However CERG believes that we also need to think about a process that is more than individual projects – a mechanism is needed to look across projects, programmes, portfolios to determine whether the aggregate impact of all these discrete projects pushes Scotland over an emissions threshold –both in terms of direct emissions and whole life carbon emissions. 3 https://www.improvementservice.org.uk/news/november-2023/new-climate-intelligence-service-will- support-councils-to-deliver-local-climate-action 4 https://cerg.scot/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CERG-Report-August-2023.pdf (CERG Net Zero Test proposals on p 7) Conclusion NPF4 represents the biggest overhaul in Scotland’s planning system in a generation.