Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (Scottish Carbon Budgets) Amendment Regulations 2025: statement

Transport (Including International Aviation and Shipping)

Transport remains one of the largest emitting sectors in Scotland, accounting for nearly a third of net Scottish emissions in 2023, but equally there are substantial opportunities to support decarbonisation of the sector through the next CCP. Our National Transport Strategy continues to be the foundation on which we build our vision for the future of Scotland’s transport system. Our vision is that, by 2040:

“We will have a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, business and visitors”

Proposals and policies within the next CCP will set out how our transport system will promote travel choices that minimise the long-term impacts on our climate and improve the lives of current and future generations by reducing inequalities and improving health. These proposals and policies will build on successes from the last Climate Change Plan update, including the growth of the public electric vehicle (“EV”) charging network, the roll out of free bus travel to under 22s and the removal of peak time fares on Scotrail services.

Most substantively, the next CCP will set out proposals and policies to support the transition from petrol and diesel vehicles to sustainable fuels and zero emission vehicles. For cars and light goods vehicles this will mean encouraging take up of battery-electric vehicles, supported by the expansion of the public charging network in Scotland and support the outcome of the Zero Emission Vehicle (“ZEV”) mandate.

Whilst EVs will account for a large majority of emissions reductions required from car use, these savings cannot be achieved without continued investment in public EV charging and, in the absence of a UK-wide approach to supporting EV adoption, support for Scottish consumers, particularly those on lower incomes, to transition to EVs. The savings from EVs are also not sufficient to meet our net zero target and reducing car use can support further emissions reduction and provide wider benefits. The next CCP will therefore also include our shared policy to reduce car use, building on the joint publication with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (“COSLA”) of our policy statement on achieving car use reduction in Scotland.

The next CCP will also set out proposals and policies for further investment in active travel and public transport infrastructure schemes which can support a mode shift from car use. Our investment in walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, and projects to provide people with the appropriate skills, knowledge and confidence will build on the success of recent years, enabling more people to choose walking, wheeling or cycling for short everyday journeys rather than the car. Our investment in bus infrastructure and improved links into rail stations will make it more appealing for people to access the public transport network for longer journeys.

Additionally, the next CCP will include proposals and policies for the decarbonisation of heavy-duty vehicles, particularly trucks, including measures to encourage the adoption of zero emission vehicles and the development of the energy and charging infrastructure to support their use. We will continue to encourage rail freight growth with regulatory targets, as a more efficient means of transport than road freight, supported by increasing electric traction on the railways.

The upcoming CCP will also set out the Scottish Government’s proposals and policies to support action to make aviation and shipping as low emission as possible. For shipping, this includes working with the UK Government to support proposals at the International Maritime Organisation to significantly lower shipping carbon emissions in the global sector.

For Aviation the next CCP will include proposals and policies that continue engagement with stakeholders to ensure that the various aviation decarbonisation strategies, including our Aviation Statement, are working effectively together to decarbonise air travel. This will include supporting the sector to develop plans for increased availability and uptake of sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”), alongside the development of low and zero emission aircraft and improving the operational efficiencies of existing aircraft