Climate Action Committee
1st Meeting, 2026
Members of the Committee were invited to declare any relevant interests.
Ariane Burgess declared an interest as the author of a book, with a focus on changes that people can make in relation to climate change and nature, from which royalties are received.
Sanne Dijkstra-Downie declared an interest as a councillor at City of Edinburgh Council. She also indicated that her husband is employed as a principal engineer by Sweco, an engineering consultancy firm.
David Barratt declared an interest as a councillor at Fife Council, as a Principal Hydrologist for Kiloh Associates (a civil, structural and environmental engineering consultancy), as a member of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management, and as a company director of North Queensferry Community Trust.
Other members said that they had no relevant interests to declare.
The Committee chose Ariane Burgess as its Deputy Convener.
The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private and agreed its consideration of its work programme should be taken in private at its next meeting.
The Committee considered its approach to developing its work programme.
The Committee agreed to seek approval to undertake an external visit on flood risk management and nature restoration. The Committee agreed to hold a business planning event and to seek approval to hold this as part of the visit.
The Committee agreed to invite stakeholders and the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs to give evidence on priorities within her portfolio in September. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs in advance and to delegate responsibility for the letter to the Convener.
The Committee agreed to undertake scrutiny preceding the Scottish Government’s Budget 2027-28 and to take evidence on this from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs. It agreed to consider its approach at its next meeting.
The Committee agreed to delegate responsibility for the finalisation of arrangements for these activities to the Convener.