What we do
Net zero framework
Our net zero framework
We're putting net zero at the heart of everything we do. Our net zero framework outlines our approach to help tackle climate change and address biodiversity loss. It focuses on economic opportunities that deliver benefits to the environment and society. Find out how we'll help shape Scotland’s net zero economic transition.
Net zero ambitions
For Scotland to achieve its net zero ambitions we all need to act now.
We're putting net zero at the heart of everything we do. Our net zero framework outlines our approach to help tackle climate change and address biodiversity loss.
A green recovery must not only fuel investment in green jobs and a decarbonised economy but must also be a just transition, which addresses inequalities and provides fair and high-value work.
Economic opportunities
While the climate and nature emergencies represent very serious and tangible risks to future prosperity and wellbeing, there are also significant economic opportunities. Scotland is well placed to build on its natural assets and expertise, to innovate, invest in and export our climate-related solutions to growing global markets.
We'll mobilise our expertise, influence, networks and funding to help shape and accelerate Scotland’s net zero economic transition. We'll incentivise and support businesses to commit to and realise their own net zero ambitions.
What is net zero?
Net zero is a term often used by governments and businesses to describe their ambitions to reduce carbon-related emissions.
Put simply, net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. We reach net zero when the amount we add is no more than the amount taken away.
While helping businesses recover from the pandemic remains a priority, we also know our economy needs to change. We have to build back better.
This is the decade for decisive action and we're ready to rise to the challenge.
However, to effectively address the twin challenges of climate change and ecological decline, reducing emissions is only part of the picture. In common with other organisations, we use the term 'net zero' as shorthand to describe a broad range of activities that we support, including:
- Reducing emissions
- Adapting to the consequences of climate change that are already taking place
- Protecting and improving natural capital and biodiversity
- Supporting green jobs and a just transition for businesses, sectors and communities
- Promoting and scaling up circular economy practices and business models
Our strategic ambitions
Our framework focuses on net zero economic opportunities that also deliver benefits to the environment and society. We're embedding a focus on net zero across everything we deliver as well as our internal operations. We'll do this by:
We're supporting businesses, industries and investors to grasp fast-growing climate opportunities, helping to refocus Scotland’s economy on a net zero future, while safeguarding natural capital and supporting individual wellbeing.
We're helping businesses, industries and communities to deliver a just transition that's fair to all, safeguarding and creating good, green and high-value jobs.
We're incentivising more businesses to actively commit to sustainable practices, influencing others to accelerate the pace of change and maximising the opportunities and legacy of COP26.
We've set a target to become a net zero organisation by 2040 and have agreed an interim target to achieve a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to a 2015/16 baseline.
Five-year delivery plan 2021-26
Our net zero framework sets out how we're changing to meet our internal net zero target and influence wider decarbonisation through our external delivery. To accelerate the pace of change, we're working with partners to raise ambitions and take action. Key actions include:
- Make all our support to businesses and organisations contingent on them demonstrating (or committing to adopt) sustainability practices
- Develop a compelling narrative that sets out the business case for committing to net zero goals, together with practical toolkits and support
- Introduce a new programme of funding calls to target net zero outcomes - the first call will support new green jobs and be funded through the Green Jobs Fund
- Deliver our portfolio of seven national programmes, targeting areas where Scotland has competitive international advantage, including decarbonised heat, heavy duty zero emission vehicles and the hydrogen economy
- Work with businesses and supply chains to scale up the adoption of circular business models, building extended life, re-use and remanufacture into design of products and services
- Identify practical ways to embed support for biodiversity and natural capital in our and partner-led projects and programmes
- Prioritise our place-based investment to focus on decarbonisation projects
- Engage at strategic levels with regional and local partners on priority decarbonisation development opportunities such as the Clyde Mission, the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc in Dundee and the creation of an Energy Transition Zone in Aberdeen
- Develop an action plan to decarbonise our property portfolio and invest in biodiversity enhancement and alternative waste management strategies
- Consider fully the Scottish Government’s response to the Just Transition Commission’s recommendations so we can embed just transition objectives in our operating plans
- Implement the Scottish Government’s Vision for Trade, including ending trade support for fossil fuel goods and services activities
- Work with partners to support the development and delivery of sector transition plans to help industries adapt to a net zero future
- Ensure our operating plans and individual objectives embed a focus on net zero so that this becomes ‘everyone’s job’ across the organisation
- Deliver an organisation-wide training development programme to help our people embed this into their roles
- Strengthen decision-making processes to align with our net zero ambitions, including updating our existing mandatory low carbon project assessment tool
Scottish Enterprise will achieve net zero emissions by 2040, five years ahead of legislative targets and with a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared with a 2015/16 baseline.
We've made good progress in reducing our own emissions. We achieved a 65% reduction by 2019/20 compared with the 2015/16 baseline. By 2019/20 the largest contributions to emissions were from:
- Office space (29%)
- Air travel (28%)
- The investment property portfolio (20%)
- Car travel (18%)