What we do
Net zero framework
Our net zero framework 2022–2023
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.
Our net zero ambition
For Scotland to achieve its net zero ambitions, we all need to act now.
Our ambition is to lead, influence and create opportunities for Scotland’s just transition to net zero.
This is the first of our annual updates to our Net Zero Framework for Action where we highlight progress over the last 12 months and identify new priority actions for 2022 and 2023.
We’re focused on delivering actions that improve the international, innovation and investment performance of Scotland’s businesses. Our Framework supports that focus. It sets out our priorities in detail, to help boost business sustainability and create a more sustainable and climate-resilient Scotland.
Economic opportunities
Investing in the transition to net zero is fundamental to a thriving economy that generates opportunities, positions Scotland in new markets, creates jobs and ensures long-term viability for businesses.
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 realise their own net zero ambitions.
What is net zero?
The term 'net zero' refers to an overall balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. Net zero is reached when the amount of greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed.
However, if we want 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 happening
- 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 2025 ambition
Our framework focuses on net zero economic opportunities that also benefit the environment and society.
We're embedding a focus on net zero across everything we do to increase Scotland’s sustainable prosperity. This includes decarbonising our own internal operations – with the goal of reaching net zero by 2040 (Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions – related to Scottish Enterprise’s own emissions) while also baselining and reducing the emissions from our operational support (Scope 3). We'll do this by:
By 2025, Scottish Enterprise has helped Scotland become a leading location for net zero innovation, supporting businesses to address new market opportunities that improve their competitiveness and resilience.
By 2025, Scottish Enterprise has helped to reorient Scotland’s economy towards investing and innovating in a just, net zero future, building on Scotland’s distinctive climate-related strengths and opportunities.
By 2025, Scottish Enterprise has embedded and strengthened the focus on net zero in place-based project activities, partnership delivery and the management of Scottish Enterprise's own property portfolio.
By 2025, Scottish Enterprise has focused its support on expanding climate-related economic opportunities while measurably reducing the Scope 3 emissions associated with this.
By 2025, Scottish Enterprise has reduced emissions by 70% compared with our 2015–2016 baseline (Scopes 1 and 2).
2022–2023 priority actions
Six priority actions for 2022 and 2023 will directly help us achieve our 2025 ambitions. They'll be underpinned by additional supporting actions embedded across the organisation. Key actions include:
Encourage more companies on their net zero journeys by offering funding only to companies that can already demonstrate, or are willing to adopt – with our support – fairer, more sustainable business practices.
We're using our support to expand market opportunities around priorities which will help accelerate Scotland’s net zero transition. These include decarbonised heat, the hydrogen economy, heavy duty electric vehicles and offshore wind.
We'll implement pilot projects within Scottish Enterprise’s investment property portfolio and strengthen the alignment and contribution of place-based innovation project activities, alongside partners and businesses.
We'll deliver further climate literacy training to as many as 700 Scottish Enterprise staff.
We're aiming to baseline the carbon footprint across Scottish Enterprise’s operational support. We'll also develop a model that'll increase our carbon efficiency as we deliver our business plan.
We want to adapt how we work as a digitally enabled organisation, in line with our internal emissions reduction targets.