Question reference: S6W-07772
- Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 29 March 2022
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 March 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Government committed to publishing a refresh of the 2017 Energy Strategy. In parliament in June 2021, the Minister for Environment and Land Reform announced that a draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP) would be published in Spring 2022. This will now be published in Autumn 2022.
We are working to deliver the ESJTP in the context of a fast-moving energy landscape. The revised timeline will allow time for robust evidence and analysis to be produced and take account of ongoing projects, which are progressing at pace in response to the rapidly evolving global energy environment. The UK Government is due to produce an energy security strategy, which has been postponed, and we will also need to take this into consideration for Scotland’s Energy Strategy.
Securing a just transition for our energy sector is a non-negotiable aspect of our journey to net zero and the timeline will enable an extensive stakeholder engagement programme, ensuring we create a Just Transition Plan that is truly collaborative in its approach and design. The extended timescale will also allow stakeholders more time to engage in the process.