Net Zero Assessment: Pilot report

Annex D- International approaches to net zero assessments

In designing the process for the NZA pilot, the SG reviewed a variety of similar NZA approaches from other countries, including New Zealand, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Sweden to identify features and analytical approaches. The SG drew on some key features of other countries’ approaches while adapting them to fit the Scottish context.

The Scottish NZA process is similar in form to the New Zealand Climate Implications of Policy Assessment (CIPA), for example the Scottish process features proportionate screening and assessment at the early stage of policy development to provide opportunities for emissions reduction before policy design has become fixed. The scope of the Scottish NZA is wider as it covers all policy areas, not just climate and energy policies. The Scottish pilot had a different de minimis threshold and greater considerations to proportionality. The New Zealand CIPA is more embedded within their existing impact assessment processes, whereas the Scottish NZA is currently a stand-alone assessment.

Other governments’ net zero tests reflect their own analytical standards, which show a degree of overlap in general methodological approaches. We have not identified improvements which could be made to Scotland’s NZA by adopting the analytical standards of other governments net zero tests, and there would be the drawback of diverging from standards used across the SG.