In 2019, the Scottish Government legislated for a net zero by 2045 target while simultaneously embedding the concept of a “just transition” at the heart of Scotland’s climate agenda. This is not merely a climate imperative – it is Scotland’s greatest economic opportunity. If managed well, the transition to net zero can also create a new generation of well-paid green jobs, raise living standards, reduce poverty, and tackle deep-rooted inequalities. In short, it could be a route out of the economic malaise that has plagued Scotland for the past two decades. The task ahead is not simply to decarbonise the economy, but to fundamentally reshape it. 

 

As Scotland enters a new parliamentary term, understanding the progress made so far on delivering a just transition is essential to identifying both the challenges that remain, and the opportunities that lie ahead. This briefing assesses progress since 2019 across four key pillars of the transition – climate and nature, poverty and inequality, labour market and the economy, and funding the transition – before outlining key priorities for the new Parliament in each area.