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

Ministerial Foreword

I am pleased to present this Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature, which comes at a such vital time. The devastating wildfires witnessed both here in Scotland and across Europe – alongside flooding events in our coastal communities and even water scarcity in some parts of the country – shows that the impacts of climate change are with us and are now being felt with increasing severity and frequency across Scotland.

The science of climate change and biodiversity loss isn’t up for debate; we are in a climate and nature emergency. While the scale and complexity of climate change can at times feel overwhelming, public concern about climate change thankfully remains high despite the worrying increase in anti-climate rhetoric we are witnessing. These issues do not exist in isolation from the daily challenges we know people are facing. Concerns about the cost of living, health and economic security are rightly priorities for people and these would be exacerbated by inaction on climate change and nature loss. The impacts are being felt across households, communities, businesses, economies and ecosystems, through both extreme weather events that we see more frequently on the news, as well as longer term impacts from a changing climate that can exacerbate biodiversity loss and pressure on food production and energy systems. These impacts are projected to intensify over the coming decades, with disproportionate effects on vulnerable communities and rising costs to the economy increasing the cost of living. This intensification is driven by average global temperatures continuing to rise. The Climate Change Committee, Scotland and the UK’s advisory body, advises that we should prepare for at least 2 degrees of global warming by 2050.^[1], and has outlined that investment now in action to adapt to climate change will save billions in costs to the economy in future years^[2].

We must protect communities, safeguard our land, and shore up our coastline, whilst ensuring we harness the economic opportunities, health and social benefits that come directly from reducing our carbon emissions – creating jobs, cleaner air and increasing our access to nature.

I am proud that Scotland continues to stand firm in our commitment to tackle these crises. The evidence of the impact on our communities, economy and environment is clear, and the need for action has never been greater.

We are under no illusion about the challenge ahead of us but let me be clear – we are up for that challenge. The Scottish Government will play its full role, but we know that governments cannot address these crises alone. Building a more sustainable and resilient Scotland requires government, businesses and public bodies to take decisive, meaningful action. People and communities also play a vital part, not only through taking action in our daily lives to become more sustainable, but also by shaping local solutions, influencing social norms and supporting wider system change.

That is why it is so important that we hear your voice. Public engagement is essential to deliver the action we all need to take together, improve our quality of life, reduce future impacts, and contribute to a more prosperous, healthy, fairer and resilient Scotland.

This Strategy builds on the successes and lessons learned from its predecessor, ‘Net Zero Nation’. It provides a guide to all those engaging the public on climate change and nature loss to build our social mandate for change and enable everyone in Scotland to explore how the crises relate to their lives and how they can get involved in the solutions.

I recognise the amazing work individuals, organisations and communities continue to do to support the public in engaging with climate and nature issues. I thank all of you for your continued efforts and urge everyone to use this Strategy as our guiding framework for building understanding, motivation and inspiration, and ensuring that people’s voices help to shape a more sustainable, resilient and nature-rich future.

I would also like to thank all those who have engaged with us to develop this Strategy and our partners who have helped shape it by sharing their learning, ideas and innovative approaches.

By working in partnership with communities and organisations across Scotland, public engagement can help turn challenge into opportunity and support a just, resilient and nature‑positive transition across society.

Gillian Martin MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs

September 2026