Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ensure that there are larger, fewer and more flexible challenge fund streams for net zero-related projects at a local level that are better configured to support a holistic and place-based response to climate change.
The Scottish Government has recognised the challenge with navigating the net zero funding landscape and we are working to simplify and streamline it through a funding alignment programme that commenced in 2022.
We also published a directory of climate change funding for public sector organisations in August 2022. This helps local authorities and other public bodies to identify funding to support their delivery of net zero. It highlights opportunities in a range of areas including transport, heat and waste and provides key contacts and links to information on accessing the funding. The directory is available on the Sustainable Scotland Network website and will be reviewed this year to ensure the information is up to date and to consider any improvements that can be made to make it easier for local authorities and other public bodies to navigate.