“Governments cannot tackle climate change alone. All of us – individuals, communities and businesses across our society – have a role in realising this shared ambition.

Fighting climate change is also a global effort. While Scotland’s response is only one small piece of the puzzle, we can demonstrate to a global audience how emissions reduction and environmental benefits can go hand in hand with economic opportunities, national resilience, job creation fairness, and the advancement of fundamental human rights. 

The Scottish Government is determined to deliver a fair transition to net zero, and we are guaranteed to have more success working collaboratively as part of a national endeavour.”

Scotland's Draft Climate Change Plan 2026-2040, Scottish Government, 2025

Scotland’s draft Climate Change Plan includes ‘the policies and proposals that Scotland needs to end our contribution to increasing global emissions and deliver real benefits for people across Scotland – warmer homes, better air quality, and the health benefits of active travel – to support people in our communities to live longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives.’ (Scottish Government, 2025).

The consultation for this Plan closed on 29 January 2026.

Click here to read the response from Learning for Sustainability Scotland.

Key points in our response include:

  • Publication of the new Climate Change Plan (CCP), in draft form, is welcome; setting out how Scotland will meet its legally-binding target to reach net zero, or neutral emissions, by 2045
  • The Plan must set out ambitious, fair actions that we need to tackle the climate crisis and deliver real benefits to our lives.
  • Considerable evidence demonstrates that equitable and long-term access to Learning for Sustainability opportunities will be required to ensure a Just Transition for communities and learners of all ages.
  • We urge the Scottish Government to include Education and Learning as a Sector in the main body of this Plan, with a focus on actions on Learning for Sustainability; ensuring a holistic, policy-coherent approach across all sectors and areas of sustainability.
  • Education, with a Learning for Sustainability ethos, must be strengthened in communities, schools, colleges, universities, professional learning and continuing professional development
  • The Education and Learning component of the Action Plan will require meaningful support, including funding and resources to transform learning spaces as well as participatory approaches to education and learning which bring about action on climate and other interconnected challenges.