Get Scotland’s climate ACTION back on track in 2025
We are at a pivotal point in Scotland’s climate journey. The Scottish Government must take fast and fair action to get Scotland’s climate progress back on track.
We once had ambitious climate targets, but a lack of action since setting them meant they were abandoned last year. 2025 brings concrete opportunities to make much needed progress on climate action – to inspire hope and lead to a greener, fairer, healthier Scotland that plays its full part towards global efforts to limit the devastation being caused by rising temperatures.
Together we can show political leaders that people across Scotland are united for climate action, and that this will have positive impacts on our health, jobs, and planet.
We are calling for action to:
Make our streets safer for walking, wheeling and cycling and enable people to get about quickly and easily on an affordable and reliable public transport network, while discouraging more polluting modes of transport, like private jets.
Power our homes through cleaner forms of heating and ensure they are properly insulated, reducing energy bills and improving health.
Support farmers, crofters and fisheries to manage our land and seas in ways that protect and restore nature and reduce emissions, such as by planting more native woodland and restoring peatlands.
Support manufacturing for green industries, particularly in places that will be most impacted by the transition to clean energy, and provide education and training to develop the skills needed for a new low carbon economy that prioritises our wellbeing and the protection of natural resources
Deploy fast, fair and managed plans to fully transition away from the production of polluting fossil fuels and reduce our our reliance on these.
Much-needed funds for climate action should be raised through redirecting public spending away from climate-damaging activities and generating new funds by making polluters pay
Tell your MSPs that there can be no more delay in delivering urgent and fair climate action across all parts of our society, bringing essential benefits to our health, economy, and planet
Climate action stories
Jen Morris is from Glasgow, and has taken climate action by having a heat pump installed. She’s noticed that her energy bills have gone down, and that her heating is significantly more efficient than previously.
A heat pump produces far less carbon emissions than gas heating, and also improves the air quality for surrounding homes. The grant and loan scheme from Home Energy Scotland enabled Jen to have her heat pump. She says:
“This scheme is absolutely vital to encourage uptake of heat pumps in homes, and it should be continued and expanded. However, I think there is not enough awareness of the support available. Many people are still very wary of heat pumps, which isn’t helped by a lot of misinformation in the press.”
“One way to help this might be if, when gas boilers break down and need to be replaced, homeowners are offered the choice of a heat pump instead and the benefits explained to them. Informing people at the point at which a heating system requires upgrading anyway would be a much easier entry point for a lot of people.“
“In addition, the default position is that the homeowner should pay the installation cost upfront, and only receive the grant/loan after proof of installation. This upfront cost is a barrier for many people.”
Adrian Shaw lives in Dalavich, Argyll, where the local community has taken climate action by setting up an energy scheme with a loan from the Scottish Government. The scheme generates low carbon electricity that, along with other renewable sources in Argyll, contributes to meeting Scotland’s renewable energy targets
The scheme provides substantial funds to the community, and supports charitable activities that benefit local residents. As a result of the funding they now employ a community development officer, who has just completed a consultation to inform a five year action plan, alongside securing funding to run a community mental health and wellbeing programme across 2025.
Adrian says:
“The creation of the community energy scheme in Dalavich has had many positive impacts on the local community. However, at present residents cannot take advantage of lower electricity prices. Residents of highland communities can pay more for electricity than those in urban areas, despite having local generating capacity that can supply electricity at lower cost.”
“Some residents of the community are experiencing fuel poverty, and it is a source of frustration that we are not able to provide a ‘local tariff’ to residents that could significantly reduce the cost of electricity.”
We call upon the Scottish and UK governments to work for more equitable electricity tariffs for remote and rural communities.
Dr. Bridie Barnett lives in Inverness, and is the Co-organiser of Inverness Kidical Mass rides. Kidical Mass is a worldwide movement. Cyclists from 0 to 99 years old take over the streets to reclaim the road space in colourful bicycle demonstrations, with a focus on sustainable mobility.
Bridie says:
“Cycling is great for physical health and mental health as well as the climate. The rides feel very positive, they’re fun for the kids and gets them enthusiastic about cycling.”
“Our campaigns have appeared in the media, and had an influence in the local cycling infrastructure following quotes in council debates and the Scottish Parliament. We’ve had a nice segregated cycle path put in through town and we believe kidical mass lobbying really helped enable that.”
“Involving kids has been a way to keep climate dialogue positive. Often climate protests get negative coverage but we’re taking positive action and people really like to see kids taking positive action too. There are a lot of people who are cautious about being part of a protest, Kidical mass is more of a campaign than a protest. The UK laws on protest are becoming increasingly restrictive which is a worry. I’m a medical doctor, and the general medical council have recently removed doctors licenses to work in the UK for taking part in peaceful climate protests. There should be a right to peaceful protest.”
“Getting people on bikes requires it to be a safe activity. In Inverness we only have one segregated cycle path, limiting peoples’ confidence in getting about by bike . We need ways of making people feel safe making journeys by cycle. That has to include reducing vehicle speeds and building infrastructure for safe cycling.”
