Scotland’s climate change plan to guide emissions cuts to 2040

Staff
By Staff
2 Min Read

The Scottish Government has published its Climate Change Plan covering the period from 2026 to 2040, outlining more than 150 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan sets out how Scotland will meet its next three carbon budgets while delivering economic and social benefits.

Officials estimate the measures could generate more than £42.3 billion in financial benefits and cost savings for the economy over the next 15 years.

Scotland has already reduced emissions by 51.3% since 1990, the largest reduction in the UK and faster than the EU average based on comparable data.

The plan includes several major targets across transport, land use and buildings.

These include decarbonising heat in buildings by 2045 and phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

The strategy also aims to increase woodland creation to 18,000 hectares per year by 2029-30 and expand woodland cover to 21% by 2032.

Peatland restoration will also increase by 10% each year until 2030.

The Climate Change Plan will work alongside Scotland’s new Environment Strategy and Circular Economy Strategy.

These strategies aim to align environmental protection with economic growth while reducing waste and improving resource efficiency.

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “The Climate Change Plan is Scotland’s pathway to net zero and outlines the action we will take to meet our first three carbon budgets.”

She added: “It is also a routemap to realising economic and social gains for people across Scotland as part of a fair and just transition.”

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