Our Scotland, Our Future: Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature - EQIA

Equality Impact Assessment for Our Scotland, Our Future: Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature

Title of policy: Our Scotland, Our Future: Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature

Summary of aims A statutory requirement of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 is for the Scottish Government to prepare and publish a public engagement strategy setting out the steps they intend to take to inform people in Scotland about the climate change targets and encourage them to contribute to the achievement of those targets.

Our Scotland, Our Future is Scotland’s refreshed public engagement strategy on climate change. It aims to build on the approach taken by the previous strategy (Net Zero Nation, published in 2021), with the vision that people in Scotland recognise the implications of the twin climate and nature crises, understand Scotland’s response and know how to take action in the transition to a net zero, climate ready, nature positive Scotland. The Strategy has three overarching objectives, each with its own set of outcomes:

Objective 1 - Understanding: People understand the climate and nature crises and how Scotland is responding.

• Outcome 1.1 – The Challenge: People understand the causes and consequences of the twin crises and the need for ambitious action.
• Outcome 1.2 – The Opportunity: People are aware of Scotland’s climate and nature goals and the expected benefits of achieving them – for individuals, communities, and the planet.
• Outcome 1.3 – The Pathways: People know the intended pathway to realising Scotland’s climate and nature goals, the roles and responsibilities of different actors, and how people can contribute.

Objective 2 – Motivation: People feel motivated to act on the climate and nature crises and know how to do so

• Outcome 2.1 – Positive Inspiration: People are inspired by the positive impacts and personal benefits experienced by other people acting on climate and nature, which makes them want to take action themselves.
• Outcome 2.2 – Individual Agency: Individuals feel confident that they have the knowledge and skills they need to be able to meaningfully contribute to tackling the climate and nature crises.
• Outcome 2.3 – Collective action and learning: Communities come together to take collective action on climate and nature and learn from each other, in a way that is relevant to them and impactful for their local places.

Objective 3 – Voice: People have their voices heard in debate and decision-making on climate and nature.

• Outcome 3.1 – Safe Space for Debate: There is space to have safe, open and honest conversation between different points of view on how to address the climate and nature crises in a fair and inclusive way.
• Outcome 3.2 – Participation: People have opportunities to participate in the design and delivery of climate and nature policies that affect them.
• Outcome 3.3 – Feedback Loops: Decision-makers listen to, acknowledge, and respond to people participating in climate and nature engagement.