Scotland's Climate Change Plan 2026-2040: children's version

Scotland’s Climate Change Plan 2026 – 2040

Welcome to the Scottish Government’s children’s and young people’s guide to the Climate Change Plan, which is also called the CCP.

The CCP is a 15-year plan, covering 2026 to 2040 and it is made to help Scotland reduce the effects of climate change. Scotland has a target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. That means we must find a balance between the harmful greenhouse gas emissions that are released in the air and those we remove from it. For example, we can remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere by planting more trees that absorb greenhouse gases as well as reducing the emissions we create in our everyday activities. The goal is to ensure that we do our bit, so our planet remains at a comfortable temperature so that all living things, from human beings, plants, to animals, can survive.

You can find page numbers at the top right corner of each page (this is page 1). Page 2 will continue with a few more instructions.

Page 3 explains what climate change is and why we need to reduce the effects of this. Page 5 explains the key actions in this plan.

Pages 6 to 12 explain the 7 different sectors that will take forward the action to reduce the effects of climate change.

• Buildings (Residential and Public) (Page 6)
• Transport (Page 7)
• Waste (Page 8)
• Energy Supply (Page 9)
• Business and Industrial Process (Page 10)
• Agriculture (Page 11)
• Land use, land use change and forestry (Page 12)

Lots of different people, groups and organisations from across Scotland will be working together to carry out the changes in the plan. For instance, our scientists and researchers will give us the information we need to make good choices. Page 14 gives ideas of things you can do to play a part in reducing the effects of climate change.

Some tricky words are in this document. You can find explanations of these words on Page 15,16 and 17.

Why is it important to know about CCP?

• The CCP is the way Scotland can minimise the damage of climate change in Scotland.
• Climate change impacts on everyone in Scotland, including children and future generations.

Every child in Scotland has rights:

• Rights are the promises that the Scottish Government has made so that children can have a good life.
• The harmful effects of climate change may make it harder for children to use these rights.
• This plan will help make sure children can continue to use rights, whatever the weather.

What is Climate Change?

What is weather?

Weather is the way the air outside feels and can include sunshine, rain, snow, wind, and storms.

What is climate?

While weather lasts for a few days, the word “climate” is used to describe weather in an area over a long time. For example, Scotland would most probably be described as having a cool, wet climate, but Australia would be described as having a hot, dry climate.