SSN joined an evidence panel session of the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport (NZET) Committee on 8th October. The subject of the session was the ESS Improvement Report into the effectiveness of the systems in place to support local authorities in their duty to contribute to the delivery of climate change targets and the Scottish Government’s Improvement Plan.
Alongside SSN, the Committee also heard from Environmental Standards Scotland, COSLA and ECCI’s lead on the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service, Clare Wharmby.
The session can be watched online - with the session starting at 09.50.
The panel was followed by the Scottish Government’s evidence session led by Gillian Martin MSP, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy. The evidence session took views on how pragmatic the Scottish Government’s plan is, the challenges of addressing all Scope 3 emissions, how public bodies need to prioritise action where its most effective, and how we work together to build capacity to support good practice.
SSN highlighted that SSN local authority members were actively involved in both the ESS investigation and in informing the Scottish Government’s response. We emphasised that members are ambitious to do more and are keen to address Scope 3 emissions, but that the focus of monitoring and reporting needs to be both effective and efficient in informing action. SSN voiced its support for the Scottish Government’s Improvement Plan and the pragmatic and staged approach it proposes.
SSN looks forward to working with the Scottish Government and others to make headway on Scope 3 emissions reporting and action in the years ahead.