The Scottish Government published its draft Climate Change Plan for 2026–2040 on 6 November 2025. The Parliament now has 120 days (until 5 March) to scrutinise the draft plan.

The Net Zero, Energy and Transport (NZET) Committee is leading and co-ordinating this work on behalf of all committees, including the Economy and Fair Work Committee. NZET has launched a consultation on the draft plan which will run until 25 January 2026.

Background

The draft Climate Change Plan sets out how Scotland intends to meet emissions reduction targets. The Scottish Parliament has updated these targets three times, most recently in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2024, which replaced the previous system with 5-year carbon budgets.

In June, following advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the Scottish Government laid draft regulations proposing emission levels for 2026-2045. The Parliament approved these regulations in October 2025, and the draft plan was published earlier this month.

The draft plan covers seven chapters, each focusing on a different sector. It outlines:

• intended emission reductions across four five-year carbon budget periods
• policies and proposals to achieve these reductions
• estimated financial costs and benefits.

The Scottish Government’s public consultation on the draft plan runs until 29 January 2026.

Economy and Fair Work Committee scrutiny of the Plan

The Committee has agreed to focus its scrutiny on:

• Chapter 7 of the draft plan: Business and Industrial Process and Negative Emissions Technologies
• the overarching theme of Just Transition.

The Committee will hold two roundtable evidence sessions:

• Wednesday 7 January: with business representatives
• Wednesday 14 January: with trade unions and academics. 

After these sessions, the Committee will write to the NZET Committee with its findings to inform the questions to be put to the Scottish Government.