Scottish Emission Targets – first five-yearly review &
Progress in reducing emissions in Scotland – 2022 Report to Parliament

Published:
7 December 2022

Type of publication:
Scotland reports

Country focus:
Scotland

Topics:
Carbon budgets and targets

In these two reports we first review Scotland’s targets in light of changes to the methodology for estimating emissions since our previous target advice. We then assess Scotland’s progress in emissions reduction, policy plans, and delivery of those plans in the last year.

3. Outline

These two joint reports, required under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, provide ministers with advice on Scottish Emission Targets and assess progress on reducing emissions to date. Our advice to the Scottish Government is set out in two parts:

  • Scottish Emission Targets – first five-yearly review provides a review Scotland’s targets in light of changes to the methodology for estimating emissions since our previous target advice.
  • Progress in reducing emissions in Scotland: 2022 Report to Parliament looks at Scotland’s progress in emissions reduction, policy plans, and delivery of those plans in the last year. Our focus is shifting to monitoring a set of quantified indicators of decarbonisation progress.

4. Key messages

  • Changes in emissions accounting methodology do not imply the need to change the Net Zero and 2030 and 2040 interim targets, as legislated by the Scottish Parliament.
    • The 2030 interim target. The legislated 2030 target means that policies must go further than the CCC pathway. Despite the scale of the challenge in the 2020s, Scotland is still not delivering on key milestones such as energy efficiency in homes and peatland restoration.
    • Net Zero and the 2040 interim target. The Net Zero date of 2045 and 2040 interim target of a 90% reduction remain appropriate.
    • Scotland’s annual targets in the 2020s should be adjusted. We therefore recommend that the annual targets be adjusted to align with a translation of the legislated 2020 target to the new inventory basis.
  • The 2020 interim target was achieved. On the basis of the latest greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, emissions in 2020 fell by 12% from 2019 to 40.6 MtCO2e and by 51% since 1990. On the ‘GHG Account’ basis, on which performance against the legislated targets is assessed, emissions were 59% lower than in 1990 and the 2020 interim target of 56% was achieved. The fall in emissions in 2020 was largely due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, without which it is unlikely the target would have been met.
  • A quantified plan is urgently needed. The Scottish Government urgently needs to provide a quantified plan for how its polices will combine to achieve the emissions reduction required to meet the challenging 2030 target.
  • Working with the UK Government. Many aspects of policy, especially in the industry, engineered removals and electricity supply sectors, are reserved to the UK Government. Finding a way to cooperate with the UK Government effectively is key for realising both Scotland’s ambitions and the full potential of Scotland’s contribution to the UK’s own decarbonisation plans.

5. Recommendations

Annex 2
Recommendations to the Scottish Government
PrioritySectorTopicRecommendationTimingResponsibility
YesCross-cuttingDeliveryIncrease transparency around Government's expected pathways to Net Zero. This should involve publishing more details on the assumptions that underpin these pathways and how the abatement set out in the Scottish Climate Change Plan update will be achieved by planned policies, setting out the quantified abatement expected to be achieved by each policy.2023Mostly devolved
YesCross-cuttingGovernanceMap out interdependencies between reserved and devolved powers and how they might impact decarbonisation in all economic sectors and use the results to identify significant risks to the delivery of Net Zero and construct a plan to manage them.2023Mostly devolved
YesCross-cuttingGovernanceIn parallel with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, address the question of what aspects of Net Zero central and local government are responsible for and how these will be coordinated. As well as sharing local best practice, this should lead to a clearer shared understanding of roles and responsibilities which can be communicated across local government.2023Mostly devolved
YesAgriculture & land useCAP reformProvide detail on how post-CAP agricultural subsidies and schemes in Scotland will target funding and delivery for climate mitigation alongside wider environmental goals such as climate change adaptation and biodiversity.H1 2023Mostly devolved
YesAgriculture & land useForestryEnsure that funding and incentives are set at the correct level to meet the Scottish Government afforestation target of 18,000 hectares per year by 2025OngoingMostly devolved
YesAgriculture & land usePeatlandsEnsure incentives are set at the correct level to set a trajectory to achieve 58% of peatland restored by 2035, and 79% under restoration by 2050. All upland peat should be under restoration management by 2045. Q1 2023Mostly devolved
YesAviationAviation demandImplement the Air Departure Tax (ADT) as soon as possible. Once implemented, use the tax to address price imbalances between aviation and alternative, lower-emissions forms of surface transport (e.g. rail) to encourage modal shift. Also consider other policy levers, such as information provision, to encourage a reduction in the number of flights taken.2023Equal responsibility
YesBuildingsNon-residential buildingsConsult on and finalise plans for delivering energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon heating in non-residential buildings. These should include clear target dates for meeting standards. Consider the role of targets that look beyond EPCs to more reliable measures of performance and emissions reductions, and clarify whether Scotland will be part of the UK performance-based rating scheme for non-residential buildings.H1 2023Mostly devolved
YesBuildingsProgress monitoring and dataPublish the delayed monitoring and evaluation framework for the Heat in Buildings Strategy, or expand the set of indicators in the annual climate change plan monitoring reports. Include clear indicators for deployment of energy efficiency measures, heat pumps, and low-carbon district heating, across residential and non-residential buildings. Use the development of the framework to identify data gaps and make plans to address them. Track implementation and its costs and use this information in updates to the Strategy.2023Mostly devolved
YesBuildingsResidential buildingsPublish developed plans to deliver energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon heating in residential buildings, aligned with Scotland’s ambitious targets. This will require a combination of incentives and regulation, including using tenancy and ownership changes as trigger points for change. Policies should also factor in the UK Government’s proposals for a market-based mechanism for low-carbon heat. H1 2023Mostly devolved
YesSurface transportCar demandPublish a detailed strategy, building on the Route Map consultation of 2022, setting out how the Scottish Government will achieve a 20% reduction in car-kilometres by 2030 and deliver 20-minute neighbourhoods. This should include both investment in more sustainable modes of travel and measures to reduce the attractiveness of driving.2023Mostly devolved
YesSurface transportEV chargingDevelop an implementation plan to deliver the Scottish Govermnent's vision for the public EV charging network. This should ensure the EV transition works for all road users in Scotland and accelerates in line with EV uptake, delivering 6,000 charge points by 2026 and approximately 24,000 charge points by 2030.2023Mostly devolved
YesSurface transportPublic transportDeliver the public transport fares review outlined in the Route Map. This should consider: prioritising delivery of a new, transparent fare structure that offers more affordable and reliable travel, ensuring fairness in relation to more carbon-intensive choices, and a more interlinked public transport system between operators.H1 2023Mostly devolved
YesWasteEnergy from Waste / IncinerationSet out further detail on actions and implementation timelines to ensure all recommendations from the incineration review can be delivered. This should include explaining how the projected residual waste capacity gap in 2025 will be managed whilst ensuring commitments to end the landfilling of biodegradable waste are met.H1 2023Mostly devolved
YesWasteEnergy from Waste / IncinerationWork with the UK Government to develop a policy and funding framework to retrofit existing Energy from Waste plants with CCS from the mid-2020s, and ensure any new Energy from Waste plants are all built ‘CCS-ready’.2023Equal responsibility
Agriculture & land useAgroforestry and hedgerowsMaintain and enhance incentives to support agroforestry and hedgerows on Scottish farms. Plant trees on 2% of farmland by 2025 while maintaining its primary use, rising to 5% by 2035, and extend hedgerows by 20% by 2035 and better manage existing hedgerows.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useCAP reformPut in place robust frameworks for monitoring, reporting and verification of post-CAP farm subsidies and agriculture environment schemes to assess their effectiveness in delivering their environmental objectives, including for climate change mitigation and adaptation.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useDiet and demandDeliver on Food Waste Reduction Action Plan to reduce food waste by one-third by 2025. This should be upscaled to reach 50% by 2030.2025Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useDiet and demandTake low-cost, low-regret actions to encourage a 20% shift away from all meat by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050, and a 20% shift from dairy products by 2030, demonstrating leadership in the public sector whilst improving health.2023Mostly reserved
Agriculture & land useEnergy cropsThe Bioenergy Action Plan should set out the role that sustainable domestic production of perennial energy crops and short rotation coppice will play to contribute towards Scotland's emission reduction targets.H1 2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useFarming practicesAs part of strengthening the regulatory baseline, extend coverage of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones across all of Scotland in order to promote best practice in management of inorganic fertilisers and organic manure and slurry.2024Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useFarming practicesMove beyond the voluntary nature of current CAP replacement schemes by setting a strong regulatory baseline that strengthens rules such as those under Basic Payment Scheme and retains them in Scottish legislation.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useFarming practicesPut in place action to overcome financial barriers that prevent take-up and innovation in low-carbon farming practices. This should include management incentives under CAP replacement schemes and grants for capital items and infrastructure, and support for research and development.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useFarming practicesMaintain and enhance programmes and initiatives to deliver advice and knowledge exchange on climate change mitigation and adaptation measures for Scotland’s farmers, crofters and land managers.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useFarming practicesContinue to support research and development into low-carbon farming practices, including behavioural, innovation and productivity measures. The risk of a high dependency on innovation and technology to meet GHG emission reductions should be assessed, and integrated with demand-side measures such as diet change and waste reduction.2023Equal responsibility
Agriculture & land useFinanceSet out how public and private funding for agricultural and land-based measures will be aligned, how opportunities to attract increased private finance for habitat creation and restoration will be developed, and promote the use of existing verifiable standards (such as the Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code) whilst also considering the need to develop new ones.2023Equal responsibility
Agriculture & land useForestryEnsure the forestry sector and government agencies continue to support tree nurseries to increase domestic production of trees to meet the planting ambition and reduce reliance on imports, along with the associated risks of pests and diseases.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useForestryScottish Government should continue support to develop and promote the Woodland Carbon Code, to attract private finance and additional investment to incentivise woodland creation and diversification of the forest estate in Scotland.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useForestryDevelop a comprehensive plan to increase the production and use of UK sourced timber and support the long-term economic viability of domestic woodlands.Q1 2023Equal responsibility
Agriculture & land useLand use changeScottish Government should work with private and voluntary sectors, and through agricultural colleges and universities to provide skills training, demonstration and increase capacity to promote delivery of sustainable farming practices and land management.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useNon-financial barriersDevelop understanding on how the transition to Net Zero in the agriculture and land will affect employment in these sectors, including a timeframe of change and the scale of impact. Set out how the change will be managed to be fair and equitable, ensuring new skills and training are widely available to both support communities, but also to facilitate the meeting of targets in these sectors.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useNon-financial barriersProvide support to tenant farmers to overcome contractual issues that restrict the long-term commitment and investment required to reduce emissions and sequester carbon on the land they manage.Q1 2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land useNon-financial barriersSet in place action to overcome non-financial barriers that prevent adoption of low-carbon farming measures and land-use change to deliver emission reduction and carbon benefits. These include streamlining application processes and providing support for skills, training, and knowledge exchange in order to provide confidence to farmers to take up new measures.Q1 2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land usePeatlandsWhere peat soils remain under agricultural use, set out how they will be managed in a more sustainable way. This should include raising water levels on 8% of lowland grassland by 2025, reaching 25% by 2035, and 12% of arable crops by 2025, reaching 38% by 2035. Q1 2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land usePeatlandsImplement a comprehensive delivery mechanism to address degraded peatland and extend current restoration ambition set out by the Scottish government beyond the existing timeframe of 2030. Peat restoration targets include the need to remove all low-productive trees (i.e. less than YC10) from peatland, and restore all peat extraction sites by 2035.2025Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land usePeatlandsIntroduce baseline regulations to ensure lowland peat soils are not left bare by mandating the use of appropriate vegetation cover.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land usePeatlandsIntroduce policy to end rotational burning on peatland before the start of the 2023 burn season.H1 2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land usePeatlandsConsult on and introduce the regulations to ban the retail sale of peat in horticulture in Scotland. Government must work with the horticultural industry to end use by the professional sector.2023Mostly devolved
Agriculture & land usePeatlandsSet out clear timeframes to end domestic and industrial peat extraction in Scotland. Provide a mechanism to ensure the peat extraction industries restore extraction sites to protect the peat resource.2023Mostly devolved
AviationAviation demandGo further than the UK Government on information provision to travellers on the environmental cost of air travel. Look at requiring the provision of emission comparisons between different modes of transport (not just alternative flights) for flights operating within and leaving Scotland.2024Mostly devolved
AviationAviation technologyDevelop a detailed strategy for the decarbonisation of Public Service Obligation routes, including looking at ways to incentivise the use of SAF/zero-emission aircraft for these routes.2023Mostly devolved
AviationCarbon pricingContinue to work with the UK Government to develop a policy on the interaction between the UK ETS and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) interaction as soon as possible, ensuring it is sufficiently environmentally stringent and that no credits from CORSIA are used for flights currently covered by the UK ETS unless and until they can satisfy strict eligibility criteria (equivalence, additionality, permanence, sustainability). The interaction should avoid double-compliance. 2023Mostly reserved
AviationCross-cuttingPublish a detailed strategy for decarbonising aviation in Scotland as soon as possible in 2022. Amongst other things, this strategy should set out a roadmap of how the decarbonisation of scheduled flights within Scotland will be achieved by 2040, including which technologies will be prioritised to achieve this and when the capability of these technologies will need to be demonstrated.H1 2023Mostly devolved
AviationSAFConsider how Scotland can incentivise Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) use by Scottish airlines, to meet or go beyond the UK SAF mandate. This should be done in the next year as the UK Government develops its SAF mandate further. 2023Mostly reserved
AviationAirport expansionConsider the environmental impact of airport expansion under the upcoming Scotland National Planning Framework, including a strategy to limit airport expansion in the event that proposals to expand Scottish airports are submitted. H1 2023Mostly devolved
AviationAviation technologyContinue to provide funding and support for the development of zero emission aircraft for domestic flights in Scotland.OngoingEqual responsibility
AviationIndirect emissionsReduce the emissions from people traveling to and from Scottish airports. Further encourage the use of public transport for travel to and from Scottish airports to avoid car use and reduce overall emissions from the sector. Encourage Scottish airports to reduce their own on-site emissions (e.g. by adopting low-carbon surface transport and implementing low-carbon energy sources).Q3 2023Mostly devolved
AviationNon-CO2 effectsDo not apply a non-CO2 factor to aviation emissions but commit to stopping warming from non-CO2 effects after 2050.2025Mostly reserved
BuildingsF-gasesPublicly set targets to end the use of Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) for all patients where alternatives can be used, by the mid-2020s, for all NHS and private healthcare services across Scotland. For patients where MDIs are necessary, end the use of MDIs that use propellant gases with 100 year Global Warming Potentials above 200 times that of carbon dioxide. Publish a plan setting out how the Scottish Government will meet these targets.Q3 2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsFuel-poor homesClosely monitor the number of households in fuel poverty and expectations of future energy costs, and revise funding allocated to decarbonising fuel-poor homes to reflect levels of support required.2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsFunding and financeMonitor the use of the £1.8 billion of funding for heat and energy efficiency projects, tracking the amounts spent on heat networks, heat pumps and energy efficiency measures and how these compare to the targets set in the Scotland Heat in Buildings Strategy for low-carbon heating and energy efficiency. OngoingMostly devolved
BuildingsFunding and financeDevelop proposals for long term funding and financing solutions to deploy low-carbon heating in existing buildings, taking into account recommendations made by the Green Heat Finance Task Force2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsGovernanceEnsure that local authorities have the resources required to produce Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Delivery Plans, and that these are published by the December 2023 deadline. [Publish guidance on production and content]2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsHeat networksWork with the UK Government to resolve issues around aligning the UK and Scotland’s regulatory frameworks for heat networks, and appointing Ofgem to deal with consumer protection and licensing.2023Equal responsibility
BuildingsLow-carbon heatWork with the UK Government in 2023 to deliver proposals set out in the Scottish Heat in Buildings Strategy to phase out replacement fossil fuel boilers in 2025 for off-gas buildings, and 2030 for on-gas buildings. 2023Equal responsibility
BuildingsLow-carbon heatTable legislation to prohibit the use of ‘direct emissions heating systems’ from 2024 in new residential and non-residential buildings, building on the 2022 consultation. 2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsLow-carbon heatCoordinate with the UK Government to develop and implement proposals for a market-based mechanism for heat pump deployment. Evaluate the likely impact of this policy and if needed develop additional plans in to deliver heat pump installations at the rate required by Scotland’s Heat in Buildings Strategy.2023Equal responsibility
BuildingsNew buildingsDefine clear transitional arrangements which will require any buildings (including individual houses in multiple-unit residential schemes) which have not meaningfully commenced on site within one year of the implementation of new regulations on energy efficiency and low-carbon heat to comply with the new standards.2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsProgress monitoring and dataPublish more detail on the modelled pathway for low-carbon heat, and planned breakdown of funding announced in the Scotland Heat in Buildings Strategy.2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsResidential buildingsConsult on legislation to set low-carbon heating and energy efficiency targets in privately rented and owner-occupied homes.2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsSocial housingComplete the review of the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing, assessing progress to date, and aligning with the 2040 target for low-carbon heat in homes.H1 2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsStandards and enforcementProgress with EPC reform by finalising proposals for improved metrics, and carrying out the planned final consultation within a wider consultation on a regulatory framework for heat and energy efficiency. 2023Mostly devolved
BuildingsStandards and enforcementDevelop policies to ensure that the actual performance of new buildings and energy efficiency measures aligns with expectations. These should include improving the accuracy of the models used to assess compliance with standards, expanding performance testing, enhancing monitoring and enforcement of standards (including through providing adequate funding for local authorities), and developing mechanisms for holding contractors to account for quality and performance. OngoingMostly devolved
BuildingsWorkers and skillsEnsure that skills requirements for decarbonising the building stock are properly quantified, and that delivery can be monitored. Ensure that the required education and skills provisions commence, and that funding and policies are in place for provision to scale up at the required pace.H1 2023Mostly devolved
Cross-cuttingDeliveryScale up action to deliver targets across all sectors in line with the ambition set out in the recent Climate Change Plan update.OngoingMostly devolved
Cross-cuttingGovernanceEnsure that all policies, funding, and delivery mechanisms are properly aligned to the pace of transition required and work together constructively towards Net Zero, for example through introduction of a Net Zero Test.Q1 2023Mostly devolved
Cross-cuttingGovernanceExtend the delivery of climate skills training across the Civil Service and wider public sector. Consider what wider supporting skills (delivery, coordination, legal, financial) will be needed in the public sector to enable effective delivery of the transition to Net Zero.OngoingMostly devolved
Cross-cuttingGovernanceReview how effective existing mechanisms for coordinating delivery with the devolved administrations (including the Inter-Ministerial Group, the Nations Board, and departmental-level engagement) have been at securing input to the design of and buy-in to implementation of recent major strategies relating to Net Zero.H1 2023Mostly devolved
Cross-cuttingGovernanceMake clear the importance of ensuring that all developments consider how best to minimise lifetime emissions and adapt to climate change as part of the planning process. This should be achieved by embedding Net Zero alignment as a core requirement within the planning reforms in the upcoming Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and the supporting frameworks and guidance documents.2023Equal responsibility
Cross-cuttingPlanning; networksWork closely with the new Electricity Networks Commissioner to ensure that Scotland’s spatial planning regime adequately balances local impacts on natural capital with the need for sufficient electricity network capacity, delivered in a timely fashion, to accommodate expansion of renewable electricity generation capacity in line with UK Government targets and Scottish Government ambition.H1 2023Mostly reserved
Electricity supplyEmissions strategySet out an updated assessment of how much renewable and low-carbon electricity generation will be required to meet Net Zero in Scotland and contribute cost-effectively to Net Zero in the UK, with a clear trajectory to 2045.H1 2023Mostly devolved
Electricity supplyNetworksIn conjunction with the electricity network owners and the electricity system operator, outline what will be required to ensure adequate electricity supply resilience across Scotland in the late 2020s and into the 2030s as thermal generation in Scotland is retired.H1 2023Mostly reserved
Engineered removalsDeliveryCarry out a detailed scoping exercise on the potential for engineered removals in Scotland that identifies potential sites for new build and retrofit engineered removals projects and takes into account proximity to biomass stocks, access to future CCS networks and impacts on energy systems.H1 2024Mostly reserved
Engineered removalsGovernanceWork with the Interministerial Group for Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change to publish a joint position on the contribution of engineered removals and CCS to meeting UK-wide and DA targets to 2030.2023Equal responsibility
IndustryBioenergyTogether with UK Government, review existing – and, if necessary, develop new – schemes that support the sustainable production of biomass feedstocks and conversion of bioenergy in a way consistent with Net Zero. This should include dates beyond which new facilities should be built with CCS, and dates for when CCS will need to be retrofitted to biofuel facilities already in operation.2023Mostly reserved
IndustryCross cuttingEnsure that key policies to improve resource efficiency, recycling and waste prevention, such as Extended Producer Responsibility, are on track to be in place well before 20252023Mostly devolved
IndustryCross cuttingRenew efforts to improve resource efficiency, recycling and waste prevention by setting new ambitious targets for 2030.2023Mostly devolved
IndustryDataImprove the collection and reporting of industrial decarbonisation data to allow for progress to be monitored more effectively, particularly on energy and resource efficiency. 2023Mostly reserved
IndustryEnergy efficiencyImplement policies to enable substantial improvements in industrial energy efficiency2023Mostly devolved
IndustryHydrogenAs part of the planned update to the Energy Strategy, and supported by the proposed new National Public Energy Agency, formalise the planning process, governance framework and timeline for decisions on infrastructure for the conversion to hydrogen of the gas transmission and distribution networks. Alongside this, identify priority candidate areas for hydrogen conversion and areas which are unlikely to be suitable to hydrogen conversion (such that electrification and alternatives can be prioritised), ensuring consistency with least-regret forward views on demand for hydrogen within Scotland and across the rest of the UK.2023Mostly devolved
IndustryInnovationContinue to support innovation and demonstration of technologies for decarbonising manufacturing and construction; ensure that learning is disseminated as widely as possible within industry.
2023Mostly reserved
IndustryResource efficiencyWork with business to encourage and enable consumers to share, lease and use products for longer whilst discouraging ‘disposable’ business models.2023Mostly reserved
IndustryResource efficiencyDevelop policies to drive more resource-efficient construction and use of existing low-carbon materials. This should include setting out a plan for phasing in mandatory whole-life reporting followed by minimum whole-life standards for all buildings, roads and infrastructure by 2025, with differentiated targets by function, scale, and public/private construction.2023Equal responsibility
ShippingCross-cuttingUse the upcoming Islands Connectivity Plan and Strategic Transport Projects Review to set out a plan for meeting the commitment to 30% of Scottish Government-managed ferries being low-emission by 2032 and for achieving full decarbonisation of Scotland's maritime sector. This should include consideration of zero-carbon fuels, vessel technologies, and the necessary supporting infrastructure.2023Mostly devolved
ShippingCross-cuttingSupport the UK Government in pushing for inclusion of a Net Zero 2050 target in the International Maritime Organisation's 2023 update of its Greenhouse Gas Strategy.2023Equal responsibility
ShippingElectrificationDevelop a plan for deploying shore power and electric recharging infrastructure at all of Scotland's major ports. This should include identifying roles and responsibilities for delivery and providing support and incentives to drive investment.H1 2023Equal responsibility
Surface transportActive travelPublish the Cycling Framework and Delivery Plan for Active Travel in Scotland. This should set out how the increasing funding for active travel will be directed to contribute to reducing car traffic by 20% and delivering 20-minute neighbourhoods.2023Mostly devolved
Surface transportCar demandEmbed the 20% car demand-reduction target within key upcoming policy documents, such as the second Strategic Transport Projects Review and the fourth National Planning Framework, to ensure that all transport investment and spatial planning decisions give appropriate consideration to this ambition.H1 2023Mostly devolved
Surface transportCar demandWork with local authorities to embed sustainable transport changes and deliver the interventions set out in the Route Map, offering support through financial means, resourcing, and with appropriate skills and knowledge-sharing.2023Mostly devolved
Surface transportEV chargingSet out clear expectations and targets as to what local authorities should do to develop and implement local charging strategies, along with milestones for the rate at which charge point provision is expected to expand. Ensure that local authorities all have the capacity and capability to develop these strategies and implement the actions required.2023Equal responsibility
Surface transportPublic transportContinue to support the public transport and shared mobility sectors to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including through maintaining recovery funding where required and positive communication and messaging. Work with operators and local transport authorities to avoid detrimental reductions in service provision or increases in fares.OngoingMostly devolved
Surface transportZero-emission vehiclesContinue to support the delivery of Scotland's transition to electric cars and vans. This will require working with the UK Government to ensure that the ZEV mandate will deliver the deployment rates required in Scotland and securing sufficient supply of and demand for vehicles in Scotland to ensure that sales rise throughout the 2020s to meet the 2030 phase-out commitment. The Scottish Government should seek opportunities to influence consumers to choose fully electric vehicles over plug-in hybrids wherever possible.OngoingEqual responsibility
Surface transportZero-emission vehiclesInvest in developing new technologies and support innovation for emerging technologies, for example battery manufacturing and recycling, zero-emission HGVs, and shared mobility solutions.OngoingEqual responsibility
WasteCross-cuttingWork with the waste industry to develop a plan to decarbonise waste treatment assets in Scotland in line with emissions and waste reduction objectives, including identifying asks of UK Government in reserved areas.2023Equal responsibility
WasteEnergy from Waste / IncinerationStart reporting emissions from Energy from Waste as a separate source within the Scottish greenhouse gas inventory.Q1 2023Mostly devolved
WasteInfrastructureReview planning policies for waste infrastructure to ensure they enable delivery of recycling targets, support future residual waste needs and consider decarbonisation requirements. This includes clarifying siting requirements for incinerators to enable CCS adoption.2023Equal responsibility
WasteWaste preventionImplement initial Extended Producer Responsibility, the Deposit Return Scheme and consistent collections of recycling and food waste without further delay. Complete an independent review of the impact of the schemes within 2 years of implementation (i.e. by 2026).Q1 2024Equal responsibility
WasteWaste preventionLegislate the Circular Economy Bill and set targets to reduce waste and improve recycling rates beyond 2025, ensuring these are more ambitious than existing targets. Targets should be set on the basis of separate waste streams (rather than 'All waste') and where possible consider carbon-based metrics.2023Mostly devolved
WasteWastewaterSet out how Scottish Water will be supported to deliver its plan to achieve Net Zero, as well as how emissions from industrial waste water facilities will be reduced.H1 2023Mostly devolved

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