Scotland’s Climate Change Plan 2026-2024 (CCP) sets out policies and proposals the Scottish Government will take forward to ensure carbon budgets are met between in the next 14 years. The people of Perth and Kinross were given an opportunity to respond to the draft proposals and Bylines Scotland was present to explore the issues and listen to some of the suggestions from the Pitlochry community.
What is Scotland’s Climate Change Plan?
Scotland’s draft CCP aims to cut emissions and accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy, with a focus on a ‘just transition’ for communities and workers. It outlines proposals to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and emphasises the need for a collaborative effort between public services, businesses and community organisations to succeed.
Key actions and goals in the plan
The CCP includes over 150 policies and proposals targeting various sectors including housing, transport, energy, land use, and the circular economy. It aims to deliver tangible benefits such as warmer homes, cleaner air and new green job opportunities. A central theme of the CCP is ensures that the transition to a net zero economy is fair and equitable. This includes support for communities and workers who maybe affected by changes to the economy and infrastructure. The Scottish Government invited communities, organisations and individuals to respond to the CCP in an effort to build consensus around Climate Change actions for a fairer, greener and more sustainable economy.
The Climate Connect response
The CCP was open for public consultation until 29 January 2026 and Climate Connect Perth and Kinross immediately connected and collaborated with communities across the region to enable people to share their feedback and Climate Connect hosted a total of 10 popup community events across Perth and Kinross. The sessions were open and informal to make them accessible to all and a total of 664 contributions for the Climate Change Plan were received during these events and follow ups, with more submitted directly by individuals and groups.
Your Bylines Scotland correspondent attended the event in Pitlochry Town Hall and examples of responses voiced at that event are shown below. A variety of responses and differing priorities may have been expressed at other locations throughout the consultation period.
Agriculture: ‘Extreme weather is causing a serious threat to our food security – flooded fields and long droughts – reducing our impacts needs to start now.’
Buildings: ‘In the move towards net zero there needs to be more help from EST and Home Energy Scotland. The application process for grants and loans, etc., is unnecessarily difficult and long winded. The communication from both bodies is extremely poor, in my case non-existent despite many emails and messages for information. The Scottish Government needs to make the process of utilising both bodies far more efficient.’
Energy: “There should be more government funding towards heat source pumps and solar panels. This would help reduce emissions.”
Health: “Improve the regulations on woodburning stoves. Currently very polluting.”
Energy security: “Scottish government to offer 100% grants for batteries to all homes. To reduce electricity bills… reduce carbon footprints… make best use of renewables.”
The full list of responses from Pitlochy and other locations can be accessed here.
The consultation process was well received throughout Perth and Kinross with one participant commenting,
“Hopefully, community events like this will help to address climate concerns.”
A final word on the process
Climate Connect state in the conclusion to their response to the process:
Despite challenges of short notice, the consultation running over the festive season and difficulties with extreme weather – the response to this programme of events and this engagement was positive, broad and diverse. There has been strong and consistent feedback from participants and local representatives that people liked the format and the accessibility of these events, the opportunity to be heard and to be included in this process to inform the Climate Change Plan. It is clear that there is an appetite for much more engagement and potential for communities to support development and delivery of the Plan, and add to the ideas and contributions shared, is huge.
The Scottish Government should be commended for enabling consultation on its Climate Change Plan and Bylines Scotland applauds the effort of the Climate Café who organised a tremendous community response in Perth and Kinross. This surely will become a template for future community consultations throughout Scotland and beyond. Climate change and our response to it, will endure beyond the next General Election in May 2026, and Bylines Scotland will bring you the latest ideas on climate and the environment and much more from all those parties standing.
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