Scotland's Climate Change Plan 2026-2040: strategic environmental assessment

7. Monitoring

7.1.1 Section 19^[25] of the 2005 Act^[26] requires the Responsible Authority to monitor the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the Plan in a manner which allows for early identification and remediation of any unforeseen adverse effects.

7.1.2 The CCP contains an updated monitoring and evaluation framework to review of the progress against the policies collected within the CCP and the pathway the Plan is designed to achieve. The updated monitoring framework for the CCP is built around four complementary elements that, together, provide a comprehensive view of progress in delivering emissions reductions and supporting a just transition:

• Greenhouse gas inventory emissions statistics,
• Emissions-reduction indicators,
• Just transition indicators, and
• The policy tracker.

7.1.3 Scotland’s CCP will be monitored through annual reporting, ensuring short‑term transparency on progress. This annual cycle supports regular scrutiny and enables early identification of delivery risks by bringing all relevant evidence together in a single, coherent product. Delivery of each action in the CCP will contribute to reduction of emissions and many of the action will have wider significant positive effects on the environment such as improved air quality. Monitoring of progress towards key milestones and targets will therefore enable early identification of issues with delivery of positive environmental benefits and any unforeseen adverse effects.

7.1.4 As per the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, the Scottish Government has statutory duties to monitor and report on progress in achieving our net zero target by 2045. This is done through a number of reports which are published annually. Each of these are detailed in the succeeding paragraphs.

7.1.5 Under Section 35B Scottish Ministers must in each relevant year lay a report that contains an assessment of progress towards implementing the proposals and policies set out in the CCP. A relevant year does not include any year in which a CCP is laid before the Scottish Parliament. 

7.1.6 Under Section 34A Scottish Ministers must each year lay a report stating the percentage by which the net Scottish emissions account for the year is lower than the baseline and the information mentioned in section 34. Or alternatively, where the period is the final year covered by a Scottish carbon budget, under Sections 33 and 34 Scottish Ministers must lay a report stating whether the Scottish carbon budget target arising from that budget has been met along with other information.

7.1.7 In addition, under The Climate Change (Nitrogen Balance Sheet) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 Scottish Ministers must review and update the nitrogen balance sheet and lay a report in relation to nitrogen use efficiency. The effective and efficient use of nitrogen is important in environmental considerations. Losses of nitrogen to the environment, via air pollutants and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and leaching and run-off into water can have harmful effects on, for example, climate change, biodiversity, air quality and water quality The Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet provides a powerful new source of evidence to track how efficiently nitrogen is used in Scotland and help identify further opportunities to improve this.^[27]

7.1.8 Section 9 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009^[28] also requires Scottish Ministers to ask the Climate Change Committee to prepare a report setting out their view on progress towards achievement of emissions reduction targets. This would include whether the targets are likely to be achieved and any further effort necessary to achieve the targets. Scottish Ministers must also request the Climate Change Committee prepare a report, no later than the end of the second year following each carbon budget, setting out their views on whether the carbon budget emissions reduction target was met, the ways the target was or was not met and the action taken by Scottish Ministers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

7.1.9 The CCP is also the first of its kind to be underpinned by statutory just transition principles. Monitoring and evaluation of this Plan will not only assess the emissions reductions and other positive environmental effects delivered across each sector, but will also consider the extent to which it helps in delivering a just transition for individuals, communities and businesses in Scotland.

7.1.10 Delivery of CCP sector-based strategies, plans or policies outlined in the Plan will also be subject to SEA or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) where relevant and these assessments of individual strategies, plans or policies will provide a basis to assess significant environmental effects in advance of implementation. This will also enable identification of any unforeseen adverse effects.

7.1.11 The CCP will also monitor specific environmental impacts where these impacts are mostly likely. For example, in the Agriculture sector the Scottish Government will increase engagement with Farm Advisory Services on environmental issues and climate change. Similarly, one of the 4 themes on which the 13 proposed just transition indicators are centred focuses on Environment, Biodiversity and Adaptation. The monitoring under the framework will be complemented by the other assessments mentioned previously.

7.1.12 No significant adverse environmental effects were identified in the Environmental Report as a result of any of the actions in the Plan. No additional monitoring measures or measures to mitigate against potential adverse effects were proposed in the SEA (as per Section 4). Specific comments from consultation authorities will be considered during the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation framework.