Scotland's Climate Change Plan – 2026-2040 - EQIA

5. Conclusions

This EqIA has provided an assessment of the potential equality impacts of the Climate Change Plan with reference to the PSED. It considered that four realms were highly relevant in terms of impact, namely Health; Living Standards; Work and Skills; and Transport. Key issues and evidence have been examined to assess the potential impact on people who share protected characteristics and the Scottish Government's practice which aligns with the PSED has been noted.

Key Findings:

• The policy package as a whole should have a mostly positively impact on equalities in Scotland. The rationale for climate change mitigation can be compared with the “do nothing” approach which could result in negative disproportionate impacts on equalities.
• The Plan’s aim to reduce carbon emissions is likely to have significant additional benefits for people with protected characteristics, particularly health benefits through improved active travel and cleaner air.
• While green jobs offer potential for higher wages and long-term sustainability, they are currently dominated by male workers, raising concerns about gender inclusivity and occupational segregation. Certain protected groups including women and disabled people may be disproportionately affected due to existing inequalities, for example, women remain underrepresented in key sectors of the green economy, and without targeted interventions, the transition could reinforce the gender pay gap.
• There is limited direct evidence on the specific impacts of climate change and policy impact on people with some protected characteristics.