Scotland's draft Climate Change Plan 2026-2040: children's rights consideration

2. With reference given to the requirements of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which aspects of the proposal are relevant to/impact upon children’s rights?

The policies and proposals within the draft Climate Change Plan are grouped under seven sectors, each with overarching outcomes. The articles listed below are linked to the UNCRC Articles through the analysis of evidence gathered. Policies and proposals with an impact on children are shown below. Some policies and proposals that have a similar nature have been grouped and assessed together. The full policy and proposal list with the overarching outcomes for the draft Climate Change Plan can be found in Annex 1.

2.1 Business and Industrial Processes

• Environmental disruption through the construction and operation of new carbon capture or negative emissions technologies facilities (Outcome 2, Policies 1 and 2 – Article 24 health and health services).
• Long-term environmental impacts through the reduction of emissions (All policies and proposals are mostly relevant to – Article 6 life, survival and development, Article 24 health and health services, and Article 27 adequate standard of living).
• Development of new technologies on long-term employment opportunities and the development of new green skills (Outcome 2, Policies 1 and 2, and Proposals 3 and 6 – Article 6 life, survival and development, Article 24 health and health services, and Article 27 adequate standard of living).
• The use of carbon pricing to incentivise emissions reductions through the UK emissions trading scheme (Outcome 1, Policy 1 – Article 27 adequate standard of living).
• Long term environmental impacts through the reduction of emissions through energy efficiency measures or fuel switching (Outcome 1, Policies 2 and 6, and Outcome 2, Proposals 1, 3 and 4 – Article 24 health and health services).
• The development of lower carbon products (Outcome 1, Policies 2, 4, 5 and Proposal 1 and 2 - Article 27 adequate standard of living)

2.2 Energy Supply

• Air quality in relation to Energy from Waste (Outcome 1, Policies 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Article 24 health and health services).
• Air quality in relation to fossil fuel electricity generation (Policies 5 and 6 – Article 24 health and health services).
• Shifting from fossil fuel electricity generation to renewable generation (Policies 7 and 8 – Article 27 adequate standard of living).
• Investment in renewable electricity for recreational sites and for communities (Policies 7 and 8 – Article 27 adequate standard of living).

2.3 Heat in Buildings

• At the time of undertaking this initial review of children’s rights against the draft Climate Change Plan policies, the final policy package for the Heat in Buildings sector was still being finalised. Therefore, specific impacts on children’s rights against all UNCRC Articles cannot at this stage be determined. A full assessment of all Heat in Buildings policies will be undertaken – both those within the draft Climate Change Plan and what would be in the final Climate Change Plan – and published within the CRWIA to support the final Climate Change Plan.

2.4 Agriculture

• Build a sustainable food production sector for future generations while continuing to offer high-quality produce for consumption (all Outcomes, policies and proposals – Article 24 health and health services).
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration and nature restoration (all Outcomes, policies and proposals – Article 24 Health and health services and Article 27 adequate standard of living).
• Accessing the knowledge and guidance currently available as well as seeing current on farming implementation of practices (Outcome 2, Policy 1 – Article 29 goals of education – respect for urban and natural environments, Outcome 3, policy 1 and proposal 2, Outcome 4, policy 2 and Outcome 5, proposal 1 also include knowledge and guidance).

2.5 Peatland

• Not applicable. Peatland restoration, protection and management policies in Scotland are primarily designed to guide and support landowners, businesses, and corporate entities, including financial investors, wishing or required to adopt certain land management approaches that help meet our environmental and climate targets. These policies, supported by government investment, focus on carbon and ecosystem resilience, and water regulation and quality. While these restoration efforts indirectly benefit society at large, including future generations, the policies and delivery frameworks are not directly framed to engage children and young people as rights holders under the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024.

2.6 Forestry

• Not applicable. Woodland creation is not directly relevant to The Articles of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. The policies and mechanisms are for delivery and are targeted at landowners, businesses and corporate bodies, such as financial investors. As such and due to the compliance rules associated with the Forestry Grant Scheme, policies and measures around woodland creation would not, and are not, designed to directly interact with children and young people.

2.7 Transport (including international aviation and shipping)

• Air pollution and road accidents in relation to reducing car use (Outcome 1 policies – Article 6 Life, survival and development).
• The health of children in relation to reducing car use (Outcome 1 policies – Article 24 Health and health services).
• Improving the provision of spaces and opportunities for children’s participation in recreational and leisure activities through reduction in car use (Outcome 1 policies – Article 31 Leisure, play and culture).
• While reducing care use, maintaining access of private vehicles for those who need to use these because of a disability (Outcome 1 policies – Article 23 rights of disabled children).
• Consideration of increased risks of discrimination or targeted violence due to increased reliance on public and active travel modes (Outcome 1 policies – Article 19 protection from all forms of violence).
• Shifting the transport mode of freight goods from road to rail or water and the impact on emissions (Outcome 3 policies – Article 24 health and health services).
• The aim to grow the public electric vehicle charging network and future job opportunities (Outcome 4 policies – Article 27 adequate standard of living).
• The development of electric vehicle infrastructure in promoting jobs and innovation (Outcome 4 policies – Article 4 implementation of the Convention and Article 28 right to education).

2.8 Waste Management

• Measures to deliver behaviour change-based approaches focused on sustainable consumption aligned to Let's Do Net Zero communications; and assessing effective communication practices to inform future standards as part of the household recycling co-design process (Outcome 2 policies and proposals and Outcome 3, policy 2 – Article 17 Access to information from the media).
• Measures particularly in reduce and reuse that a transition to more sustainable resource use and a circular economy could bring (all policies and proposals in Outcome 2 – Article 24 Health and health services and Article 27 Adequate standard of living).
• The measures seeking to embed circular construction practices (Outcome 2, policies 8,9, and proposal 9 Article 27 Adequate standard of living).
• Measures influencing accessibility to affordable goods and services, and accessibility to high quality goods and services. (Outcome 2, policies 1, 4, 6 and proposal 1 and 5 – Article 24).
• Measures around the development and introduction of policies which would increase the access to affordable goods via secondary markets (Outcome 2, policies 1 and 6, and proposal 1,5 – Article 27 Adequate standard of living).
• Measures to reduce food waste (Outcome 2, policy 7, and proposals 6,7 – Article 27 Adequate standard of living).
• Implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) (Outcome 2, policy 3, Article 24 health and health services, Article 31 leisure, play and culture and Article 29 goals of education – respect for urban and natural environments).
• Measures that support greater uptake of green circular economy skills, training, and development opportunities (Outcome 1 policies, and crosscutting across all outcomes – Article 29 Goals of education).
• Consideration of the need to provide accessible and inclusive communications. For example, on any changes to recycling collections, new householder duties or any enforcement action. Further examples would be where English is not a first language, for older individuals who may require large print or for disabled individuals who may require braille or other suitable communication options (Outcome 2, proposals 5,6, and Outcome 3, policies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 – Article 30 Children from minority or indigenous groups).

2.9 Cross-cutting

As outlined above, there are multiple policies and proposals across the different sectors which have impacts on the following Articles:

• Article 6 (life, survival and development),
• Article 24 (health and health services),
• Article 27 (adequate standard of living),
• Article 29 (goals of education), and
• Article 31 (leisure, play and culture).

Scotland has a target date for reaching net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. A key action for the policies and proposals within the draft Climate Change Plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The largest cross-cutting positive impact for children as a result of the policies and proposals within the draft Climate Change Plan is on their health. Every sector that has identified a positive impact on children has identified potential positive impacts in relation to Article 24 health and health services.

The Transport sector accounts for the largest share of our greenhouse gas emissions, therefore, there are a number of policies and proposals with the aim of reducing emissions. Reducing car use will in turn reduce air pollution and road accidents, leading to a reduction in the number of deaths due to these causes and is likely to diminish infant and child mortality (Article 6 Life, survival and development). In addition, environmental air and noise pollution caused by cars is more likely to impact children from disadvantaged backgrounds who are more likely to suffer from adverse health impacts or compounding on pre-existing health conditions (Article 24 health and health services). By providing free bus travel to those under-22 years old through the Young Persons Scheme, the air quality in towns and cities should improve as a result of reducing car journeys and encouraging embedding this mode of transport for young people should positively impact on health. Promoting a modal shift in moving freight/goods from the road network onto rail or water will also reduce emissions.

Within the Waste sector, there is the potential for a reduction in environmental pollution through the transition to more sustainable resource use and a circular economy, including less waste going to landfill or incineration, which may avoid adverse impacts on health, including through improved air quality. Although the deposit return scheme policy does not have a direct impact on children’s rights, once the scheme is implemented and operational, it may contribute indirectly in ensuring cleaner environments through a reduction in litter, which would promote better health and safer play spaces.

Within the Energy Supply sector, improvements to air quality will likely be seen to those who live close to Energy from Waste sites, and those located near to fossil fuel generation sites such as those in island communities located near diesel generators and those living near Peterhead power station. Shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy will likely have benefits as a result of improved air quality and may particularly benefit children who have increased health risks from exposure to poor air quality.

Within the Business and Industrial Processes sector, while no significant direct impacts are identified for children, the long term environmental impacts through the reduction of emissions through energy efficiency measures, the deployment of new technologies like Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and Negative Emissions Technology (NETS) or fuel switching will contribute to and support a more sustainable, green and prosperous future for children and young people.

Within the Agriculture sector, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in carbon sequestration and nature restoration will help to improve national and local biodiversity, air, soil and water quality. This would indirectly benefit current and future generations of children and young people by improving their environment and supporting better health and welfare. In addition, building a sustainable food production sector for future generations while continuing to offer high-quality produce for consumption would result in improved health and wellbeing for children and young people.

Positive impacts on Article 27 adequate standard of living are also prominent across the Climate Change Plan, with some links to this Article included in the points above. Further impacts on Article 27 are noted below.

Within the Transport sector, attracting private investment in zero emission transport infrastructure and investing in critical workforce skills fosters a sustainable and inclusive economy. The aim to grow the public electric vehicle charging network through public/private partnerships supports innovation and job creation, potentially supporting future job opportunities.

Within the waste sector, measures influencing accessibility to affordable and high quality goods and services may also have a positive impact for families with children, through normalising second-hand and reused goods across society. These policies, alongside measures to help households reduce food waste, have the potential to save families money. Measures to embed circular construction practices have the potential to help ensure an adequate standard of living necessary for a child’s development.

Within the Energy Supply sector, a shift from costly fossil fuel electricity generation to cheaper renewable generation could result in lower electricity prices, reducing the number of children living in fuel poverty. In addition, further investment in renewable energy including onshore windfarms, may bring improvements to recreational site and cycling and walking tracks nearby, benefitting communities and children.

In the Business and the Industrial sector, the use of carbon pricing to incentivise emissions reductions through the UK emissions trading scheme will help support a more sustainable, green and prosperous future for children and young people and the development of new technologies will offer long-term employment opportunities to future workforces. The use of carbon pricing to incentivise emissions reductions through the UK Emissions Trading Scheme may change industrial costs, impacting energy prices and industrial products which may affect household budgets. The development of lower carbon products may also affect household budgets as prices could vary – potentially increasing in the short term before decreasing in the long term.

Positive impacts on Article 29 (goals of education) may also be seen. Within the Agriculture sector, accessing the knowledge and guidance currently available as well as seeing current on-farm implementation of low carbon practices may positively benefit children and young people. Within the Waste sector, there may be opportunities to support a greater uptake of green skills, training, and development opportunities, ensuring circular economy concepts are embedded across the whole education and skills landscape, and reinforced with tangible examples of sustainable resource behaviours in society. The Deposit Return Scheme will serve as a valuable educational tool, teaching children about recycling, environmental stewardship, and sustainability. Early exposure to these concepts cultivates a lifelong sense of responsibility toward the environment.

In addition, the creation of a Children’s version of the draft Climate Change Plan contributes to meeting the requirements under the following articles:

• Article 2 (non-discrimination), and
• Article 42 (knowledge of rights).