What does the Scottish Government's new climate action plan say?

The Scottish Government has published its new, long-awaited climate action plan, but what does it actually say?

The draft is essentially a roadmap to Scotland’s climate goals, and ministers say it outlines “over 150 actions” that will be “key to achieving Scotland’s net zero goal”.

However, the Scottish Greens have branded the plans a “damp squib” that “uses a lot of words to say very little”.

“It is a missed opportunity and damp squib at a time when we need ambition and courage. Our expectations were low, and this still falls short,” Green MSP Patrick Harvie said.

The draft plan recommits Scotland to phasing out new diesel and petrol cars by 2030, and sets the target of “decarbonising” heating in buildings by 2045, which would see a switch away from gas boilers or systems using oil.

“Changing the way we heat our homes is a critical step in reducing Scotland’s consumption-based emissions,” the action plan said.

It also proposes increasing Scotland’s woodlands, so that by 2029-30 18,000 hectares are planted a year.

Implementing the policies would cost £4.8bn over the period 2026 to 2040, it said, but added this would bring benefits of £42.3bn over the same period.

Unveiling the plan to MSPs at Holyrood, climate action secretary Gillian Martin said Scotland was “increasingly feeling the real-life impacts of climate change domestically”.

She added: “The growing frequency of storms, heatwaves and flooding events is impacting our health, our livelihoods and the resilience of our communities.”

As a result, Martin said “Parliament can no longer sit on its hands”.

The plan has been produced after the Scottish Government was forced to scrap its target of cutting emissions by 75% by 2030.

Holyrood ministers also came under fire for missing nine out of 13 annual climate targets – with the Government now having moved away from yearly targets to a system of five-year carbon budgets instead.

Martin insisted ministers’ commitment to reaching net zero by 2045 was “unwavering” – but she also stressed action was needed from the UK Government.

She said “crucially” Westminster could act to reduce the price of electricity – a move which could potentially help encourage people into electric vehicles (EVs) and to switch away from gas heating.

However, the Scottish Greens insisted that the Government is “going backwards and refusing to take the bold actions” on climate action.

“They have filleted the plan for clean, affordable heating, which the Greens had championed in Government,” Harvie said.

“They’re now proposing a target with no mechanism, which has been tried and failed many times before on many different issues.

“They have shelved their energy plan and are incapable of giving a clear answer on new fossil fuel drilling. They have scrapped their road traffic reduction targets, and replaced them with nothing. This plan will change none of that.”

Labour net zero spokesperson Sarah Boyack said: “The SNP’s record on the environment is defined by broken promises and sticking plaster solutions.

“Time and time again we have seen targets missed, plans abandoned and strategies abandoned by the wayside.”

She added: “After years of failure from the SNP, we need action across Scotland to deliver the change we urgently need.”

Conservative energy spokesperson Douglas Lumsden said the statement was “yet more hot air from the SNP”.

“Even after repeatedly delaying their climate change plan, they still refuse to come clean about the true cost of how they plan to reach their net zero target by 2045,” Lumsden said.

“Families across Scotland are deeply concerned about what the nationalists are planning and if their bills will soar even further.”

Stressing the need to support Scotland’s North Sea oil and gas sector, he added that the plan “shamefully fails to clarify whether the SNP still back a presumption against new oil and gas licences”.

The Scottish Government has invited people to share their views on the draft climate action plan by responding to an online consultation before January 29, 2026.