The Bill changes the system of targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 22 November 2024
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out interim and annual targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Bill will replace those targets with a system of targets based on carbon budgets.
Scottish Ministers will need to set carbon budgets so that every year between 2026 and the net-zero emissions target year (2045) is covered by a budget. Each carbon budget will cover a period of 5 years and will set out the amount of greenhouse gas emissions allowed during that period.
Not exceeding a carbon budget is referred to in the Bill as a “carbon budget target”. Scottish Ministers will be under a duty to ensure each carbon budget target is met.
The Bill also changes the deadline for the first Climate Change Plan. This Plan must be laid before the Parliament as soon as possible after the first carbon budgets have been set.
The Bill has been introduced following the advice given to the Scottish Government by the Climate Change Committee.
Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill as introduced (675KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Explanatory Notes (195KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Policy Memorandum (158KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Financial Memorandum (130KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Delegated Powers Memorandum (125KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Statements on legislative competence (109KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Explanatory Notes (279KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Policy Memorandum (206KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Financial Memorandum (168KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Delegated Powers Memorandum (232KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
Statements on legislative competence (160KB, pdf) posted 04 September 2024
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research briefing on the Climate Change (Emission Reductions Targets) (Scotland) Bill
The Bill was introduced on 5 September 2024
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
On 2 October 2024, Parliament agreed motion S6M-14742 setting out an expedited timetable for the Bill at Stages 2 and 3, subject to Parliament agreeing to the general principles of the Bill.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. The lead committee considers and reports on the Bill.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The lead committee carried out pre-legislative scrutiny and agreed to hold a call for views.
The call for views closed on 16 August 2024.
Read the responses to the call for views
Read the SPICe analysis of the call for views (310KB, pdf) posted 11 September 2024
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, 9 October 2024
Letter from Finance and Public Administration Committee, 30 September 2024
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, 26 September 2024
Letter from Minister for Parliamentary Business, 24 September 2024
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, 20 September 2024
See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence for this committee
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee published its report on 4 October 2024.
Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Report
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
Read the Official Report of the meeting
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 12 September 2024.
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy to the Convener, 12 September 2024
Letter from the Convener to the Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee of 1 October 2024
A Stage 1 debate took place on 10 October 2024 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
Result 94 for, 0 against, 7 abstained, 28 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 10 October 2024
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
On 2 October 2024, Parliament agreed motion S6M-14742, setting out an expedited timetable for this Bill. This included agreeing that consideration of the Bill at Stage 2 be completed by 29 October 2024.
Documents with the amendments considered and debated at the meeting held on 29 October 2024.
The front page of the Groupings document was updated with additional procedural information on 25 October 2024.
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (478KB, pdf) posted 24 October 2024
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (506KB, pdf) posted 25 October 2024
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Letter from Climate Change Committee to Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy (copied to Committee for information), 05 November 2024
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy to Climate Change Committee (copied to Committee for information), 02 November 2024
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, 31 October 2024
Letter from Climate Change Committee, 31 October 2024
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 29 October 2024
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Documents with the amendments considered and debated at the meeting on 5 November 2024.
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (279KB, pdf) posted 04 November 2024
Timed Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (308KB, pdf) posted 04 November 2024
Read the Official Report of the meeting
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 105 for, 0 against, 7 abstained, 17 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 5 November 2024
If the Bill is passed, it is normally sent for Royal Assent after about 4 weeks. Royal Assent is when the Bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament. Some Acts come into force straight after Royal Assent. Some only come into force on a later date. Sometimes different bits of the same Act come into force on different dates.
The Bill was passed on 5 November 2024 and became an Act on 22 November 2024.
Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill