Climate change isn't just a future problem: from more extreme weather events such as flooding and wild fires to loss of biodiversity and record-warm summers we are already now seeing the impacts.
To tackle climate change, we need strong targets and commitments from our government. The Scottish Government outlines their policies and proposals to reduce emissions and enable their carbon budgets to be met between 2026-2040 in the new draft Climate Change Plan.
The Government is now looking for your input on certain sections of the plan. This is your chance to have a say before the plan is taken to the next stage. The Plan will affect everyone is Scotland, so it's important that diverse voices are heard to ensure we maximise benefits and minimise challenges.
The consultation is open till the 29 January 2026 and includes 33 questions. We recognise it can be a task and a half to fill in a consultation. There are not only lots of documents to read, but also a lot of information to take in and process. The Climate Change Plan is available in an easy to read version and children's version. These are great if you want to get an overview of the Plan's key points. However, if you would like to fill in the consultation, we find those versions are a tad too simple to support understanding of what is being asked in the questions.
That's why we have broken the consultation into sections by:
- Selecting the questions we believe are most relevant to individuals living in Lanarkshire (so you don't have to get overwhelmed by trying to wrap your head around all the 33 consultation questions).
- Picking out the key points from the Plan to support you in answering the selected questions.
The key details about the Climate Change Plan
Reading the plan
The Climate Change Plan is available in the following formats:
Responding to the consultation
You can view all the questions and respond to the consultation here.
Deadline
The consultation closes on the 29 January 2026.
What you need to know about responding to a consultation
Your voice matters
Climate change is happening and will impact everyone in Scotland.
The Climate Change Plan sets out proposals and policies to combat climate change between 2026-2040. Your input can help maximise benefits and minimise downsides.
You don't have to answer all questions
In fact we recommend you don't. Some questions are technical and targeted at people with industry knowledge. Instead, focus your response on the questions that are most relevant to you. Even if that means only answering one question.
Be clear and concise
Whereever possible keep your responses simple and to the point. Avoid unnecessary jargon and fluffy language. This helps make your message stand out clearly and avoids confusion. Include examples if you can.
Just transition
What is a just transition?
A just transition is a change to a greener, low-carbon society which is inclusive and leaves no one behind. It takes into account workers, communities and industries which will be affected by this change and it addresses any inequalities to ensure vulnerable groups are also supported during these changes.
To ensure a just transition it is important that the public contribute to this, particularly with regards to the Climate Change Plan consultation. By taking part in the consultation, you can ensure that all voices across Scotland are heard and that the plan works for you and your community.
What is the government proposing?
The Climate Change Plan outlines proposals of support. This includes:
- Community benefits and energy – encouraging renewable and low carbon energy developers to offer community benefits and shared ownership opportunities to the communities around where the developments are. For example, Black Law Wind Farm in North Lanarkshire provided funding to the community of Shotts. Priestgill Wind Farm awarded grants to various groups in the villages surrouding this development.
- Community empowerment – through the Climate Action Hub programme the government looks to ensure communities can take local climate action
- Workforce – upskilling employees in carbon-intensive jobs, for example, so that they are able to work in less carbon-intensive roles or sectors
- Fair work and equality, diversity and inclusion within the workforce – this includes a focus on encouraging women and girls to pursue STEM subjects as currently it’s estimated that only 25% of people employed in the energy sector are women.
- Business support – helping businesses to develop and deliver net zero strategies
- Public sector - supporting local authorities through all aspects of their operations to work towards net zero
- Support for rural communities – the plan recognises that the effects of climate change are likely to affect rural communities more and therefore more considerations will be required. There is no full plan on how to approach this but in each of the ‘sector annexes’ there is reference to rural considerations, for example in relation to heating homes.
Having read these proposals, is there anything you feel is missing from the approach and that would leave anyone behind?
Energy
How we heat our homes matter. The Scottish Government is looking for your input on how we can make the transition towards clean heating solutions accessible and fair to everyone.
The following two questions are most relevant to individuals. Tap each headline below to find out more:
Decarbonising homes is about reducing and ultimately eliminating carbon emissions from household energy use by:
- improving energy efficiency such as insulation.
- switching from fossil fuels (oil and gas) to renewable sources like heat pumps and solar panels.
The Scottish Government is setting the target to decarbonise buildings by 2045. The Government suggests this deadline gives homeowners, landlords and businesses adequate time to adapt and adjust.
Below we are including some of the measures that the Government is proposing and the type of support the Government provides to enable people to decarbonise their homes. We have split these measures between homeowners and tenants. When reading this, consider if there is anyone who you think is left behind in the process.
Homeowners:
- Grant funding (up to £7,500) and interest free loans (also £7,500) provided to install a heat pump and energy efficiency measures. For rural or island homes, an additional £1,500 may be granted towards uplift (Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan).
- Installing insulation and heating measures in households at risk or in fuel poverty (Warmer Homes Scotland).
- If your home is within a heat network zone you may be required to join the heat network. This is expected to come into force in 2028.
Tenants – renting privately:
- New minimum energy efficiency standard to come into force in 2033 (subject to consultation)
- Loan available to private landlords to invest in improving the energy efficiency of their properties (Private Rented Sector Landlord (PRS) Loan)
Tenants – council housing or housing associations:
- Councils and housing associations can be granted full funding to install energy efficiency measures in households in or at risk of fuel poverty (Area Based Schemes).
- Fund designed to accelerate the delivery of energy efficiency and clean heat to existing social housing (Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund)
Relevant for both tenants and homeowners:
- Home Energy Scotland Advice Service: free, bespoke advice on energy efficiency, renewable heating and fuel poverty.
You can read more details about the measures and policies in Annex 2.
If you have noticed anyone left behind in the process, please include this in your response. Even better, if you have ideas of how this could be improved or dealt with please include this in your response.
The Scottish Government sets out the following measures to make clean heating systems more affordable:
- The Government recognises the high upfront costs of clean heating and is already providing grants and financial support (Home Energy Scotland grants and loans up to £7,500 plus rural uplifts) to help households install heat pumps and energy efficiency measures.
- Energy efficiency improvements (e.g. insulation) can reduce overall energy demand and make clean heating systems more cost‑effective by lowering bills and fuel poverty risks.
- By working with private lenders and developing market conditions (e.g., loans, financing tools) the Plan expects installations to become more affordable over time.
- Wider actions, such as reforms to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and support for installer skills and consumer confidence, aim to make clean heating adoption easier and reduce total costs for households.
The Scottish Government also recognises the need for lower electricity prices to combat fuel poverty and to ensure clean heating systems become more affordable to everyone. Energy pricing and market reform currently sit with the UK Government.
You can find more details in Annex 2.
Is there anything else you think could help make clean heating systems more affordable to everyone? Any barriers you have identified?
Transport
Petrol and diesel vehicles are damaging to the environment, and it is important that we look to move away from these forms of vehicles.
Transitioning to zero emissions vehicles such as electric cars requires a number of things such as funds to purchase the vehicle, the infrastructure in place to charge it and the means to repair any issues with it. As such, the consultation asks you to rank your priorities in what you feel would enable you to acquire a zero emissions vehicle, with 1 as highest priority.
The choices they would like you to rank are:
1. Cost of new zero emissions vehicles needs to come down
2. Cost of used zero emissions vehicles needs to come down
3. Reliable infrastructure for vehicles (such as fuel or charging networks)
4. Noticeably cheaper running costs (including electricity, maintenance and insurance)
5. Convenient access to public charging infrastructure
6. Ensuring an adequate number of trained mechanics available to perform essential maintenance and repairs
7. Access to funding support/low cost finance
8. All of the above
9. Other (use box below)
Lifestyle
The Climate Change Plan aims to make changes across Scotland to secure a more sustainable future. For individuals, this transition is expected to deliver tangible benefits that make a climate-friendly lifestyle easier and more appealing, such as:
- Warmer Homes: Through better insulation and heating systems, reducing energy bills and carbon footprint.
- Better Air Quality: By reducing emissions from transport and other sources, leading to health improvements.
- Health Benefits: Promoting and enabling active travel (walking, cycling) to improve well-being.
- Reduced Cost of Living: Creating energy and food security.
Thinking about all the things the Scottish Government can do – like improving homes, local travel, or public services –what single action would be the most effective in helping you to easily live a life that is better for the climate?
You can read more about the Plan’s vision for consumption and lifestyle here.
The Hub will also fill in a response with input from community groups and organisations in Lanarkshire. If you would like to feed into our response, please email the Hub on