Funding secured for Climate Action Schools to support Climate Change Plan

We've welcomed the confirmation of funding for our Climate Action Schools programme in a Ministerial Statement from Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy on Scotland’s Climate Change Plan 2026 – 2040 presented to the Scottish Parliament on 24 March 2026.

The Scottish Government published three important policy documents which will help move us towards becoming the climate and nature positive country we have ambition to be - The Climate Change Plan, Environment Strategy, and Circular Economy Strategy.

We responded to the Scottish Government’s consultations on these policies - recognising positive inclusions but pointing out real opportunities to strengthen them to ensure people and nature in Scotland are put before economic growth.

With regards to the Climate Change Plan we clearly highlighted the need for more consistent climate education in schools and out with the formal education system, for greater support for community climate action and for more to be done to recognise the first steps being taken by businesses aiming to become more sustainable.

Barry Fisher, our Chief Executive said: “We are pleased to hear that as part of a funding package to support Scotland’s Climate Change Plan our Climate Action Schools programme will receive funding for the next financial year through the Climate Engagement Fund.

“We know that we will do our very best to reach as many educators, young people and children as possible through our activities – helping ensure they understand the challenges of climate change, and also the opportunities – and they are empowered to take positive action for their futures.”

We will be spending some time over the coming days digesting the published Climate Change Plan, Environment Strategy, and Circular Economy Strategy to identify where we need to align our work, where we need to push for harder and more urgent action.

At first glance we understand that the Climate Change Plan is likely to fall short in a number of areas and pins a lot of hope on negative emissions technology or Carbon Capture.  However, it provides a credible pathway towards net zero and with hard work and collaboration between all political parties, businesses and communities we believe that we can make a positive difference.

The amends made to the Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland appear positive – with a vision of achieving sustainable levels of material use by 2045 and a commitment to work with the UK Government to push for a meaningful UN Global Plastics Treaty.  Addressing plastic was not in the consultation document, so to see it being mentioned now is heartening to see.    We will work with others in the sector to continue to push for collaborative action to address the areas we believe need to be strengthened and to ensure that the lack of detail throughout the document is filled in.

Our planet is facing three main ecological crises – climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and litter pollution. All of these share a common underlying cause – our over consumption of natural resources. We must reduce resource consumption if we are to progress towards environmental and ecological sustainability and much more needs to be done in this space. 

You can find out more about our Climate Action Schools programme, our Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network and our training offer across our website.  

Climate Change Plan published - gov.scot