Climate Change

The following page sets out the Committee's recent activity on climate change issues.

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland Bill)

The Committee reported on the Bill at Stage 1 and Stage 2. Read the reports:

• Stage 1 Report on the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill (18.8MB pdf)
• Stage 2 Report on the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill (1.57MB pdf)

Climate Change Plan (CCP)

The Committee reported on the Climate Change Plan (CCP) on 10 March 2017. Read the report:

• Report on the Draft Climate Change Plan - the Draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032

The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee received a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, on 1 April 2020 setting out arrangements for updating the Climate Change Plan in light of the COVID-19 emergency. This correspondence notes that the intended laying date for the CCP update (30 April 2020) is ‘no longer a practical option for a number of reasons, not least of which are the shock to the economy and the need to focus resources on immediate responses to the emergency.’

The ECCLR Committee recognises the unprecedented situation created by the COVID-19 emergency and therefore the need to review the CCP approach as a result.

The Committee has written to the Cabinet Secretary to welcome the opportunity to liaise with her on both the substance and the options for alternative timing arrangements when appropriate. Read the letters:

• Letter from the Cabinet Secretary to the Committee, 1 April 2020 (123KB pdf)
• Letter from the Cabinet Secretary to the Committee on Climate Change (133KB pdf)
• Letter to the Cabinet Secretary, 3 April 2020 (93KB pdf)
• Letter to the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee, 3 April 2020 (104KB pdf)
• Letter to the Local Government and Communities Committee, 3 April 2020 (104KB pdf)
• Letter to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, 3 April 2020 (104KB pdf)

Following the Committee's meeting with the Cabinet Secretary on 29 April 2020, the Committee wrote to the following Committees with an update on the Climate Change Plan:

• The Cabinet Secretary (97KB pdf)
• Local Government and Communities Committee (99KB pdf)
• Economy, Energy, and Fair Work Committee (99KB pdf)
• Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee (99KB pdf)

The Scottish Government has committed to producing an updated CCP by the end of April 2020. Read the correspondence:

• Letter to the Cabinet Secretary, 23 July 2019 (50KB pdf)
• Response from the Cabinet Secretary, 13 August 2019 (170KB pdf)
• Update from the Cabinet Secretary, 12 December 2019 (319KB pdf)

The Committee will be considering its approach to scrutiny of the CCP.

Climate Change Adaptation

The Committee heard from the Committee on Climate Change on the Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (SCCAP) on 5 November 2019. Find out more in the following link: Official Report, 5 November 2019.

Climate change and the Scottish Parliament

The Committee has written to the Presiding Officer, SPCB, Chief Executive, Conveners Group and subject committees on climate change and the Scottish Parliament. Read the letters and the responses:

• Letter from the Committee on climate change and the Scottish Parliament, 18 December 2019 (combined) (771KB pdf)

Read the responses:

• Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee (35KB pdf)
• Local Government and Communities Committee (88KB pdf)
• Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee (95KB pdf)
• Social Security Committee (84KB pdf)

Committee on Climate Change

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) published its progress report to Parliament at the end of 2019. Read the report and the response from the Cabinet Secretary:

• Reducing emissions in Scotland – 2019 Progress Report to Parliament, December 17, 2019
• Response from the Cabinet Secretary, 4 February 2020 (161KB pdf)

The Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Committee with regards to the proposals to establish a Scotland office of the UK Committee on Climate Change. Read the letter:

• Letter from the Cabinet Secretary, 11 May 2020 (168KB pdf)

Previous climate change work

For information about the Committee's previous work on climate change issues and for previous correspondence, please see following link: previous work.