Sustainable performance
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NPF4 planning guidance: policy 2 - climate mitigation and adaptation
Planning guidance supporting the consistent, proportionate and effective application of National Planning Framework 4 Policy 2 on climate mitigation and adaptation.
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Climate change - public engagement strategy: mid-point review
The climate change public engagement strategy committed to a review at the mid-point of delivery. The review provides a summary of activities delivered since the publication of the strategy, reflects on the approach being taken and recommends improvements to achieve objectives in future delivery.
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Procurement strategy: April 2025 to March 2028
The Scottish Government's procurement strategy describes how we plan to carry out our regulated procurements for the next three years.
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Environment strategy: transformative changes for sustainability
Independent report by Professor Valerie Nelson on behalf of the Scottish Government to inform the development of the forthcoming Scottish Government environment strategy.
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Environment strategy: global environmental impacts of consumption and production
Independent report from the James Hutton Institute on behalf of the Scottish Government on global impacts of consumption and production in Scotland. This research is being used to inform the forthcoming Scottish Government environment strategy.
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Strengthening approach to household recycling collection services
Scottish Government is seeking views on potential changes to recycling and waste management.
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Procurement - national collaborative: service enhancement plan March 2025
This plan sets out the vision to improve end-to-end customer service to increase usage of current procurement frameworks and deliver even more savings, as well as identifying areas of potential growth.
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Public Bodies Expenditure: Supplementary Report of Data Commission
Detailed management information on public bodies expenditure on corporate functions
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Open data in Scotland: a blueprint for unlocking innovation, collaboration and impact
This independent report was commissioned by the Scottish Government Digital Directorate on the current international and domestic position on open data. This has been used to inform high-level recommendations on next steps for open data in Scotland.
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National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping Report: Consultation Analysis
Analysis of responses to the consultation on the proposed scope and level of detail for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2).
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Planning and climate change guidance: research report issue 3
Research comprising a desk-based study and stakeholder engagement with developers and decision-makers to develop understanding of the approaches currently being used to both assess and minimise lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of development proposals. This research is to inform National Planning Framework 4.
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Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods: planning guidance
The guidance on local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods aims to encourage, promote and facilitate the application of the Place Principle and create connected and compact neighbourhoods which prioritise environmental, social and economic sustainability.
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The Scottish Government Procurement Strategy April 2024 – March 2028
The Scottish Government's procurement strategy describes how we plan to carry out our regulated procurements for the next four years.
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Scottish Islands Typology: overview 2024
This report outlines the Scottish Islands Typology (2024). It classifies Scotland’s islands into ten categories based on combinations of population, access to local amenities, and access to mainland Scotland. It offers an alternative way to compare the differences and similarities between islands.
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The Environment Strategy for Scotland: Delivering the Environment Strategy Outcome on Scotland's Global Footprint - Evidence Base & Policy Levers
This report presents evidence and initial recommendations on how the Scottish Government could use the available policy levers to help ensure Scotland’s international environmental impact is sustainable.
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The Environment Strategy for Scotland: Reducing Scotland's International Environmental Impact - Learning from International Best Practices
This report supports the research project ‘Delivering the Environment Strategy Outcome on Scotland’s Global Footprint: Evidence Base and Policy Levers’. It summarises examples of international best practice in relation to policy levers for achieving a sustainable global footprint.
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The Environment Strategy for Scotland: Delivering the Environment Strategy Outcome on Scotland's Economy - Evidence Base & Policy Levers
This report presents evidence and initial recommendations on how the Scottish Government could use the available policy levers to support the transformations in Scotland’s economy needed to help tackle the climate and nature emergencies.
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Climate change - national adaptation plan 2024 to 2029: consultation - easy read
The impacts of climate change are already being felt by people in Scotland. That is why, as well as taking action to reduce emissions, we must also take steps to adapt to climate change. This is an easy-read version of the consultation on the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024 to 2029.
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Scottish islands: data overview 2023
This report gives a snapshot of Scotland's island-level data as collated in the new Scottish Islands Data Dashboard and draws out key findings relating to each of the strategic objective topic areas set out in the National Islands Plan.
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Environment - guiding principles: statutory guidance
This guidance provides information on how officials across government should apply the environmental principles when developing policy.
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Environment - guiding principles consultation: statutory guidance – Parliamentary statement and analysis report
As required by section 18(4) of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 the Scottish Government has provided a parliamentary statement and an analysis report on the consultation on Scotland’s Guiding Principles on the Environment: Statutory Guidance.
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SG Response to Consultation: Marine Resources – Ensuring Long Term Sustainability: Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)
Scottish Government response to public consultation on Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)
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Future Catching Policy: Scottish Government response to consultation analysis report
Scottish Government response to public consultation on Future Catching Policy (FCP)
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Sea fisheries - future catching policy: consultation analysis
Analysis of public consultation on Future Catching Policy (FCP).
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Marine resources – remote electronic monitoring: consultation analysis
Analysis of public consultation on remote electronic monitoring (REM) as part of ensuring the long term sustainability of marine resources.
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National Litter and Flytipping strategy: island communities impact assessment
Summary of the island communities impact assessment (ICIA) undertaken for the National Litter and Flytipping strategy.
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Vision for sustainable aquaculture: island communities impact assessment
Island communities impact assessment for the vision for sustainable aquaculture.
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Vision for sustainable aquaculture
The Vision for sustainable aquaculture describes the Scottish Government’s long-term aspirations to 2045 for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, and the wider aquaculture supply chain.
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Vision for sustainable aquaculture: child rights and wellbeing screening sheet
Child rights and wellbeing screening sheet for the Vision for sustainable aquaculture
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Scotland's Vision for Trade: annual report - June 2023
Our second annual report on Scotland's Vision for Trade, outlining the range of specific actions that we have taken over the past year and our continued ambition to make trade-related decisions based on the principles of inclusive growth, wellbeing, sustainability, net zero and good governance.
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National Litter and Flytipping Strategy
The National Litter and Flytipping Strategy sets out a refreshed approach to tackling litter and flytipping in order to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment; ensure safer and cleaner communities and contribute to a thriving circular economy for Scotland.
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Litter and flytipping strategy: fairer Scotland duty summary
A summary of the fairer Scotland duty assessment undertaken for the national litter and flytipping strategy.
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Litter and flytipping strategy: final business and regulatory impact assessment
The results of the final business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) undertaken for the national litter and flytipping strategy.
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Litter and flytipping strategy: equality impact assessment
Results of the equality impact assessment (EQIA) undertaken for the national litter and flytipping strategy.
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Litter and flytipping strategy: strategic environment assessment - post adoption statement
A strategic environmental assessment post adoption statement setting out how responses to the assessment have been taken into account for the national litter and flytipping strategy.
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Litter and flytipping: scale and cost
This report updates data referenced in the previous National Litter Strategy (2014) on the scale and cost of litter and flytipping in Scotland to inform the national litter and flytipping strategy (2023).
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Just transition for the built environment and construction sector: a discussion paper
This discussion paper is intended to support engagement on a just transition for the built environment and construction sector. Building on this engagement, a draft targeted action plan and route map (late 23/24) will outline the key steps to delivering a fair transition for the sector.
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Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership - A fresh start
This publication sets out the First Minister’s vision for Scotland and the outcomes he and his government aim to achieve by 2026.
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Environment Strategy for Scotland: second progress report
The second annual report to Parliament on progress in developing the Environment Strategy for Scotland, as required under the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021.
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Scotland's journey of achieving sustainable procurement outcomes 2002-2022: independent review
An independent review that looks back over the past twenty years of sustainable public procurement in Scotland and other parts of the UK. The findings showcase how the progressive approach to sustainable procurement in Scotland has achieved jobs, training and other positive outcomes.
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Fishing vessels - economic link: business and regulatory impact assessment
A business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) of changes to Scottish economic link conditions contained in Scottish fishing vessels.
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Programme and project management principles
Guidance on our principled approach to project delivery which is applicable to any project of any size.
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Scottish Natural Capital Accounts 2022
This report estimates quantity and value of services supplied by Scotland's natural capital.
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Scottish Government procurement strategy: April 2022 to March 2024
Scottish Government procurement strategy covering the period from April 2022 to March 2024.
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Scotland's Green Investment Portfolio: call for projects
Official call for projects to feature in the Scottish Government's first Green Investment Portfolio.
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Scottish climate change adaptation programme 2019-2024: consultation draft
We want to hear your views on Scotland's new five-year climate change adaptation programme to be launched in autumn 2019.
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Scottish civil estate: efficiency and sustainability reports
Annual reports submitted by Scottish Ministers to Parliament, detailing progress we've made towards improving the efficiency and sustainability of buildings forming part of the civil estate in Scotland.
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Government travel strategy
We aim to reduce the carbon emissions generated by our work by 30 per cent by 2020.
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Public bodies climate change duties: putting them into practice, guidance required by part four of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
Guidance to support public bodies in exercising their duties under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.