Just Transition

Scottish Government Key Messages

The Scottish Government is committed to achieving net zero in a way that distributes costs and benefits fairly and tackles inequality and injustice. A just transition is both the outcome — a fairer, greener future for all — and the process undertaken in partnership with those impacted by the transition to net zero.

This builds on the Scottish Government’s legally binding commitment to a Just Transition, as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, with a focus on people and equity.

The commitment to net zero is intended to support economic growth. A key priority within the Programme for Government 2025–2026 is tackling the climate emergency through transformational action that contributes to a just transition. This includes setting out a route map to reduce emissions, grow the green economy, create jobs, and provide opportunities for businesses, while supporting households and communities.

To facilitate a just transition to a green economy, the Scottish Government:

  • Established the first Just Transition Commission to provide independent scrutiny and advice on embedding justice at the heart of climate action in Scotland. Its recommendations continue to inform policy and shape the vision of a fairer, greener future.
  • Supports projects and communities across the North East and Moray through the Just Transition Fund, helping to create jobs, drive innovation, and secure a skilled workforce. As of September 2025, £75 million has been allocated, with a further £8.5 million of capital funding committed in 2025 to support jobs, skills and economic opportunities.
  • Provided £3.7 million to support the development of the industry-led Energy Skills Passport, launched in pilot form in January 2025. The Passport helps oil and gas workers identify transferable skills and training needs for roles in offshore wind.
  • Consulted on the draft Just Transition Plan for Transport, aiming to establish a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities in delivering a fair transition to a net zero transport system.
  • Published a consultation on the draft Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan (August 2025), setting out how Scotland’s net zero ambitions can be achieved fairly for those working in and with land-based industries.
  • Announced a £25 million Just Transition Fund for Grangemouth in February 2025, bringing total committed or invested funding in Grangemouth to £87 million, alongside publication of the Grangemouth Just Transition Plan in June 2025.
  • Is working to embed just transition principles within the new Climate Change Plan, including a measurement and evaluation framework to track progress on delivering a just transition.

Statutory Provisions

Section 24 of the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 substitutes a new section 35 on the national Climate Change Plan in the 2009 Act. Section 35(20) sets out that, with reference to the just transition principles of section 35C, the Climate Change Plan must explain expected effects on sectors of the economy and regions, including employment, and set out policies that support the workforce, employers and communities.

Section 35C “just transition principles” are the importance of taking action to reduce emissions in a way which:

(a) supports environmentally and socially sustainable jobs,

(b) supports low-carbon investment and infrastructure,

(c) develops and maintains social consensus through engagement with workers, trade unions, communities, non-governmental organisations, representatives of the interests of business and industry and such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate,

(d) creates decent, fair and high-value work in a way which does not negatively affect the current workforce and overall economy,

(e) contributes to resource efficient and sustainable economic approaches which help to address inequality and poverty.