Minutes: 17 September 2026

1. Declaration of interests:

Donald MacKinnon was invited to declare any relevant interests. He declared an interest as as a crofter and as the holder of crofting tenancies with shares in Arnol Common Grazings which is a recipient of agricultural support from the Scottish Government.

2. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 in private. The Committee also agreed to consider its work programme in private at its next meeting.

3. Climate Action – evidence:

The Committee took evidence from—

Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, supported by Phil Raines, Joint Deputy Director, Domestic Climate Change Division, DECC, Anne Aitken, Deputy Director, Environmental Quality & Resilience Division, ENFOR and Elizabeth Burgess, Head of Biodiversity Unit, Nature Division, ENFOR, Scottish Government.

David Barratt declared an interest as a councillor at Fife Council and as a hydrologist.

4. Climate Action – consideration of evidence:

The Committee considered the evidence heard under agenda item 3. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs on proposed water legislation. The Committee also agreed to delegate responsibility for finalising the letter to the Convener.

5. Inquiry into the environmental impacts of AI data centres – approach:

The Committee considered its approach to the inquiry. The Committee agreed to—
• Write to the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee, the Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Committee and the Rural Affairs Committee on the inquiry;
• The remit for the inquiry and to delegate to the Convener the responsibility for finalising the text of the remit;
• The intended outcomes of the inquiry;
• Write to the Scottish Government seeking clarification on timescales for their work on AI data centres and to delegate to the Convener the responsibility for finalising the letter;
• Themes and witnesses for the evidence sessions and to delegate to the Convener the responsibility for finalising the panels;
• A visit to inform the inquiry;
• Produce a report on the inquiry and to consider drafts of this in private at future meetings;
• Delegate to the Clerks responsibility for paying witness expenses and to delegate to the Convener the authority to address any queries on these; and
• Consider evidence heard at each meeting in private; and
• To consider an approach to any further work at a future meeting.