Net Zero

The Scottish Cities Alliance is committed to driving the transition to net zero across Scotland’s urban landscapes. Our collaborative efforts bring together cities, businesses, and academic and innovation networks to implement sustainable solutions to tackle climate change. Through innovative projects, knowledge sharing, and strategic partnerships, we aim to create resilient, eco-friendly urban environments that benefit everyone.

The Alliance has played a leading role on this agenda in Scotland over the past few years including:-

“Our continued partnership with Scottish Cities Alliance is a testament to their passionate commitment to forwarding the net zero agenda in Scotland. From site visits to roundtables and national events, 3Ci has welcomed the opportunity to join forces with the Alliance to ensure that Scottish cities are getting the attention and recognition they deserve for their forward-thinking and innovative solutions to decarbonisation. As we push for a cleaner, greener future, I am confident in the Alliance’s perseverance to overcome the challenges that reaching net zero poses and instead continue to be an agile force in empowering the climate agenda.”

Steve Turner

Director, 3Ci

The Alliance is a member of the 3Ci. The Cities Commission for Climate Investment (3Ci) is a collaborative initiative between local governments and the private sector aimed at securing long-term financing for net zero projects. Being a member of 3Ci enables the Alliance partners to work with cities across the UK as well as the private sector to consider how by leveraging the collective scale of cities and regions they can mobilise investment into low and net zero carbon projects. In 2024 the Alliance worked with 3Ci to develop the Scottish Cities Investment Report detailing a green investment pipeline of 117 projects across the Scottish cities collectively valued at £8 billion across a range of different objectives including building infrastructure to electric vehicle networks and the sustainable management of biowaste.

Climate Delivery Framework –Approved by all 32 local authorities in Cosla and the Scottish Government in 2024, the Alliance led the way on the development of the framework setting out how national and local government can work strategically at the regional level to align and deliver local targets. The first meeting of the Political Oversight Group for the framework took place in December 2024 including representation from both Scottish Government Ministers and Local Government Leaders. Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council sits on the political oversight group, ensuring the voice of urban Scotland is represented and considered as part of collaborative action to ensure that Scotland is both a net zero nation by 2045 and resilient to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.

The Scottish Climate Intelligence Service– The Improvement Service in partnership with Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, formally launched the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service (SCIS) in Spring 2024 building on work undertaken by the Alliance to develop the business case and secure funding from Scottish Government and all 32 local authorities. The SCIS aims to support local authorities to build capacity to improve decisionmaking for area-wide emissions reduction by providing the data and tools, and building the skills and confidence, to deliver better climate outcomes and realise the social and economic benefits of a zero-carbon economy.

Net Zero Local Authorities- The Alliance worked with the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute to assess the net zero powers within the city local authorities and make recommendations on where improvements can be made in legislation, policy, finance, coordination and capacity to help accelerate
delivery and action.