Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray funding on (a) air quality, (b) water quality, (c) soil quality, (d) public transport and (e) active travel.
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that investment through the Just Transition Fund delivers value for public money and supports environmental and economic outcomes across the North East and Moray. To that end, an independent evaluation of the first two years of JTF delivery (2022–2024) was commissioned, with the final report published in July 2025.
The evaluation found that the Fund has supported a wide range of projects contributing positively to environmental sustainability and community wellbeing across several domains:
(a) Air quality, (b) Water quality, and (c) Soil quality
Projects funded through the JTF have advanced nature-based solutions, environmental restoration, and community-led ecological management. For example, the Findhorn Watershed Initiative undertook large-scale riparian woodland restoration, carbon sequestration activity, and community environmental education. These efforts contribute to long-term improvements in ecosystem health, including enhanced water quality and more resilient soils, and support Scotland’s broader adaptation objectives.
(d) Public transport
The evaluation highlighted improved access to essential services, including public transport. In addition, transport-focused feasibility studies, such as the Buchan Sustainable Transport Study, were among the showcase examples featured in the evaluation. These projects aim to address rural connectivity challenges, inform low-carbon transport solutions, and improve mobility for communities across the region.
(e) Active travel
While active travel is not the primary focus of the JTF portfolio, several projects supported community engagement, place-based improvements, and environmental enhancement that complement active travel objectives. Wider participatory budgeting activities funded through the JTF also supported local improvements to community spaces and infrastructure, enabling healthier, low-carbon choices.
Overall, the independent evaluation concluded that the Just Transition Fund is supporting environmental sustainability, community empowerment, and improved access to essential services, while laying the groundwork for longer-term environmental and economic benefits across the North East and Moray.