Supporting Scotland's transition - land use and agriculture: consultation

Introduction

What is a just transition and how will it support people?

The Scottish Government defines a just transition as both the outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the process that must be undertaken in partnership with those impacted by the transition to net zero. Just transition is how we get to a net zero and climate resilient economy, in a way that delivers fairness and tackles inequality and injustice.

But what does this really mean?

Firstly, we see the outcome of a fairer, greener future for all as a future where:

• people, communities and local economies are flourishing
• we have the skills, knowledge and opportunity for fair, high value work
• the costs and benefits of climate change are fairly distributed
• the country has a strong and dynamic economy
• we live positively within our planetary boundaries and plan for our long-term resilience
• we all play our part to mitigate and adapt to climate change whilst protecting and restoring our natural environment and tackling wider issues such as fuel poverty, child poverty and wider human rights.

Secondly, the ‘process’ is the way in which we make this change. It means we must all seek to work together and push in the same direction, helping to make sure that people who are affected by change are involved and supported throughout, whilst addressing inequalities and minimising negative impacts.

For example, through the work of the Agriculture Reform Programme, Scotland is transitioning to a new government support system. This support system will be vital as we seek to help establish Scotland as a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. A just transition is at the heart of this work. The Programme continues to work closely with those within the sector and this process of engagement represents our commitment to work in partnership with those involved.

What a Just Transition is not

A just transition is not a ‘magic wand’. It does not allow us to achieve our goals whilst continuing to live our lives the way we do now. Neither is it a reason for inaction. Things will have to change, and difficult choices will have to be made. A just transition will help us all to work together to try to ensure that any negative impacts are reduced to a minimum and that benefits are maximised as far as possible.

Why a Just Transition is important in Land Use and Agriculture

Land use and agriculture plays a vital role in our net zero, nature positive ambitions. Alongside other sectors, land use and agriculture emissions need to be reduced. In addition, the sector has a key role to play in taking more carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in our ‘natural carbon sink’, (for example, trees, peatland, and grassland). We also rely on our land and land managers to provide services such as:

• food production
• nature restoration
• energy generation and
• transmission infrastructure
• the provision of land and timber to build homes and communities
• access to places where people from both our urban and rural communities can go for exercise, recreation and to connect with our environment and history

The journey to Net Zero will be one of evolution and of integrating these differing demands. It won’t be easy; we cannot simply offshore our emissions to elsewhere in the world. We must ensure we take our nation’s food security into consideration, and we need an approach that allows us to integrate the various demands on land use to ensure the fine balance needed for success. The embedding of a just transition is essential to empower, support and enable the people who live and work on our land.

Costs and benefits

The transition will create costs. Some of these are unavoidable, for example the investment required for new equipment and new infrastructure. The challenge is to ensure that such costs are met in a way that is fair and just.

The Scottish Government is committed to an approach that recognises the inequities that people already face in the land use and agriculture sectors and our wider rural and island communities. We understand that many within these groups will often have fewer options available to them.

The transition will also bring benefits. There will be opportunities to address inequities, and build a more accessible, inclusive and fairer land use and agricultural sector. One that continues to provide the services we need, whilst helping to improve people’s health and wellbeing, enhancing the places where we live and bringing jobs, trade and growth for Scotland.

The important role of land and agriculture in Scotland

Statistical Context

Here we provide some statistics that highlight the importance of land use and agriculture in Scotland and some of the issues faced by the people who live and work in our rural and island communities. If you would like to find out more, the source of these statistics and additional information is available in section 1 of the Technical Supporting Document.

Link to Technical Supporting Document

Jobs, Skills and Economy

67,400

Total Agricultural workforce (2024)

34,100

People employed in the forestry sector (2019)

2,300

People employed in aquaculture production (2021)

£3.45bn

Total agricultural output (2020)

£1.1 bn

Economic contribution(gross value added) of forestry and related activities in 2019

£472m

Aquaculture economic contribution (gross value added) in 2021

£22,500

Average loss made by fams in 2023-2024 from agricultural activity

Average incomes of dairy, arable and mixed farms remain the highest across all farm types

29%

Of all modern apprenticeship starts were in mainly rural areas (2022/2023)

Environment and Adaption

19.5%

Of Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions stem from land use and agriculture (2022)

2 million

Hectares of peatland in Scotland, with approximately three quarters of these in degraded condition

24%

Decline in the average abundance of 352 terrestrial and freshwater species since 1994

1.5 million

Hectares of forest and woodland

66%

Land used for agriculture

15%

Decline in Scotland's natural capital since 1950

Communities and Place

17%

Scotland's population that live in rural areas (930,000)

47%

Fuel poverty rate of households in island areas - compared with 35% for rural households and 33% for urban areas

65%

Rural dwelling not covered by the gas grid (7% in urban areas)

17%

Of all second homes in Scotland are located on the islands

2.7%

Percentage of Scotland's land in community ownership (2022)

People and Equity

16 to 44 years

Compared to the rest of Scotland, rural areas have a lower proportion of people aged between 16 and 44

45+

Compare to the rest of Scotland, rural areas have a higher proportion of people aged 45 and over

35%

Of working occupiers in agriculture are female (65% male)

15% to 30%

Additional amount typically added to the minimum living costs of a household in remote rural Scotland when compared to urban areas of the UK

50%

Of Scotland's land is owned by just over 400 landowners (2014)

57%

Amount of rural land in Scotland owned by private estates

Sources for these statistics are located in our technical supporting document.