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Net Zero Scotland

Scotland is taking action to tackle the climate emergency. The target is to reach net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045.

Scotland's climate change targets

Polycrub in Shetland

Net Zero Heroes

Meet just a few of the businesses and communities across the Highlands and Islands helping to create change.

Net Zero Heroes

marine energy

World firsts in renewable energy

Our region's role in global sustainable energy transition. 

 

Energy

Net Zero Scotland

Net Zero Heroes

World firsts in renewable energy

Working our way towards a Net Zero Scotland

Climate change is one of the greatest threats the world's population faces. We need to act now in both our personal and professional lives to ensure we are all working towards global net zero targets. 

As well as the benefits to our planet, starting a journey towards net zero can have a direct, positive impact on your business and community. Simple steps like improving energy efficiency, streamlining processes, and reducing waste can also improve your bottom line. You may open the door to new customers, investment, and to fresh talented employees who want to be involved with green enterprises.

Find the support you need to take steps to positive change in our Net Zero Action. See our Net Zero Heroes below for inspiration and to identify new opportunities you could also put into practice. We're on this journey together and we'll share our own, our businesses' and our communities' experiences along the way. 

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How can you start your own net zero journey?

One of the first things you can do is make a commitment to reach net zero. By registering you'll be able to access a wide range of information to help you. Pledge your support here:

UK - SME Climate Hub 

United Nations Global Compact - Business Ambition for 1.5°C (larger enterprises)

Plan your Journey

Having made that commitment, you might want to plan how you can begin to reduce your emissions. The Edinburgh Science net zero toolkit is a great place to start.

Net Zero Toolkit

 

Net Zero Support Summary Graphic

Net Zero Support Summary

Want to take action, and not sure where to start? See our quick guide to advice and support available now.

Net Zero support summary

Net Zero Action

Our region is uniquely placed to take advantage of emerging opportunities. Find ideas, advice and funding in our themes here.

Net Zero Film Showcase

If you've been inspired to take action by COP26, have a look at some of the people in our region at the heart of change. Browse the films here or follow the quick link to the film showcase below. Meet all of our #netzeroheroes from the link below too.

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turbines Play Video
marine device Play Video
film opening title at Beatrice Play Video
opening title for Beatrice community fund Play Video
opening title for transition film Play Video
opening title for whisky net zero film Play Video
opening title for business transition net zero film Play Video
opening title for green islands film Play Video

Business opportunities - net zero

Wind and hydrogen

Marine energy in Scotland

Benefits from Beatrice

Beatrice Community Fund

Community-led tramsition

The whisky industry and net zero

Business transition - net zero

Green islands

HIE products and services

We're building net zero measures and incentives into our products and services, growing green jobs and accelerating changes which will benefit our economy, society and environment. 

Customers are increasingly looking for suppliers and producers supporting the circular economy. We’ve introduced card rather than plastic for our crackers. We’ve invested in solar panels and an electric van. We only have one planet, let's look after it.
Lewis Maclean, MD, Maclean's Highland Bakery

Latest News

Latest news around climate change and low carbon

Everyone has a role in Climate Change

If you want to know more about why we need to take action now, see the science, targets and latest global news on the United Nations website.

United Nations Climate Action

Climate Solutions

Project Drawdown is a not for profit organisation aiming to reach drawdown, this is the point where greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Their website is rich in resources for people seeking solutions.

Project Drawdown website
Climate Week 1920 560

Net Zero facts and figures

81%

region's businesses support green recovery from COVID-19

300k

jobs forecast to be created from green hydrogen production by 2045

53%

Region's emissions down between 2005 and 2018

man recycling equipment at social enterprise ILM

Net zero heroes

We're all on the net zero journey together, and every step makes a difference. Net zero heroes come in many forms. Everyone counts - whether you're innovating the energy sector, improving food security, or making changes to protect our environment. 

Be inspired by our Net Zero Heroes

Net Zero Nation

Find out what's happening in Scotland to create a cleaner, healthier, happier and more successful nation. Support the national Let's Do Net Zero campaign.

Net Zero Nation website

logo for let's do net zero
group of young people working together at Inverness Campus

Green Jobs

Skills Development Scotland has created a new advice service for anyone interested in job opportunities which can help make change. Find out more about the industries and opportunities on their website.

Green Jobs Workforce Academy

Net zero is a formidable target for Scotland but achievable. Consequences of not meeting it are severe. Quite simply, we can expect an increase in extreme weather events like flooding & landslides and a change to the climate that may create food shortages
Zoe Laird, Regional Head of Communities Infrastructure , HIE
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Scotland’s world-leading climate change legislation

Scotland’s world-leading climate change legislation sets a target date for net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. 

The Scottish Government published it's Climate Change Plan update in December 2020 which reflects the increased ambition of the new targets set in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019.  

HIE and partners are working closely with the Scottish Government to reduce emissions and jointly work towards achieving net zero by 2045. 

The Scottish Government's Climate Change Plan 

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