Scotland’s climate change legislation sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. Public sector bodies play a key role in meeting this target and have statutory climate change duties under S44 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to: cut greenhouse gas emissions; prepare for the impacts of climate change; and act sustainably.
All public bodies listed in Schedule 1 of the ‘Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies; Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2015’ as amended by the Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020, are required to report annually on compliance with climate change duties.