Young People and the Future of Scotland: participatory horizon scanning engagement

Part 2: Emerging Insights and Directions

This part of the report synthesises the emerging insights and directions generated during the engagement. It seeks to reflect the perspectives shared by young people on Scotland’s future in 2040, while acknowledging that the findings stem from a small group of fifteen young people aged 14-19.

The insights presented here are structured around five key themes, which were derived from the trend cards and conversations that unfolded during the workshop:

• Climate and Environment;
• Economy and Jobs;
• Politics and Governance;
• Society and Community; and
• Health and Habits

Technology and inequalities were cross-cutting elements integrated across all of these five themes. These five themes are interconnected and capture key elements of young people’s perceptions of the future, reflecting their hopes, concerns and expectations for Scotland. While the workshop provided rich qualitative data, it was a small group and the insights gathered should be understood as ‘early signals’ (indications of potential directions) rather than representative findings. The themes in this section will be further examined through:

• Key directions – synthesis of the overall viewpoints of young people, based on emerging insights from the group of workshop participants. These recognise areas for further exploration and are, broadly, not expressed in participants’ own direct words.
• Key perceptions – recurring narratives expressed by the workshop participants about Scotland’s future, offering insight into their expectations, hopes and concerns.
• Key questions and concerns – areas of uncertainty or unresolved debate identified during discussions. While there was broad alignment among participants, these questions highlight areas where perspectives may evolve or where further exploration could uncover more nuance.
• Interconnections – how different trends and themes overlapped in participants' discussions, revealing cross-cutting themes and broader patterns in their thinking about the future.

Theme 1: Climate and Environment

Key directions

Young people in Scotland strongly want a Scotland that is sustainable and committed to achieving net zero. They envision a future where the root causes of climate change are tackled, not just its symptoms. Among all themes discussed, this was where we observed the strongest alignment between participants, suggesting that climate action is a central and largely uncontested priority within this group.

Key perceptions:

• Of all potential trends, young people felt most positively about a ‘green jobs revolution’ and ‘Scotland as a green leader’ which participants all categorised as ‘exciting’. These connected to Scotland adjusting to be more sustainable, and to the sense of opportunity to transform Scottish society and make climate a key element of how Scotland leads internationally. Some young people also supported new behavioural patterns, suggesting that repairing objects and possessions should become the norm in society rather than a small, local scale activity as it is now.
• Rather than one-off, small changes, young people expressed strong support for systemic changes – such as rethinking transport, sustainable housing and construction and energy investments – to secure a more sustainable future. One participant said they wanted us to stop dealing with climate change at the surface and fix the root causes; this seemed to be a wish that climate adaptation is a core focus for government action, even when short-term needs for mitigation arise.
• No participants expressed scepticism or criticism of whether climate change or climate science can be trusted, believed or considered real.

Key questions and concerns:

• Young people’s feelings on this theme often involve urgency and concern. When discussing a future scenario involving disastrous climate consequences for Scotland in 2040 – a ‘climate reckoning’ – they felt that, as one participant said “this already feels real” and is dangerously close to fully becoming reality if the current trajectory isn’t changed. They feared that without immediate, systemic actions, the negative impacts of climate change will become inevitable, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities.
• Young people had negative reactions and sadness at the prospect in the ‘climate reckoning’ future state where specific regions, such as the Western Isles and the Highlands, may be disproportionately affected by climate disasters and the future of their communities and cultures may be threatened because of a failure to act soon enough and decisively.
• One young person expressed that they “would take the dog on a walk in the woods in a rural area when they were younger… Those woods are now gone.”
• However, overall, there was hopeful determination – there is cautious excitement about the potential of transformative, green policies, but this is coupled with frustration over inaction and a clear demand for decisive, holistic strategies that combine action towards environmental sustainability with other issues, including social and economic equality and justice.

Interconnections:

Discussions around climate and the environment were closely linked to economic fairness and areas such as housing and transport. For instance, calls for a wealth tax and fairer economic distribution were often framed alongside climate action and suggestions for a corporate tax based on carbon emissions. Young people had concerned and negative reactions to the idea that only some people in Scotland may be able to afford or benefit from certain climate policies or disaster protections in urban areas. This may signal a belief or hope that a greener Scotland could also create a more equal society.

Theme 2: Economy and Jobs

Key directions

A fairer economy and job market is a major concern for young people in Scotland, with strong support for affordable living, a fair tax system and wealth redistribution. Young people also have a high level of awareness that technological disruptions – particularly AI – will reshape the job market, and experience uncertainty and concern over what this means for their future opportunities.

Key perceptions:

• Young people expressed significant concern that the economy is increasingly unequal. Many mentioned support for reforms such as a “huge wealth tax” and fairer taxation in general. They see economic reform as essential to support a sustainable future where wealth is more evenly distributed, and no community is left behind.
• Young people were also concerned over the cost of living and housing (un)affordability, and wanted immediate action as these are already significant challenges in the present, not only the future. For example, some expressed they believe more housing needs to be made available and suggested some ways to do this. For example, repurposing unused buildings to avoid damaging the environment by building new homes, and also addressing the purchasing of holiday homes in rural areas which reduces housing availability and drives up prices.
• On jobs and AI in the workplace, young people recognise that while AI is likely to disrupt the job market – potentially leading to job losses in sectors that do not rely on human interaction – they also see opportunities for reskilling and creating roles based on uniquely human skills like empathy, creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking. Some expressed that, “AI should assist workers, not replace them”, suggesting they want technological developments and opportunities to support workers rather than worsen economic disparities. One group of young people likened society’s adjustment to AI to the Industrial Revolution. They acknowledged that some people may lose their jobs and have to retrain, and they were concerned about the risk that safeguards around technology development are not sufficient for how technology will develop in the future.
• However, in connection with the theme Climate and Environment, young people were excited by the prospect of new green jobs and supported the idea of supportive measures to help people to gain the skills for these – from green apprenticeships to lifelong learning.

Key questions and concerns:

• Young people are very concerned about the current situation and future of the economy, cost of living and affordable housing. Some expressed strongly that they see good quality, affordable housing as a right, but were unsure about how to balance the need to build more housing with environmental concerns, like disappearing wildlife.
• No young people expressed explicitly positive or hopeful feelings on the trajectory of the future of the economy and cost of living topics. However, when discussing larger changes in society and stepping far from the mindset of the current day, a sense of possibility was expressed.
• On the topic of AI, including how it links to the future of work and skills, young people are strongly concerned. They were aware AI will cause significant changes and disruptions to how humans work and the skills they need, but they were uncertain whether we will anticipate and mitigate the negative effects of these and take this as an opportunity to find new roles for humans. A strong concern remained that existing inequalities could be worsened. At the same time, young people recognised the potential opportunities for reskilling and reimagining work for humans. It was unclear how their feelings towards AI might change if they felt new technologies and their impacts would be managed well.
• Many views on this topic revealed a broader underlying concern that without interconnected policy approaches, technological advancements could deepen existing inequalities and leave vulnerable sectors and people at a disadvantage.
• Of all themes, arguably young people found Economy and Jobs hardest to detach themselves from the challenges of the present day in order to consider a variety of possibilities for the future. For example, discussion focused heavily on reacting to current economic, housing and employment challenges and uncertainty over the direction of technology and AI development, rather than discussing the possibilities or preferences for what a positive vision of the economy or work would look like in their eyes. Given the recognition of the significance of child poverty and economic challenges, and this being a key priority of the Scottish Government,^[6] a focus on present day challenges is understandable especially in a short engagement time.

Interconnections:

Economic and environmental priorities were often interwoven, suggesting that economic justice is seen as essential for funding a sustainable transition for all, including those affected by rapid change and sectoral disruptions. Concerns about the cost of living also tie into broader debates on the nature of public services and community health and well‐being.

Theme 3: Politics and Governance

Key directions

Overall, young people want increased openness and diverse contributions to decision-making, including increasing their voice and ensuring minorities are represented. They strongly emphasised the need for political education to help people engage in discussions about society in an informed and respectful manner, and to develop the critical thinking skills to navigate misinformation and disinformation online. A key wish is that young people will be listened to by decision makers and see this translate to action which would help to rebuild trust in institutions. In general, they also wanted greater support to key public services and were willing to pay more for this.

Key perceptions:

• Young people strongly believed that political education is fundamental to a functioning democracy. Transparency from political leaders and increased political education were seen as key to increasing trust in government and decision making. As one participant said, “political education doesn’t just teach about government – it helps people think critically”. They believe that embedding political literacy into the school curriculum is key to empowering young people to participate meaningfully in societal questions. Young people felt ‘political education and literacy’ would help to build a greater understanding of how politics and decision making works, and of why we should sustain and pay for public services via taxes. This would help to ensure people’s votes are informed and they are equipped to think critically when encountering misinformation and disinformation.
• There was also a strong feeling that young people should be heard more by politicians and decision makers. Participants repeatedly expressed (and ‘seconded’) that “we deserve to be heard”, and urged, “don’t just listen, actually care and act on our views”. Although they were sometimes frustrated at feeling unheard, they expressed hope that their participation in the workshop was meaningful and believed the Scottish Government valued their views.
• Young people felt more agency over influencing the future of Scotland than the world as a whole (see Figure 1 above). Furthermore, some expressed uncertainty and worry over how global events, geopolitics and war and economic dynamics could change Scotland, were anxious over how Scotland could maintain its identity and were unsure if Scotland could influence global changes.
• The potential for a positive future for public services was perceived with great scepticism yet also strong passion: they greatly wished for it but didn’t seem to believe current actions would lead to better services. Young people expressed the wish to change the current lack of funding and support for services such as the NHS; this was one of the strongest areas of consensus across the group. Looking towards the future, young people in general wanted to see substantial reforms and support for public services. Some expressed that they would be willing to pay more to support, save, and fund a robust public service infrastructure as long as it functioned well. One participant said, “We might need to pay more to keep the NHS running, but it’s necessary”, and another remarked that they were pleased health was a key focus expressed by the group. Some expressed that health, education and transport were the most important public services to them, with health being the highest priority.

Key Questions and Concerns:

• Concerns about polarisation and the spread of misinformation, disinformation and fake news were present. Young people saw this as being made worse by digital media and believed there needed to be more support to equip people to identify it. However, they didn’t specify what support would help and highlighted that there are also reliable sources on social media. Some also saw regulating ‘big tech companies’ to hold them accountable as a way to tackle this issue.
• There was strong concern that without radical change to public service support and funding, essential services such as healthcare will continue to suffer, which would have real world impact on people’s lives. The prospect of a future without free education and healthcare was seen very negatively.

Interconnections:

Young people see the challenges in Politics and Governance as highly connected to other societal issues. Their call for improved political education and greater youth engagement linked to both misinformation and disinformation online, as well as the need to increase trust in public institutions. Economic matters and funding were also key to their perceptions of the potential futures of public services. Public services for health and education were also linked closely to mental health and wellbeing, and inclusion.

Theme 4: Society and Community

Key directions

Society and Community refers to key changing dynamics such as urban-rural differences, changing norms and gender relations, changing population and migration, the evolution of values and ethics in a changing world, the future of education and digital divides and inequalities. In general, young people have a multifaceted perspective on society. This reflects hopes for a future which is more inclusive and equal and embraces diversity alongside awareness of the challenges to ensuring equality across groups, and mixed views on the role of technology in society and individuals’ lives.

Key perceptions:

• Participants in general felt positive about progress on gender equality, with some noting a reduction in strict gender roles and a greater acceptance of diverse gender identities. But this was also viewed with caution. One group remarked that progress seems to be “one step forward, two steps back” because of polarisation on the issue. They said attempts to be inclusive can sometimes lead to a lack of inclusivity; they didn’t specify further but this potentially could refer to positive discrimination. Some also expressed there is still work to be done to remove stigmas, including for men in roles traditionally seen as for women.
• Many felt that digital life and the internet shapes almost every aspect of their lives, but it is also a mixed trend. Although it offered them opportunities to be connected and socialise, there was concern over other aspects such as weakening real-life connections and increasing isolation. Some young people talked about negative challenges such as cyberbullying, digital anonymity increasing extreme behaviour and decreasing empathy, while others mentioned radicalisation and influencers. One remarked that, “being online feels like a cover”. Some noted that even if they didn’t feel negatively affected by online life, they could see the effects on friends and family.
• When asked directly and individually on what kind of future they would like to see in Scotland in 2040, one young person stated, “I would like to see a Scotland free from discrimination”, and another said, “more compassion”, though these points were not explained in detail.
• There was a strong wish for education to evolve in the future. Views included the need for “better education” and that it is currently “disconnected from mental health and real-life skills”. This connects to strong support for better political education, and skills to combat misinformation and disinformation. In general, young people questioned whether current education would prepare them adequately for future challenges. Some expressed they want education in the future to be more flexible towards additional support needs, be more accessible and prioritise wellbeing. This includes enabling better connections to mental health charities for support, and decreasing pressure on students via aspects like a better balance between coursework than exams. They didn’t specify any further skills needs other than related to political education.
• Migration was generally viewed as a potential strength for Scotland, capable of enriching cultural diversity and awareness, and strengthening Scotland’s reputation and reality as a multicultural society. However, some young people were aware of the challenges of managing population changes, including how this may increase pressure on already fragile public services. Nevertheless, this was expressed as a reason to support public services, not as a reason to reduce migration.

Key questions and concerns:

• Young people are particularly concerned about the spread of fake news, expressing that it is prevalent and they see that social media plays a role in shaping opinion. This was a key reason for their support for political education. Some young people preferred local news and independent news sources – by their definition, sources that are apolitical and based on facts – as they saw them as more trustworthy.
• Multiple participants were worried or sad about the effects of potential changes on local and regional identity. For example, some worried that increasing negative climate effects in the Western Isles may have negative cultural effects if people are displaced or choose to move elsewhere.

Interconnections:

Young people see society and community as evolving as a result of interconnected challenges. They saw strong connections between urban and rural development, digital divides and injustice. To them, education was also closely connected to mental health and wellbeing, counteracting misinformation and disinformation and the future of work and skills. The topic of communities was connected to current and future changes in climate more than other potential topics such as migration, signalling that further exploration could reveal more perspectives and interconnections.

Theme 5: Health and Habits

Key directions

Young people are concerned about both current and future well‐being, and are aware of the impact of digital life on everyday health and social connections. They often discussed questions around how society cares for its vulnerable members, including on the topic of health – with many calling for greater mental health support across areas of life – such as education – and increased funding in health services.

Key perceptions:

• One of the most supported priorities expressed was for properly-funded health services, such as the NHS. This investment was seen as necessary to other priorities such as “better support for youth’s mental health” including some highlighting concern over long waiting lists for young people’s mental health services. In discussion, this worry sometimes broadened to wider challenges like ensuring individuals feel supported by society.
• In addition to the perceptions on digital life and connection described in ‘Theme 4: Society and Community’, some young people noted that the negative physical health effects linked with online life – such as a lack of sleep – are less visible and therefore more acceptable or hard to counteract. They also often linked digital life with mental health, often suggesting increased digital life is causing a decrease in real-life connections or social abilities, which can lead to isolation and poorer mental health for some.

Key questions and concerns:

• Some young people were uncertain over newly emerging health habits, such as increases in vaping. Some noted “many young people have tried vaping at least once” and were uncertain or concerned about the long‐term effects. They wished young people had a greater voice in the conversation around the issue. Some said vaping can then lead to smoking cigarettes, and that they are concerned over the environmental impact of disposable vapes and that marketing often targets young people.
• Young people were concerned over increasing mental health issues and key focuses were how poor mental health and loneliness connect, including where ‘online’ life is replacing real-life connections. Besides suggesting increased funding for mental health services, the only other suggested action was to build greater connections between schools and mental health charities which can provide support.
• Some also disliked the stigma surrounding illegal drug use and felt there should be a shift to supporting and looking after people, rather than blaming them; this suggests a primary perception of illegal drug use as a public health issue, rather than a criminal matter. One group suggested young people need more education on drugs as they don’t all realise casual use can lead to addiction; they suggested targeting specific regions may help with education. For some, there was concern over spiking. Looking to the future, some young people were concerned about essential legal medicine supplies, including potential climate-caused disruptions to medicine production and transport.
• Similar to discussions on the cost of living and affordable housing, young people arguably struggled to detach themselves from their feelings about the urgency of current challenges in order to be able to imagine radically different visions of how health, wellbeing and habits could look in 10-20 years. For example, their discussion focused on fixing current challenges – such as reducing long waiting lists or improving access to health services – rather than exploring ideas for more significant or fundamental changes to future health services, including their purpose and how they would be delivered or experienced by patients.

Interconnections:

Young people see Health and Habits as highly connected to other topics and trends. They often made connections between challenges in physical and mental health, public health and care services, and new challenges from digital life, such as hidden impacts on sleep. When discussing how they imagine these topics would be improved in the future, education and public services were often seen as key routes. For example, improving education on politics and health to help people make better choices on- and offline, and providing stronger support systems for people with different needs and challenges including via more compassionate education and health services. Often, they noted that many aspects of supporting communities and wellbeing depended heavily on reliable, high-quality, sustainable public services.

Young people's priority areas for policy action

The previous sections detailed young people’s perceptions, views and feelings on the future of Scotland in 2040 across key themes and specific trends, viewed through the lens of five major themes which emerged from young people’s discussions about the future. However, it is important to understand young people’s highest priorities for the future. Below is a synthesis of the priorities that the young people expressed during the engagement. This was generated from young people’s direct expressions of priorities during a dedicated activity, alongside key priorities which emerged in the analysis either because of the strength with which they were mentioned, or because they were mentioned repeatedly.

Priorities for future-oriented policy actions voiced by young people

The priorities and suggested actions that are outlined here are expressed in young people’s own words as far as possible, using verbal and written quotes from the workshop.

• Climate and Environment All groups agreed climate change was a top priority, but they framed the solution differently: some emphasised big system changes, whereas others focused on specific policies like transport and energy investment. Suggested actions include:
  • “Stop dealing with climate change at the surface and fix the root causes.” As one participant said, “We shouldn’t just react to disasters. We need to prevent them”.
  • Specific suggestions such as more sustainable transport and more focus on increasing renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. Some participants wanted Scotland to aim for net zero by 2030.
• Economy and Jobs Young people’s biggest economic priorities for the future are ensuring an affordable cost of living and sustainable jobs. Suggested actions include:
  • Tackling a high cost of living and ensuring affordable housing – “No one can afford to live anywhere.”
  • Increased investment in sustainable, green jobs.
  • Some suggested a fairer tax system that considers income differences, and less AI in workplaces, suggesting a concern over AI’s role in human job security.
• Politics and Governance Overall, political education was the most common priority, suggesting young people see knowledge and awareness as key to improving the quality and diversity of democratic participation. Suggested actions include:
  • Making political education part of the core school curriculum – “Political education doesn’t just teach about government, it helps people think critically.”
  • Increasing trust and transparency in politics – “If we don’t understand what politicians are doing, how can we trust them?”
  • Some also suggested specific policies such as lowering the voting age, making voting compulsory and ensuring people representing all protected characteristics are meaningfully engaged in political discussions.
• Society and Community Online life was a key theme, including the opportunities and challenges it brings. Tackling misinformation and disinformation was a repeated priority, suggesting young people see this as a major issue. Suggested actions include:
  • Tackle misinformation and disinformation through education on politics – including how decisions are made and the purpose and value of public services – and critical thinking. One said, “We need to learn how to spot misinformation and critically think.”
  • Some suggested more inclusive education that better supports mental health, as well as more community spaces for young people that are free to access, suggesting they see a lack of community spaces as linked to social isolation.
• Health and Habits All groups prioritised stronger healthcare investment. Mental health awareness was a repeated theme, but was framed in different ways – some focused on stigma and awareness, while others linked it to social media and substance use. Suggested actions include:
  • Increased NHS funding was a unanimous suggestion and significantly one of the most popular suggestions – “We might need to pay more to keep the NHS running, but it’s necessary.”
  • Destigmatising mental illness and supporting mental health. Discussions suggested prioritising mental health through a better balance within education assessments (more coursework than exams) and providing better access to mental health services (increasing funding to public services and making stronger connections between schools and mental health support charities for young people).
  • Some also suggested stronger restrictions on nicotine and illegal drugs, as well as social media training and more awareness about body image issues. For vaping, some felt that although the issue is closely linked to young people their voices aren’t being heard in the debate.
• Ensuring young people’s voices are heard in decision making All young people were asked what they would like to communicate to decision makers in relation to the future. An overwhelming number said that they wanted to be heard, and for their views to lead to action. Here is a selection of their statements:
  • “Listen to us”, “Please listen to what we have to say”, “Listen to us because we deserve to be heard”, “Don’t just listen, actually care and act on our views”.
  • “I feel younger generations are often overlooked or assumptions are made about their opinions.”
  • “Young people’s futures need protecting.”
  • “Be ambitious, the future isn’t always going to be guaranteed so putting things off for 10 to 20 years at a time just isn’t feasible.”
  • “We are not just the future, we are the present, but the policies you create now won’t just influence the present but set precedent for the future.”
  • “Please take the views of young people seriously as we will be the leaders in the future – we look forward to creating a better world where we can challenge inequalities and have a better, eco-friendly future.”

Priorities for future-oriented actions based on analysis

In addition to the priorities voiced by young people themselves, analysis of their perceptions and the priorities they expressed brings further insight. In terms of priority areas, climate action; political education to help people understand and trust democracy; the cost of living; and ensuring sufficient health service funding were the main priorities for young people, both in terms of how often they were mentioned and the strength in how they were expressed. There were no opposing priorities or suggested actions, but groups did focus on different aspects. Overall, most priorities were structural and did not represent small changes, suggesting that young people feel significant changes are essential.

Furthermore, both analysis and young people themselves emphasised the interconnected nature of different challenges and opportunities, with some young people suggesting that policy making and decision making need to reflect those interconnections better. Below is a summary of young people’s suggestions which emphasise these interconnections:

• Investing in comprehensive political and digital literacy programmes to counter misinformation and strengthen democratic engagement. Young people expressed that they wanted this to be at the core of the curriculum in Scotland.
• Implementing fair economic policies that support a green transition and protect vulnerable workers during periods of industrial and technological change.
• Increasing funding and innovation in public services to build resilient healthcare, education and community infrastructure.
• Supporting systemic social reforms that increase socio-economic equality and support the inclusion of different voices in discussions around society and decision making, recognising that cultural change underpins progress across all sectors.