Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 strategy: progress report
This sets out the policy framework for air quality in Scotland to 2026 and includes a comprehensive list of actions across ten policy areas. This fourth annual report summarises progress on actions since the last report in June 2024.
Annex A: Completed Actions
Since publication of the 2023/24 progress report, a further four CAFS2 actions have been fully delivered. Each action in CAFS2 has been assigned a short (to 2022), medium (to 2024) or longer term (to 2026) timeframe for delivery within the Delivery Plan.
Topic and timeframe: Placemaking (medium term action)
CAFS2 Action: The Scottish Government will undertake a review of nature based and green infrastructure interventions which can benefit air quality, using the outcomes to develop a database of potential solutions.
Update: NatureScot has updated their webpages on nature-based solutions to include a section focused on air quality, reflecting current evidence, linking to practical examples and case studies. This can be found here: Nature-base solutions: Air Quality | NatureScot
Topic and timeframe: Transport (long term action)
CAFS2 Action: Transport Scotland will work to revoke all Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) where trunk roads are the primary contributor to air pollutants.
Update: Following the revocation of the Crieff AQMA in 2024 and the Whirlies AQMA this year, this action is complete.
Topic and timeframe: Tackling non transport emissions (medium term action)
CAFS2 Action: The Scottish Government will work with local government and SEPA to consider revision of the Clean Air Act 1993.
Update: Following discussions with SEPA, local authorities and wider industry stakeholders a review of the Clean Air Act 1993 has been undertaken. The review identified four areas to consider on domestic burning more generally; this will be taken forward as part of the development work for the next air quality framework.
Topic and timeframe: Industrial emissions regulation (long term action)
CAFS2 Action: The Scottish Government and SEPA will, as part of the review of the Clean Air Act 1993 (see domestic burning actions), address the regulatory gap relating to stack height assessment for SEPA permitted sites.
Update: The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 were approved by the Scottish Parliament on 30 April 2025. The regulations provide a simplified, streamlined, and standardised common framework for environmental authorisations in Scotland. The EASR general aims address the regulatory gap between the Clean Air Act 1993 and the Medium Combustion Plant Directive by allowing SEPA when carrying out relevant functions to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to prevent or, where that is not practicable, to minimise environmental harm.