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

Summary of aims and expected outcomes of strategy, proposal, programme or policy

The purpose of the Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature (‘PES’) is to support the achievement of Scotland’s climate change targets, by engaging the public on climate change and nature. It aims to communicate relevant policies, deepen understanding and encourage action and participation in support of a just, resilient and nature-positive transition across society. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009^[1] makes it a statutory requirement for the Scottish Government to prepare and publish a public engagement strategy setting out the steps it intends to take to inform people in Scotland about the climate change targets and encourage them to contribute to the achievement of those targets.

Independent research shows that the approach to the most recent iteration of the PES (‘Net Zero Nation’, published in 2021) still aligns with best practice. As such, this strategy seeks to refresh – rather than revise – the strategic direction and so its main expected outcomes remain as set out below, updated to reflect that the refresh integrates climate and nature to address the twin crises in one engagement strategy.

• The Scottish Government and Scotland’s key communicators deliver a consistent and impactful message about our climate change and nature national endeavour.
• People understand the causes and consequences of global climate change and biodiversity loss and the need for ambitious mitigation and adaptation action.
• There are many opportunities for people to have their views heard on Scotland’s response to climate change and biodiversity loss and to hear the perspectives of other people in Scotland.