty and heat in buildings programmes.
New [CCPU 2020]

Ensure Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies are developed through extensive engagement with local communities.
New [CCPU 2020]

Continue delivery of energy efficiency investment to support fuel poor households and conduct further modelling and analysis to better understand the potential impact of the heat transition on fuel poor households and the scale of, and options for, mitigation that may be required.
New [CCPU 2020]

Urge the UK Government to rebalance levy costs on energy bills to make gas and electric systems relatively more cost comparable.
New [CCPU 2020]

Transport

Outcome 1: To address our overreliance on cars, we will reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030

Policy:

If the health pandemic has moved to a phase to allow more certainty on future transport trends and people’s behaviours – and work and lifestyle choices future forecasting – we will publish a route-map to meet the 20% reduction by 2030 in 2021.
New [CCPU 2020]

Commit to exploring options around remote working, in connection with our work on 20-minute neighbourhoods and work local programme.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

COVID-19 has impacted on how we work. We launched a Work Local Challenge to drive innovation in work place choices and remote working to support flexible working and our net zero objectives.

New [2020-2021 PfG

We will work with the UK Government on options to review fuel duty proposals, in the context of the need to reduce demand for unsustainable travel and the potential for revenue generation.
New [CCPU 2020]

We will work with local authorities to continue to ensure that their parking and local transport strategies have proper appreciation of climate change, as well as the impact on all road users, including public transport operators, disabled motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
New [For CCPU 2020 – although continuation of work already underway

To support the monitoring requirement for the National Transport Strategy set out in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, and to further our understanding of how and why people travel, we will develop a data strategy and invest in data.
New [CCPU 2020]

Continue to support the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) programme to encourage behaviour change. Continue to support the provision of child and adult cycle training, and safety programmes including driver cycling awareness training through Bikeability.
Maintained

Support transformational active travel projects with a £500 million investment, over five years, for active travel infrastructure, access to bikes and behaviour change schemes. Enabling the delivery of high quality, safe walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure alongside behaviour change, education and advocacy to encourage more people to choose active and sustainable travel. Support the use of E-bikes and adapted bikes through interest free loans, grants and trials.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

We have re-purposed almost £39 million of active travel funding for the Spaces for People; this is enabling local authorities to put in place the temporary measures such as pop-up cycle lanes and widening walkways that are needed to allow people to physically distance during transition out of the COVID-19 lockdown.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Support increased access to bikes for all including the provision of public bike and e-bike share.
New Throughout 2019-2020

Mobility as a Service and increased use of peer to peer car sharing which will help reduce the number journeys made by car. To do this we are harnessing innovation within our transport system through investing up to £2 million over three years to develop ‘Mobility as a Service’ (MaaS) in Scotland. We will grant funding CoMoUK to increase awareness of the role and benefits of shared transport and looking at the barriers to uptake of car clubs. We will provide support for travel planning through Travelknowhow Scotland, which is an online resource which offers employers access to sustainable travel planning tools to develop and implement workplace Travel Plans and encourage ride-sharing in order to start changing travel behaviour within organisations.
New [PfG 2018]

We will work to improve road safety, ensuring people feel safe with appropriate measures in place to enable that. We will publish Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030, following consultation on an ambitious and compelling long‑term vision for road safety where there are zero fatalities or serious injuries on Scotland’s roads by 2050.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

We are committed to taking forward policy consultation in advance of drafting supporting regulations and guidance to enable local authorities to implement workplace parking levy schemes that suit their local circumstances.

New Throughout 2019-2020

We will bring forward a step change in investment with over £500 million to improve bus priority infrastructure to tackle the impacts of congestion on bus services and raise bus usage. We will launch the Bus Partnership Fund in the coming months to support local authorities’ ambitions around tackling congestion.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

We remain committed to delivering a national concessionary travel scheme for free bus travel for under 19s, and have begun the necessary preparations including planning, research, legal review and due diligence.

New [2020-2021 PfG & Budget 2020]

We are also carrying out a review of discounts available on public transport to those under the age of 26 – due for completion end of December 2020 (with consultation planned on young people’s views on the impacts of COVID 19 and post lockdown measures on public transport usage and behaviour).
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Delivery of our first Active Freeways - segregated active travel routes on main travel corridors connecting communities and major trip attractors.

New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 2: We will phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030

Policy:

We will consider and develop new financing and delivery models for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Scotland and working with the Scottish Future Trust to do so.
Boosted [2019-2020 PfG]

We have invested over £30m to grow and develop the ChargePlace Scotland network which is now the 4th largest in the UK. We will continue to develop the capacity of the electric vehicle charging network.
Maintained

Our Low Carbon Transport Loan has provided over £80m of funding to date to support the switch to low carbon vehicles. We will continue to support the demand for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) through our Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme, which is now being expanded to include used electric vehicles.
Maintained

We will continue to promote the uptake of ULEVs in the taxi and private hire sector.
Maintained

Continue to promote the benefits of EVs to individuals and fleet operators (exact nature of promotion to be decided annually).
Maintained

We will work with public bodies to phase out the need for any new petrol and diesel light commercial vehicles by 2025.
Boosted [2019-2020 PfG]

We will support the public sector to lead the way in transitioning to EVs, putting in place procurement practices that encourage EVs. In the Programme for Government we committed to work with public bodies to phase out the need for any new petrol and diesel light commercial vehicles by 2025.
Boosted [2019-2020 PfG]

Create the conditions to phase out the need for all new petrol and diesel vehicles in Scotland’s public sector fleet by 2030.
New [2019-2020 PfG]

We will continue to invest in innovation to support the development of ULEV technologies and their adoption.
Maintained

Take forward the initiatives in respect of connected and autonomous vehicles set out in A CAV Roadmap for Scotland.
Maintained

With local authorities and others, evaluate the scope for incentivising more rapid uptake of electric and ultra-low emission cars and vans.
Maintained

Outcome 3: To reduce emissions in the freight sector, we will work with the industry to understand the most efficient methods and remove the need for new petrol and diesel heavy vehicles by 2035.

Policy:

To support businesses we will establish a Zero Emission heavy duty vehicle programme and will invest in a new zero drivetrain testing facility in 2021.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Explore the development of green finance models to help business and industry to invest in new road transport technologies.
New [CCPU 2020]

We will engage with industry to understand how changing technologies and innovations in logistics (including consolidation centres) can help to reduce carbon emissions, particularly in response to the increase in e-commerce.
New [CCPU 2020]

Continue to investigate the role that other alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, and biofuel can play in the transition to a decarbonised road transport sector. Consider the scope for testing approaches to alternative fuels infrastructure and supply.
Maintained

Launched the new Hydrogen Accelerator Programme to attract technical experts to help scale up and quicken the deployment of hydrogen technologies across Scotland.
New [July 2020]

Outcome 4: We will work with the newly formed Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, comprised of leaders from the bus, energy and finance sectors, to ensure that the majority of new buses purchased from 2024 are zero-emission, and to bring this date forward if possible.

Policy:

We have introduced a revised green incentive of the Bus Service Operators Grant.
New [April 2019]

We launched a £9 million Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS).
New [August 2020]

In the context of the National Transport Strategy Delivery Plan and Transport Act, we will examine the scope for climate change policies, in relation to buses, across the public sector in high-level transport legislation strategies and policies.
Maintained

We will work to align government financial support of £120 million over the next 5 years with private sector investment to decarbonise the bus sector.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 5: We will work to decarbonise scheduled flights within Scotland by 2040.

Policy:

We will aim to create the world’s first zero emission aviation region in partnership with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL). This will include taking action to decarbonise airport operations in the HIAL region.
New [New Green Deal 2019]

We will begin trialling low or zero emission planes in 2021.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with Aviation sector to encourage sustainable growth post COVID-19.
New [CCPU 2020]

Explore the potential for the purchase of zero/low emission aircraft by the Scottish Government, for lease back to operators, with more detailed assessment in the forthcoming Aviation Strategy.
New [CCPU 2020]

Explore options for incentivising the use of more sustainable aviation fuel as we develop our Aviation Strategy, recognising that significant levers in this area are reserved.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 6: Proportion of ferries in Scottish Government ownership which are low emission has increased to 30% by 2032.

Policy:

Continue to examine the scope for utilising hybrid and low carbon energy sources in the public sector marine fleet as part of our vessel replacement programme.

Maintained

Working with the UK Government to support proposals at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to significantly lower shipping carbon emissions in the global sector, including the option of introducing a global levy on marine fuel to fund research in cleaner technologies and fuels.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Outcome 7: By 2032 low emission solutions have been widely adopted at Scottish ports

Policy:

Working with individual ports and the British Ports Association to consider a process for encouraging shared best practice initiatives for reducing emissions across the sector.
New [CCPU 2020]

Working with the ports sector and with its statutory consultees through the Harbour Order process to ensure future port developments are environmentally underpinned.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 8: Scotland’s passenger rail services will be decarbonised by 2035.

Policy:

Our commitment to decarbonise (the traction element of) Scotland’s railways by 2035 will be delivered through investment in electrification and complementary alternative traction systems. Transport Scotland has published the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan (July 2020) which will be updated as appropriate. Work is ongoing by industry partners to develop the initial schemes.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

We will establish an international rail cluster in Scotland to unlock supply chain opportunities using the interest at Longannet as a catalyst. This will be built around existing strengths in rail in Scotland and will seek to enhance the innovation and supply chain in the decarbonisation of our rolling stock and wider network.
New [Part of Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan, July 2020]

Continue to deliver our Rail Freight Strategy.
Maintained

Industry

Outcome 1: Scotland’s Industrial sector will be on a managed pathway to decarbonisation, whilst remaining highly competitive and on a sustainable growth trajectory.

Policy:

Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS): following EU Exit we will work with UK Government and other devolved administrations on maintaining carbon pricing that is at least as ambitious as the EU ETS. The Scottish Government’s preference is to establish a UK ETS will have an interim cap 5% tighter than the EU ETS, and will be reviewed for consistency with Net Zero in 2021.
Boosted [June 2020]

Deliver an Energy Transition Fund (ETF) to provide support for a sustainable, secure and inclusive energy transition in the North-East.
New [June 2020]

Establish and deliver a Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF) – to support the decarbonisation of industrial manufacturing through a green economic recovery.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Making Scotland’s Future: multi-faceted programme will boost manufacturing productivity, innovation, and competitiveness, supporting manufacturing businesses to make the transition to net zero and realise the opportunities of a low carbon economy.
New [December 2020]

Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund: to support innovation in low carbon technology, processes and infrastructure. Will be based on successful delivery of ERDF funded Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a GB-wide scheme created by the UK Government (with the agreement of the Scottish Government). UK Government is extending both the domestic and non-domestic RHI out to 2022.
Boosted [August 2020]

Proposals:

Scottish Industrial Decarbonisation Partnership (SIDP): Scottish Government -convened cross-sector energy-intensive-industrial (EII) stakeholder forum with representatives from manufacturing sites. Initial objectives: bring together other initiatives; build a shared narrative between government/ industry on decarbonisation; and disseminate best-practice.
New [CCPU 2020]

Deliver a Net Zero Transition Managers Programme to embed Managers in organisations tasked with identifying, quantifying and recommending decarbonisation opportunities for the business.
New [CCPU 2020]

Establish a Grangemouth Future Industry Board (GFIB) – forum to coordinate public sector initiatives on growing economic activity at the Grangemouth industrial cluster, whilst supporting its transition to our low-carbon future.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Develop policy on providing market-benefit for Scottish industries that invest to decarbonise production.
New [CCPU 2020]

Green Jobs Fund, to help businesses create new, green jobs, working with enterprise agencies to fund businesses that provide sustainable or low carbon products and services to help them develop, grow and create jobs. Further funding will help to ensure that businesses and supply chains across Scotland can capitalise on our investment in low carbon infrastructure such as the decarbonisation of heating and green transport.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Seizing the economic opportunity, we will work across government, enterprise agencies and the innovation system to identify strengths that can be built on as part of the decarbonisation journey, for example on The Clyde Mission and continued support for the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP).
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 2: Technologies critical to further industrial emissions reduction (such as carbon capture and storage and production and injection of hydrogen into the gas grid) are operating at commercial scale by 2030

Policy:

ACORN CCS Project: support the delivery of the CCS and Hydrogen capability at St. Fergus Gas Processing complex by 2025.
Maintained

Establish and deliver a Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) Challenge Fund.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Proposals:

Emerging Energy Technologies Fund – to support the development of Hydrogen, CCUS and Negative emissions technologies.
New [CCPU 2020]

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS): work closely with the UK Government to get commercial, policy and regulatory frameworks required to support CCUS at scale in the UK.”
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Forums for CCUS and Blue (low-carbon) Hydrogen: to bring together industry, academics and membership organisations to promote and attract investment in CCUS and Blue Hydrogen.
Boosted [NECCUS 2019]

Evidence for CCUS and Blue Hydrogen: building the evidence base on impact of technology, regulatory and market barriers.
Boosted [PfG 2020/21]

Strategic development of Scotland’s hydrogen economy - This is a cross-portfolio proposal that will impact on the delivery of multiple outcomes.
Boosted [Hydrogen Assessment and Policy Statement 2020]

Hydrogen Demonstration: to replicate and scale-up demonstration projects and the evidence base for hydrogen-based technologies.
Boosted [Hydrogen Assessment and Policy Statement 2020]

Waste and the Circular Economy

Outcome 1: Reduction in waste sent to landfill

Policy:

End landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste by 2025, reduce the percentage of all waste sent to landfill to 5% by 2025 and recycle 70% of all waste by 2025 by:

• Developing a new route map to reduce waste and meet our waste and recycling targets for 2025 in a way that maximises their carbon savings potential.
• Developing a post-2025 route map for the waste and resources sector, identifying how the sector will contribute towards Scotland’s journey towards net zero in the period to 2030 and beyond.
• Establishing a £70m fund to improve local authority recycling collection infrastructure.
• In line with EU requirements, further promoting reuse and recycling ensure separate collection of textiles by 2025; and ensuring that bio-waste (e.g. garden waste), is either separated and recycled at source, or is collected separately and is not mixed with other types of waste by 2023.
• In response to the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC’s) latest recommendations, it is our intention to extend the forthcoming ban on biodegradable municipal waste to landfill to include biodegradable non-municipal wastes, subject to appropriate consultation and work to provide assurance around some specific waste streams.

Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Work with COSLA in the coming year to evaluate the Household Recycling Charter and review its Code of Practice as a key step in developing a future model of recycling collection.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Underpinning this we will take steps to improve waste data, continuing to work with UK Government, other devolved governments and agencies to develop electronic waste tracking, which will help deliver a step change in the quality and usefulness of waste data for decision making. This will include taking the necessary steps alongside SEPA to drive implementation of the system in Scotland.
Boosted [Low Carbon Fund 2020]

Electronic waste tracking fund Improved waste data system will help drive further progress to deliver on existing waste and recycling targets.
New [Low Carbon Fund 2020]

Outcome 2: Reduction in emissions from closed landfill sites.

Policy:

Accelerate Landfill Gas Capture and Landfill Legacy Management: we will work with SEPA and key industry partners to scale up the existing landfill gas capture programme to mitigate effects of landfill and environmental impact of closed landfill sites.
Boosted [Low Carbon Fund 2020]

Proposals:

Landfill gas capture on closed sites: in association with SEPA and the waste industry, double the number of landfill gas capture sites that undertake investigative or development work (from 12 to 24 sites) by 2025, in order to harness energy generated from landfill gas capture and maximise other circular economy opportunities. SEPA has already identified 12 sites for potential investigative work.
Boosted [Low Carbon Fund 2020]

Outcome 3: A reduction in food waste

Policy:

We will lead collaborative efforts to deliver Scotland’s landmark Food Waste Reduction Action Plan. To reduce food waste by 33% from the 2013 baseline by 2025. Actions include:

• Improving monitoring and infrastructure by considering a mandatory national food waste reduction target and mandatory reporting of Scotland’s food surplus and waste by food businesses.
• Consulting on the current rural exemption and food separation requirements for food waste collections, to help break down barriers to food waste reuse and recycling.
• Supporting leadership, innovation, effectiveness and efficiency in Scotland’s public, private and hospitality sectors by expanding pilot programmes across the education sector and public sector buildings;
• Support the development and implementation of an NHS Scotland national action plan on food waste;
• Develop best practice guidance for public sector procurement teams to drive new ways of working and more transparent supply chains.
• A sustained approach to public engagement and communications to enable the public to make changes in their choices and behaviours around food and food waste, in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland.

Boosted [FWRAP published 2019; 2020-2021 PfG]

Outcome 4: Reduce waste and establish a more circular economy, where goods and materials are kept in use for longer.

Proposals:

We will work with local authorities and the future DRS scheme administrator(s) to explore options that will unlock reprocessing investments, including pricing and incentive schemes, to create jobs and a ready supply of recycled material for new packaging.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Measures to encourage more sustainable consumer purchasing, including plans to take further steps to consult on a charge on single use disposable beverage cups and to increase the carrier bag minimum charge from 5p to 10p in this parliamentary session.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Banning priority single use items: We will consult on banning a number of problematic plastic items identified in the EU’s Single Use Plastics Directive (with a view to introducing legislation in 2021) and outline how we will give effect to the wider requirements of the Directive before the end of 2020.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Implementation of our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for single use drinks containers.
Maintained

We will also work collaboratively across the public sector developing tools and guidance and a practical approach to influence and empower buyer, supplier and key stakeholder communities to use public procurement to support a green recovery and our wider climate and circular economy ambitions through procurement, embedding climate considerations in organisational procurement strategies by 2021 and reporting progress in annual procurement reports.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

Reforming extended producer responsibility schemes: We will continue to work with the UK Government and other devolved administrations on reforms to the packaging extended producer responsibility regime, which we expect will deliver improved funding for local authorities in the future.
New [2020-2021 PfG]

We are boosting our commitment to building a circular economy, where goods and materials are kept in use for longer. We will deliver this by embedding circular recovery principles in the wider green recovery. Through Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), we will intensify our work with industry and businesses to address emissions associated with production, consumption and waste of products/resources; and to promote resource efficiency.
Boosted [CCPU 2020]

In the context of the latest CCC recommendations and building on progress already made by the sector, we will consider measures to ensure new energy from waste plants are more efficient, and ‘future-proofed’ for Carbon Capture and Storage technology.
New [CCPU 2020]

As part of our work on developing a route map to 2025, we will undertake a specific and focused piece of work to examine the range of fiscal measures used by other countries to incentivise positive behaviours and to develop proposals to go further in this area.
New [CCPU 2020]

Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry

Outcome 1: We will introduce a stepped increase in the annual woodland creation rates from 2020-2021 to enhance the contribution that trees make to reducing emissions through sequestering carbon.

Policy:

Forestry grants: we will provide funding via a grant scheme, to support eligible land owners establish appropriate woodlands.
Boosted [2020-2021 PfG]

Woodland creation on Scotland’s national forests and land. Forestry and Land Scotland will deliver an annual contribution towards the overall woodland creation target by creating new sustainable woodland on Scotland’s national forests and land, including through partnerships with external organisations to scale carbon capture opportunities.
Maintained

Awareness-raising. We will continue to deliver a programme of farm-based events to demonstrate and support improved productivity through integration of farming and forestry enterprises.
Maintained

Woodland standards. The Scottish Government will lead on the work with the UK and other UK Governments to maintain and develop a UK Forestry Standard that articulates the consistent UK wide approach to sustainable forestry. The Standard defines how woodland should be created and managed to meet sustainable forest management principles and provides a basis for monitoring.
Maintained

Woodland carbon capture. The Scottish Government will further develop and promote the Woodland Carbon Code in partnership with the forestry sector, and will work with investors, carbon buyers, landowners and market intermediaries to attract additional investment into woodland creation projects and increase the woodland carbon market by 50% by 2025.
New [CCPU 2020]

Forestry and woodland strategies. Forestry and woodland strategies continue to be prepared by planning authorities, with support from Scottish Forestry. They provide a framework for forestry expansion through identifying preferred areas where forestry can have a positive impact on the environment, landscape, economy and local people.
Maintained

Proposals:

Support forestry sector on plant and seed supply strategy to help meet the increased planting targets. A programme of technical innovation to develop and adapt modern horticultural practices will help improve seed preparation and handling, techniques to reduce environmental impacts, and increase nursery production. Funding to support increased production of young trees is available through the Harvesting and Processing grant which is now open to forest nurseries across GB with support from Defra.
New [Scottish Forestry Implementation Plan]

Forestry and Land Scotland will begin development of a new approach to woodland investment with a view to acquiring more land to establish further woodland on Scotland’s national forests and land for the benefit of future generations and to optimise carbon sequestration. This includes partnering with private sector and other organisations to enhance scale and funding of carbon capture projects.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 2: Increase the use of sustainably sourced wood fibre to reduce emissions by encouraging the construction industry to increase its use of wood products where appropriate.

Policy:

In collaboration with the private forest sector and other public sector bodies the Scottish Government will implement the Timber Development Programme through an annual programme of projects that support the promotion and development of wood products for use in construction.
Maintained

Outcome 3: To enhance the contribution of peatland to carbon storage, we will support an increase in the annual rate of peatland restoration.

Policy:

Restoration grants: We will provide grant funding to support eligible land managers to deliver peatland restoration. Levels of funding will enable at least 20,000 hectares of peatland restoration per year. We will undertake research to inform where restoration can deliver the greatest emission savings per hectare.
Boosted [Budget 2020/21, reinforced in 2020-2021 PfG]

Awareness raising: Working through partnership, we will put in place tools and information to promote peatland restoration and develop the capacity, skills and knowledge of land owners, land managers, contractors and others to deliver peatland restoration.
New [CCPU 2020]

With partners, refresh our vision for Scotland’s peatlands and review peatland restoration support mechanisms to overcome embedded barriers and improve how we fund and deliver this activity.
New [CCPU 2020]

Phase out the use of peat in horticulture by increasing uptake of alternative materials, undertaking stakeholder engagement to understand transitional challenges, to improve the uptake of alternatives and develop a time-scaled plan.
New [2019-2020 PfG]

Our Position Statement on National Planning Framework 4 confirmed our current thinking that through the planning system we will not support applications for planning permission for new commercial peat extraction for horticultural purposes, we are looking at strengthening controls on development on peatland and we will help facilitate restoration through permitted development rights.
New [CCPU 2020]

Proposals:

Develop opportunities for private sector investment in peat restoration, engaging with sectors to establish investment pathways, enabling both public and private sector to invest in a range of measures to help mitigate effects of climate change.
New [CCPU 2020]

Explore how best to restore all degraded peat in the public estate and also within formally designated nature conservation sites, including through statutory mandate.
New [CCPU 2020]

Explore the development of a Peatland Restoration Standard to ensure best practice and continuous development in the success and effectiveness of peatland restoration.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 4: We will establish pilot Regional Land Use partnerships (RLUPs) over the course of 2021.

Establishment of pilot Regional Land Use Partnerships to help ensure that we maximise the potential of Scotland’s land to help achieve net zero. Publication of Scotland’s third Land Use Strategy.
New [CCPU 2020]

Agriculture

Outcome 1: A more productive, sustainable agriculture sector that significantly contributes towards delivering Scotland’s climate change, and wider environmental, outcomes through an increased uptake of climate mitigation measures by farmers, crofters, land managers and other primary food producers

Policy:

Scale up the Agricultural Transformation Programme across all the policies, including monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the pilot Sustainable Agricultural Capital Grant Scheme that will enable farmers and crofters to purchase equipment that should assist in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, and support practice change.
New [2019-2020 PfG]

Proposals:

Develop rural support policy to enable, encourage and where appropriate, require the shift to low carbon, sustainable farming through emissions reduction, sustainable food production, improving biodiversity, planting biomass crops and appropriate land use change developed in line with just transition principles.
New [CCPU 2020]

Develop new schemes and approaches to support low carbon, sustainable farming, including through the Programme Board for the Beef Suckler Climate Group, other farmer-led groups on arable, dairy and high value, nature farming and crofting which will report in 2021.
New [2020-2021 PfG & Agriscot 2020]

Introduce Environmental Conditionality, from 2021 via implementation of the Beef Suckler Climate Report and more widely from 2022 through the review of existing CAP Greening which will extend the requirements to all farmers and crofters to undertake environmental actions.
New [CCPU 2020]

Further provision of advice for farmers and crofters who wish to retire: A new commitment to work with stakeholders to provide advice, including further extending the Land Matching Service and guidance for farmers and crofters who wish to step back from agricultural businesses by providing an opportunity to consider alternative land-uses or alternative agricultural uses.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 2: More farmers, crofters, land managers and other primary food producers are aware of the benefits and practicalities of cost effective climate mitigation measures

Policy:

The dissemination of information and advice on climate change mitigation measures in agriculture through a range of communication methods utilising technology and all media to best effect.
Boosted [Through new policy to realign and enhance advice]

An agri-tech group will be established to share, disseminate and encourage adoption of advances in agricultural science and technology as widely as possible.
Maintained

Launch a new and expanded peer to peer knowledge transfer initiative based on the success of our Young Climate Change Champions work.
New [CCPU 2020]

Realign and enhance our established programmes and initiatives such as the Farm Advisory Service, the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund and Monitor Farm Programme to create a more cohesive approach to ensure advice and support is focussed on helping industry to professionalise to support sustainable farming.
New [CCPU 2020]

Proposals:

Carbon Audits: in 2018, we will consult on how best to ensure maximum take up of carbon audits and how to enable tenant farmers and crofters in particular to benefit.
Maintained

We will explore with stakeholders, including the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and the Tenant Farming Commissioner, how best to engage tenant farmers to increase understanding of the environmental and economic benefits of low carbon farming.
Maintained

Marketing scheme: Determine the feasibility of a Low Carbon Farming marketing scheme.
Maintained

Outcome 3: Nitrogen emissions, including from nitrogen fertiliser, will have fallen through a combination of improved understanding, efficiencies and improved soil condition

Policy:

Communicate and demonstrate the benefits of precision farming and nitrogen use efficiency in order to achieve a reduction in GHG emissions.
Boosted [Through new policy to realign and enhance advice]

Work with the agriculture and science sectors regarding the feasibility and development of a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound) target for reducing Scotland’s emissions from nitrogen fertiliser.
Boosted [Through Scotland’s National Nitrogen Balance Sheet]

From 2018 we expect farmers to test the soil on all improved land every five or six years, and we will work with them to establish how best to achieve this.
Boosted [Through new policy to introduce conditionality]

Proposals:

Investigate the benefits and barriers of leguminous crops in rotation.
Maintained

Crop varieties with improved nitrogen-use efficiency.
Maintained

Outcome 4: Reduced emissions from red meat and dairy through improved emissions intensity

Policy:

Commission and publish a report into the establishment of emissions intensity figures for beef, lamb and milk.
Maintained

Work with Quality Meat Scotland, ScotEID and livestock producers to encourage improved emissions intensity through genotyping, improving fertility, reducing animal mortality and improving on farm management practices.
Boosted [CCPU 2020]

Proposals:

Determine the practicality of establishing a SMART target for reduction in the intensity of emissions for beef, sheep and dairy sectors.
Maintained

Consult in 2018 to determine the nature of livestock health measures that the sector will adopt from 2019.
Maintained

Determine the practicalities and feasibility of using livestock feed additives as a means of reducing emissions.
Maintained

Outcome 5: Reduced emissions from the use and storage of manure and slurry

Proposals:

Engaging with farmers to explore their support requirements, establish how they can improve the use and storage of manure and slurry, including the potential for cooperatively owned and managed anaerobic digesters.
Boosted [Dec 2020, before CCPU 2020]

Investigate the practicalities of livestock grazing in rotation on current arable land.
Maintained

Conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of manure/slurry exchange.
Maintained

Determine how to consistently minimise emissions from slurry storage.
Maintained

Review management of storage and application of organic materials such as silage, slurry and liquid digestate, including what support may be required to ensure best practice.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 6: Carbon sequestration and existing carbon stores on agricultural land have helped to increase and maintain our carbon sink

Policy:

Explore with the farming and forestry sectors how best to increase planting of trees and hedgerows which optimise carbon sequestration, including the role of agroforestry.
Boosted [Two actions, 1st announced summer 2020, 2nd CCPU 2020]

Proposals:

Investigate the feasibility of payment for carbon sequestration taking into account any existing schemes such as the woodland carbon code as a means of encouraging the uptake of carbon sequestration on farms.
Maintained

Increase woodland cover on suitable agricultural land.
Maintained

Building on the successful work integrating woodland with farming businesses, help remove barriers for those on agriculture holdings, particularly in the tenanted sector who want to engage in woodland creation, including exploring the potential to reform legislation where appropriate.
New [CCPU 2020]

Work with stakeholders on options to increase peatland restoration on suitable agricultural and crofting land, to support delivery of policies in the LULUCF chapter. We will map peatland against this land which will allow modelling options for land-use change and inform opportunities for targeted support of peatland restoration and management.
New [CCPU 2020]

Explore options for land-use change to optimise uses beyond traditional farming and food production to multi-faceted land use including forestry, peatland restoration and management and biomass production.
New [CCPU 2020]

Negative Emissions Technologies

Outcome 1: Detailed feasibility studies on NETS will assess the opportunities for negative emissions in Scotland, and identify applications with the greatest potential, including specific sites where possible.

Proposals:

In 2021/22 carry out a detailed feasibility study of opportunities for developing NETs in Scotland ready for the early 2030s. This will identify specific sites and applications of NETs, including developing work to support policy on Direct Air Capture and its role within NETS in our future energy system.
New [CCPU2020]

From 2022, based on the outcomes of the feasibility work, we will provide support for commercial partners to develop NETs proposals including initial design and business cases.
New [CCPU 2020]

Put in place a continual process to review the development of NETs and progress against its envelope.
New [CCPU2020]

We will work with UK Government to ensure that they bring forward suitable mechanisms to support the development of NETs business cases in relevant sectors.
New [CCPU2020]

Outcome 2: CCUS: the continued development of CCUS technologies and systems is prioritised to ensure these can be rolled out commercially and at scale by the late 2020s.

Policies:

Support the development of NETS technologies within Scotland.
New [CCPU 2020]

Proposals:

Support the inclusion of NETS in the development of strategic, industry lead pathways for CCUS infrastructure in Scotland.
New [CCPU 2020]

Funding through the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to consider the development of NETs demonstrators
New [CCPU 2020]

Provide a focus on integrating NETS projects with CCS infrastructure through the Emerging Energy Technologies Fund.
New [CCPU 2020]

Outcome 3: Bioenergy: a cross-sectoral approach for the appropriate and sustainable use of biomass in energy applications is agreed and implemented (taking into account competing land and feedstock uses).

Policy:

We will publish a Bioenergy Update in early 2021, laying out our current position and understanding of the role of bioenergy in the energy system and setting out in more detail how we will move forward.
New [CCPU 2020]

In 2021, building on the Bioenergy Update, we will establishing a cross sectoral Bioenergy Expert Working Group to consider and identify the most appropriate and sustainable use for bioenergy resources across Scotland. It will also assess the volume of bioenergy resources that we can grow or produce within Scotland, and confirm the level of import that we believe is compatible with a sustainable global trade in bioenergy.
New [CCPU 2020]

By 2023, in time to inform the next Climate Change Plan, we will publish a Bioenergy Action Plan, incorporating the learning developed by the expert working group and our understanding of the options to use Bioenergy in both NETs and other applications.
Boosted [CCPU 2020]