The climate is changing. Global warming has unequivocally been caused by greenhouse gas emissions, with 100% of the observed long-term temperature change attributable to human causes. Evidence of climate change is visible around the world, including in Scotland. In 2022, Scotland recorded its highest ever temperature of nearly 35°C in the Scottish Borders, impacting health, ecosystems, and infrastructure. In 2023, prolonged rainfall followed by Storm Babet led to widespread flooding and several deaths, as well as substantial disruption to transport and power systems.
 

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (‘the Act’) sets the framework for the Scottish Government to address climate change. The Act has an ambitious target to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, with any residual emissions balanced by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is five years earlier than the rest of the UK due to the greater potential for carbon sequestration in Scotland.

In 2024, Scotland's interim emission targets for 2030 and 2040 were repealed as the progress required to meet the 2030 target was deemed to be beyond what was credible. The Act was amended to replace interim targets with carbon budgets. Carbon budgets are legally binding caps on greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland over five-year periods. Scottish Government's carbon budgets at annual average levels of emissions that are: 
57% lower than 1990 levels for the First Carbon Budget (2026 to 2030).
69% lower than 1990 levels for the Second Carbon Budget (2031 to 2035).
80% lower than 1990 levels for the Third Carbon Budget (2036 to 2040).
94% lower than 1990 levels for the Fourth Carbon Budget (2041 to 2045).

These carbon budgets are given as five-year average percentage reductions from 1990 levels. As of 2022, the latest year for which there is data, emissions were 50% below 1990 levels