Event

Organised by Scotland Policy Conferences

This conference will assess next steps for climate policy in Scotland, including discussion on recent policy initiatives to strengthen climate adaptation, protect the natural environment, and meet carbon budget targets.

The agenda focuses specifically on issues in Scotland, but I thought that the content might still be of interest to you or others in your organisation – so please do pass this information to colleagues as appropriate, and we would be grateful to receive their contact details if this is possible.

It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss implementation of the Climate Change Plan 2026-2040, progress so far on the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029, and approaches to delivery over the statutory carbon budget periods and in line with 2030 milestones. Delegates will consider ways forward for reducing inequality and supporting a just transition to net zero, alongside the role of public and industry engagement – including Net Zero Nation – and what will be required from the Green Industrial Strategy to attract investment and funding for clean growth.

Sessions will examine implementation of measures for nature and biodiversity recovery in the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026, including statutory nature restoration targets, changes to wildlife legislation, and the modernisation of National Parks. Delegates will also look at alignment with the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy’s aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030, alongside wider net zero policy, including practical approaches to integrating biodiversity into land-use planning for farming, housing, development, forestry, and woodland management.

The conference will also consider priorities for industry in the context of new climate targets and expansion of the green and net zero economy, as well as potential frameworks for cross-sector co-ordination required to deliver Climate Change Plan measures. Ways forward for industrial decarbonisation and improving energy efficiency in buildings will also be discussed, as well as government funding and support for innovation, green skills and job opportunities, and approaches to sharing potential benefits of green policies with communities and local businesses of all scales.

Overall, areas for discussion include:

• policy: Climate Change Plan 2026-2040 implementation – delivery over statutory carbon budget periods – alignment with 2030 milestones – monitoring progress and accountability mechanisms
• adaptation: progress of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 – effectiveness of current measures – approaches to strengthening resilience across sectors and communities
• just transition: priorities for reducing inequality in the transition to net zero – distributional impacts across regions and sectors – engagement with affected workers, communities, and businesses
• engagement and behaviour: role of Net Zero Nation – strategic considerations for influencing behaviour change – expectations for participation and long-term engagement
• investment and growth: Green Industrial Strategy requirements – attracting private and public investment – supporting clean growth sectors and supply chains
• nature policy: implementation of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 – statutory nature restoration targets – implications of changes to wildlife legislation and modernisation of National Parks
• biodiversity: the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 – integrating biodiversity into land-use planning – implications for farming, housing, development, forestry, and woodland management
• industrial transition: priorities for industrial decarbonisation – implications of new climate targets – pathways for energy efficiency improvements in buildings and industry
• co-ordination and delivery: frameworks for cross-sector coordination – roles of national and local bodies – ensuring consistency and capacity in delivery of Climate Change Plan measures
• skills and communities: government support for innovation and green skills – workforce development and job opportunities – approaches to sharing benefits with communities and local businesses

All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.

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