The Scottish Government released its draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) on November 6, 2025. This plan outlines how Scotland aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions between 2026 and 2040, following established carbon budgets and principles for a Just Transition. The draft also includes monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans, detailed in Annex 3, which specify how progress will be tracked across various policy areas.
Dr. Kirsten Jenkins, a senior lecturer in Energy, Environment and Society at the University of Edinburgh, shares insights on the M&E requirements in this blog. As an advisor to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, she highlights both background and stakeholder perspectives on M&E’s importance for effectively implementing the government’s climate goals.
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 mandates annual progress reports on emissions and policy impacts, and the new draft builds on lessons learned from previous plans. The last full CCP came in 2018, which was updated in 2020. Since then, annual reports have provided insights into sector-specific emissions trends.
However, earlier plans have faced criticism regarding their M&E strategies. The Auditor General for Scotland noted a need for more consistent reporting and improvement in governance to ensure accountability. A collaboration between the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland emphasizes the need for robust monitoring to prevent potential policy failures.
Stakeholder feedback before the draft’s publication underscored the importance of transparent monitoring frameworks. Groups like the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh called for clear responsibilities and transparent data reporting to build public trust. Dr. Mark Winskel from the UK Energy Research Centre stressed that transparent reporting is essential for legitimacy in achieving Net Zero.
Moreover, various stakeholders noted the importance of adaptive approaches. As challenges and opportunities evolve, data collection should be agile. The Scottish Climate Intelligence Service advocates a real-time monitoring process, coupled with dynamic policy adjustments, reinforcing the idea that monitoring should extend beyond historical data trends to capture current progress effectively.
The proposal for the new CCP includes a three-part M&E framework: monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, developing early-warning indicators, and measuring Just Transition progress. This is especially significant as it marks the introduction of Just Transition indicators, which aim to ensure that climate action also fosters socially and economically sustainable jobs. The indicators address themes such as community well-being, equity, and environmental health.
Looking ahead, challenges remain. Questions persist about how stakeholder feedback will shape final policies, the feasibility of collecting accurate data, and the need to ensure transparent communication of M&E findings to the public. As the parliamentary scrutiny period unfolds, it’s clear that a well-structured M&E framework will be essential for effective implementation and adaptation of the climate goals set forth in the CCP.
The Scottish Government will have a limited window to incorporate feedback into the final CCP, necessitating clarity in timelines and responsibilities. The effectiveness of this approach will greatly impact Scotland’s ability to achieve its climate targets by 2045.
For more detailed insights, you can explore the draft Climate Change Plan documentation and ongoing discussions within the Scottish Parliament.
