Net Zero Assessment: independent review

Overview

The NZA pilot report has successfully demonstrated the potential to embed proportionate carbon assessment in the early stages of policy development and spending decision-making. This review concurs with the report's conclusions that the NZA methodology is workable, credible, and should be applied across the Scottish Government.

The NZA process would act as a filter to quickly identify policies that may increase carbon emissions and hinder progress towards Scotland’s net zero target year of 2045. It would position Scotland amongst a number of countries with similar processes designed to assess the potential effects of policies on their achievement of net zero, including New Zealand, Sweden and Canada.

This review supports the report's findings and recommendations, agreeing that the NZA pilot has laid a strong foundation for integrating carbon assessment into policy-making, thereby enhancing efforts to achieve Scotland’s net zero targets and address the climate emergency.